NRL to tackle Pasifika and Māori players struggles

A new wellbeing group for the NRL aims to address the needs of Pasifika and Māori players beyond just the physical.

Dr Dave Lakisa of the NRL Pasifika Wellbeing Advisory Group (PWAG), says looking at the last few years, the NRL has had issues with Pasifika players, where they could have done better through consultation.

"The role of PWAG is to help prepare or help those clubs be informed, or have the toolkit because those issues will continue to increase. Whether your spirituality is at odds with an employer, or the effect of suicide," he says.

A 2019 study on Pacific rugby players ​has linked young Australian Pasifika male athletes to depression and suicide and other mental health issues.

Relocation was a key issue because Pasifika players moving away from a collective upbringing at home often struggle with independence and the pressure of making the correct financial and contractual decisions.

The pressure of sending remittances back home, such as fa'alavelave for Samoans, adds further pressure for players to succeed, while dealing with the mental issues of living in another country, displaced and disconnected from their family and friends.

Former league player and one of the founders of PWAG, David Solomona, says the group was formed to alleviate these struggles for Pasifika players.

Solomona hopes to address the difficulties of migration for Pasifika, who are culturally collective, and the potentially detrimental effect of moving from a bustling home to a quieter house.

"This kid comes from a household with 10 people, you can't put him into a household with two people," Solomona says.

He says improving treatment for Pasifika players will improve the sport as a whole, given that more than 45% of NRL players are Pasifika​.

"There's going to be those points of emphasis: education, mental health but further to that, financial literacy and importance of spirituality," he says.

"Understanding where players have come from and making the journey a bit easier and being able to educate the game on cultural practices for us is the really important piece."

As Pasifika and as an ex-player, Solomona says his expertise can help especially since his other peers are of similar background, including Samoan international rugby player Sam Tagataese, former Canberra Raiders player Iosia Soliola and former Vodafone Warriors player Jerry Seuseu.

The wellbeing group recently had their first meeting, where they had a talanoa with the NRL executive team, providing their expertise and experience.

Lakisa says the inaugural talanoa was an opportunity to share ideas and review where Pasifika players are within the structure of NRL and how to enhance their experience.

"We're constantly thinking of others, family and next generation," Lakisa says.

"What's it mean for pathways? How do we create sustainable pathways not just in the wellbeing education space but for the game as a whole."