Manager of Education and Welfare, Steve Pike stated ’We’re committed to working with the newheadspace team and are excited to offer this initiative to our players. We want our guys to know that the club has their back, and we want to support them to have a successful transition into retirement and beyond”

Here’s to another great year working together!

Feleti Mateo, Feleti’s fiancée Michelle, Jhanna Culver, Kelly Friend and Nathan Friend

Vodafone Warriors Media release:

Senior Vodafone Warriors Nathan Friend and Feleti Mateo are literally in a new headspace after tonight becoming the club’s latest players to graduate in a program designed to prepare them for their transition into life after football.

Hooker Friend, a 147-game NRL veteran, and back rower Mateo (133 games) join team-mates Micheal Luck, Jerome Ropati and Jacob Lillyman who became the first-ever graduates of the NRL-supported ‘Extend the Dream’ program introduced last year.

The Vodafone Warriors were the first club to adopt the course designed by newheadspace founder Jhanna Culver to challenge NRL players to confront retirement.

Paul Heptonstall (Snr Education and Welfare NRL), Jhanna Culver, Eric Watson – (Co-owner of Warriors),Feleti Mateo, Nathan Friend, Jerry Seuseu (Education and Welfare Manager Warriors), Vodafone Warriors chairman Bill Wavish.

Friend and Mateo couldn’t say enough about the programme’s value for them personally and how it had crystallised their thinking – their headspace – as they came to terms with their post-football reality.

While Friend, a qualified bricklayer, said he began the course with some clear thoughts about his direction, Mateo said he went into it not knowing what he might do without football. Mateo said completing the program had given him confidence about his future and he believed that had also helped his football.

Culver was among those attending tonight’s graduation function along with Vodafone Warriors owner Eric Watson, who presented the players with their certificates, Vodafone Warriors chairman Bill Wavish, Vodafone Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah and the NRL’s senior education and welfare manager Paul Heptonstall.

Feleti Mateo and Nathan Friend

Also there were the new graduates’ partners (and Friend’s two sons), Vodafone Warriors head coach Brian McClennan and first graders Elijah Taylor and Sione Lousi as well as numerous other staff and media.

Culver said the ‘Extend the Dream’ program was “genuinely a revolutionary way to support NRL players to have successful lives after sport.”

She said she deeply appreciated the Vodafone Warriors’ support after last year’s pilot.

“Being the progressive and heartfelt club that you are, you have ensured that this program was available to your next round of senior boys, never hesitating for them to focus on things off the field,” she said.

Vodafone Warriors education and welfare manager Jerry Seuseu said the program had once again succeeded by offering Friend and Mateo the chance of making a smooth transition out of the game when their playing days are over.

While Mateo is still only 27 and is looking forward to several more seasons as player, he was moved to take the opportunity to explore his ‘headspace’ now rather than later in his career.

Culver said the secret was to begin the program while players were still active, not when they had finished playing.

Feleti, Jhanna and Nathan.

L-R David Gallop (CEO NRL) Steve Turner, David Garnsey (CEO RLPA), David Stagg, Brad Morrin, Dene Halatau, Andrew Ryan, Todd Greenberg (CEO BULLDOGS), Jhanna Culver

Bulldogs Media release

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs players Steve Turner, Dene Halatau and David Stagg – together with recently retired team mates Andrew Ryan and Brad Morrin – have this week become the first Australian-based players to graduate from a groundbreaking welfare program designed to prepare players for their post-playing lives.

Called ‘Live the Dream, Extend the Dream’, the program is facilitated by change specialist consultancy newheadspace and is run in with the support and backing of the Australian Rugby League Commission. Born in response to reports in the media about the struggles of athletes with life after sport, ‘Live the Dream, Extend the Dream’ works in conjunction with sporting clubs and codes to better prepare those currently playing for everything that lays beyond their on-field careers.

“Extend the Dream is highly individualised and begins while the player is still active,” Chief Head of newheadspace, Jhanna Culver said. The program succeeds because it focuses on all aspects of a professional athlete’s life, not just their ‘next career’. We recognise the individual circumstances, challenges and strengths of each player and provide them with appropriate and sustainable skills and tools to take with them in to their future. Fundamentally, we reframe retirement as an exciting new chapter in their life. For any senior professional athlete, retiring is so much more than just obtaining a new career.”

L-R Steve Pike (Education and Welfare Manager Bulldogs), Jhanna Culver and David Stagg

The program got its start in Auckland in 2011, with New Zealand Warriors Michael Luck, Jacob Lillyman and Jerome Ropati the first NRL footballers to successfully achieve Extend the Dream preparations.

For Turner, Stagg, Halatau, Ryan and Morrin – who boast a combined total of 845 NRL matches – it was an opportunity to discuss and refine their post NRL ambitions, to identify practical and emotional challenges, as well as formulating strategic frameworks that will allow them to take meaningful steps forward.

“The program was immensely helpful for us as players, and as people,” Turner says. “While the three of us still playing see ourselves on the field for some time to come, Extend the Dream gave us the tools to look to the future with a sense of purpose and drive. I’ve used some of the things I learnt in my work with the NSWRL Western Sydney Academy, and also in diversifying what I do around the Club. I am now far more involved in digital and traditional media, community work, and getting involved in the corporate side of things. Now I’m unfortunately out for the season through injury I’ve found the lessons to take on even more relevance.”

L-R Steve Turner, David Stagg, Brad Morrin, Jhanna Culver, Dene Halatau, Andrew Ryan

Thursday’s graduation ceremony was attended by ARLC chief executive officer David Gallop, Rugby League Players Association chief executive David Garnsey, Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg, and Bulldogs head coach Des Hasler. Former NRL leading point scorer and Bulldogs great Daryl Halligan – who turned his time as a player into highly successful media and specialist coaching roles post-retirement – filled the role of guest speaker.

“We are keen to support all of our players and their move in to their new phase once leaving the NRL, newheadspace are invaluable partner for helping our players achieve a successful transition off the field ” Mr Gallop said.

We’re excited to announce that NZ’s Vodafone Warriors have signed on for another round of the Extend The Dream program with newheadspace.

As the first NRL team to sign on to Extend The Dream, we’re particularly pleased that our great working relationship will continue in 2012 as a new bunch of players enter the program.

We’re looking forward to working with the players as they take the first steps in preparing for life off the field.

‘It’s important for our NRL players to be thinking about life outside football. Newheadspace provides this opportunity.’
Tony Carson, Welfare Manager
Wests Tigers

It’s fantastic to be working with such a progressive club and great to help them support their players on and off the field.

Manager of Education and Welfare, Steve Pike stated ’We’re committed to working with the newheadspace team and are excited to offer this initiative to our players. We want our guys to know that the club has their back, and we want to support them to have a successful transition into retirement and beyond”

We look forward to more clubs coming onboard in the following months too!