Indigenous players James Livock and Adrian Davis have been given the experience of a lifetime as “temporary” members of the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles squad.
The Sea Eagles will play host to the lucky pair, as Laurie Daley’s non-elite Indigenous First Nations Goannas team prepare to tackle the knights in a trial match at Newcastle’s Hunter Stadium on Saturday week (February 8).
The trial will mark the culmination of the week-long Festival of Indigenous Rugby League being held in Newcastle in place of the traditional Rugby League All Stars which is being “rested” in 2014 post World Cup.
“Watching the Indigenous All Stars game, not even playing it you get that passion like you want to be out there with them. It feels like you’re out there playing with them, so I feel like we have something to prove playing this game,” Livock said.
A response reiterated by Davis.
“It means a lot. It’s a great opportunity to showcase my talent and skills and to be a part of a group of boys and role models you looked up to, like Dean Widders, David Peachey and players like that.
“For us it’s extremely important, because we’re non-NRL players, so it’s probably the biggest achievements we can get in a footy sense.”
Both Livock and Davis, who come from Strathfield, NSW and Scarborough, QLD respectively, are both extremely grateful for the chance to play against some of the game’s biggest stars.
“There are a lot of indigenous people who could have been in our boots at the moment, so we’re just making the most of what we’ve got,” Livock said.
Davis said, “Just being a part of it all and playing against elite athletes is going to be something special.”
