Sam Thaiday World’s Greatest ShaveCredit: Stephen Kiprillis
There is no one story of suffering or struggle Sam Thaiday can recall which drove him to become a passionate charity advocate.
As a father of two young daughters, the Brisbane Broncos legend admits hearing each case brings a tear to his eye – inspiring the larrikin and former NRL enforcer to make a change.
Renowned for his “afro” during his playing days, Thaiday has bleached, and will shave, his most identifiable feature – along with a beard he has kept since his wedding day – to raise funds and awareness for the Leukaemia Foundation.
There have been few changes to the 39-year-old’s hairstyle, not since Wayne Bennett warned him he would be axed in the fledgling stages of his career when he rocked up to training with pink ringlets in his mane.
It is a story Thaiday laughs about, given “the players Wayne coaches now with the mullets and all things”.
Sam Thaiday after bleaching his hair as part of his Leukaemia Foundation efforts.
But upon hearing of the 40 per cent spike which has occurred in children being diagnosed with blood cancer across the past two decades, with 55 total cases discovered daily, he felt compelled to join the World’s Greatest Shave.
The foundation’s goal is to raise $12 million this year, which Leukaemia Foundation chief executive Chris Tanti confirmed would aid research, accommodation, transport assistance and “other practical, financial, emotional and mental health support”.
“It’s definitely a conversation starter. I’ve been stopped a few times now and people have asked me what I’m doing,” Thaiday says.
“[The inspiration] is more from a volunteering point of view, time spent in hospitals with young kids going through blood cancer treatment, sitting there talking with their families and knowing and understanding the struggle they’ve been through.
“Anything that involves kids, as soon as you become a parent I think something in your heart changes, and you see any kid suffering from any illness you can’t help but feel that emotion.
“The more we can talk about it and keep it aware in people’s brains in the forefront of their minds the better.”
Sam Thaiday
Τhe struggle to find a new sense of self is a common issue among retired professional athletes.
Going from straight out of high school into an environment built on structure and camaraderie, the adjustment has proven overbearing for many.
It has in part fuelled Thaiday to lend his profile to various causes, but the desire was forged in his childhood.
“It probably started as a young kid going to church, there was always an emphasis on acts of service and giving back,” Thaiday recalls.
“Then growing up and developing into a rugby league player, there’s so many people and opportunities for us to give back.
“That probably watered the seed that had been planted as a young kid.”
Work with the Starlight Foundation, Ronald McDonald House, Find Your Meet and Mater Little Miracles has all followed in the lead up to Thaiday’s Leukaemia Foundation endeavours.
He has also been part of Channel Nine’s rugby league coverage team, admitting he needed to find something which filled the void left by his departure from the field.
“Your identity is attached to the game so much. It’s your dream and ambition as a young kid to play professional sport, and you get the chance to do it, and then it’s kind of over in your 30s,” Thaiday says.
“I think the charity component of what I do now in my life, it gives me drive for purpose for something in a greater good. It helps me ground myself and stay balanced in my life.”
According to University of Queensland psychology expert Tarli Young, 40 per cent of retired athletes have suffered from depression and anxiety, leading her to develop the More Than Sport program to encourage sportspeople to expand their identities early in life.
It is a struggle former Broncos’ hooker Ian Lacey reveals became apparent when several retired players joined him in launching the Arthur Beetson Foundation Future Immortals Tours.
While the Tours aim to improve education and employment outcomes and community initiatives in isolated regions, Lacey said it did not dawn on him what impact such concepts would have on the athletes.
“Some struggle to transition back into society and lose that sense of team ship and camaraderie coming from that team sport environment. It takes up so much of your life, and all of a sudden, it’s gone,” Lacey says.
“You finish from your environment where you’re so regimented, and you’ve got that mateship and team camaraderie, and you get so used to it.
Ian Lacey during his playing days with the Brisbane Broncos.Credit: Getty Images
“Without us really probing … a lot of them started opening up on the mental health struggles and some of the hardships they’d encountered since retiring from the game.
“A few of them candidly spoke about their own journeys and what they’ve had to do to overcome some of the dark days of their lives. They spoke about their connection with these tours, and just the joy it brought back to their life.
“It also had us questioning what’s our duty of care here? If some players are saying they’re struggling in life, the pressure of other things in their lifestyle, what role should we be playing in helping them overcome that?”
Thaiday stressed his ability to lend his profile to various charities was “the easiest thing I can do”, not just for what he could achieve for others, but how it has helped him embrace life off the field.
“It’s definitely blossomed into something I’ve done a lot more in retirement because I think it’s a great way to find balance in your own life. If you do have the opportunity to give back, I think you should,” Thaiday says.
“I have been so lucky and blessed in my life. There’s a bit of luck and hard work, but if I can give back just a little bit to help out, it brings out a smile to my mouth and a tear to my eye.”
To support Thaiday, visit worldsgreatestshave.com
