From day one, he was all in.
Wanting to make a difference, wanting to immerse himself in the Manly community.
Jamal Fogarty is not just a great footballer. He is so much more. A proud Indigenous man, a loving husband, a devoted father, and a great bloke.
There are many good reasons why Jamal has been nominated for this year’s Ken Stephen Medal, an honour which recognises an NRL player’s contribution to community.
Jamal is what Jamal does. His daily actions reflect who he is as a person. He is genuine, he is humble, and caring comes naturally.
The below letter was sent to the club very recently. We wanted to publish it in full.
Dear Manly Sea Eagles,
I wanted to take a moment to share an experience our family had with Jamal Fogarty that we will never forget.
We travelled all the way from Sydney to the Gold Coast to watch Manly take on the Titans. We are proud supporters and members and have followed Manly for many years. Our family lives and breathes Manly, but for our son Isaiah, it’s so much more than just a game, it’s his happy place.
I don’t often share Isaiah’s journey, but I feel it’s important to explain why this moment meant so much to our family.
Football is Isaiah’s greatest passion. It is his special interest, and there is nothing in the world he loves more than rugby league and the Manly Sea Eagles. It has given him connection and countless moments of happiness.
Every single afternoon you’ll find him outside pretending he’s Jamal Fogarty. He lines up conversions, copies Jamal’s little arm swings before every kick and spends hours commentating his own games in the backyard. Watching him, you’d swear he was playing in front of thousands at 4 Pines Park.
Learning can be a challenge for Isaiah, so every new word he learns to read and write is a huge achievement. One of the words he is most proud to write is “Fogarty.” What makes that even more special is that the drawing Isaiah gave Jamal wasn’t something we suggested. He quietly sat down at home, created it all by himself and brought it to the game without even telling us. It was completely his own idea, straight from his heart.
Last week, Isaiah handed that drawing to Jamal, telling him he was his favourite player. Then came a moment our family will never forget.
Before the game on the Gold Coast, while the players were making their way to the team bus, Isaiah ran to Jamal and said, “Remember me?” Without missing a beat, Jamal smiled and replied, “Yes, I remember you. You gave me a picture.”
What happened next completely took my breath away. Jamal bent down, opened his bag and pulled out his notebook. Safely tucked inside was Isaiah’s drawing. He had kept it.
As a mum, I can’t put into words how emotional that moment was. I had tears in my eyes. To know that something my little boy had made meant enough for Jamal to carry with him was simply incredible.
What makes this story even more meaningful is that this wasn’t just one interaction. Over many home games this year, Jamal has consistently taken the time to acknowledge Isaiah. He notices him, waves, chats with him, stops for photos and genuinely makes him feel important.
The greatest gift Jamal has given Isaiah isn’t a photo or an autograph, it’s making him feel seen, valued and like he truly belongs. For many people those moments might seem small, but for our family they are everything. They build confidence, create joy and leave lasting memories.
Players probably don’t always realise the impact they have on children, but this is a memory Isaiah will carry with him for the rest of his life.
I shared this special moment on social media with family and friends, and I have been overwhelmed by the response. So many people have reached out to say what an incredible person Jamal is and just how beautiful it was to see the kindness he showed.
It reminded us, while this moment was so deeply personal to our family, the qualities we experienced are clearly the same so many others see in him. Jamal isn’t just an outstanding footballer; he is an extraordinary role model. His kindness, humility and genuine care for young fans embody everything the Ken Stephen Medal stands for.
As long-time Manly supporters, we’ve shared many wonderful memories over the years, but Jamal’s impact on Isaiah has been unlike anything we’ve experienced.
Thank you, Jamal, for making one little boy feel seen, valued and included. And thank you to the Manly Sea Eagles for having players who represent our club with such genuine kindness and integrity. It is one of the many reasons we are so proud to travel wherever the team goes and call ourselves members.
If possible, I would be so grateful if you could please pass this letter on to Jamal. I have also put together a special video of the moment he remembered Isaiah and showed him that he had kept his drawing. I hope he knows just how much his kindness has meant to our family and the lasting impact he has had on one little boy who truly looks up to him.
Kindest regards,
Vanessa
