NRL: Ty Williams denied Indigenous All Stars coaching opportunity on cultural grounds
The cultural background of a former Cowboys and Queensland Origin star has robbed him of a cherished coaching opportunity.
NRL
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THE cultural background of former Cowboys and Queensland Origin star Ty Williams has robbed the Northern Pride coach an opportunity to enhance his future coaching prospects.
Williams was in November announced as an assistant coach for the Indigenous All Stars in the first preseason clash to be held in New Zealand.
But his opportunity to coach at NRL level for the first time has been dashed due to his cultural background: Williams is of South Sea Islands descent and is not Indigenous.
And that is, perhaps, the most frustrating part for Williams: it wasn’t because of his coaching ability, but because of something he cannot control.
Williams’ father, the last full-blooded South Sea Islander in his line, was among the more than 50,000 people, predominantly men, who were “Blackbirded” and brought to Australia under false pretences to work.
Williams’ ancestors were brought to North Queensland, first to Mackay but eventually to Innisfail, where Williams was born, raised, played his junior footy then went on to play 151 games for the Cowboys and three Origins for the Maroons.
But while ASSI people are recognised as a multicultural group, they not considered to be indigenous.
Williams’ heritage was questioned internally after his appointment, and a fortnight after the announcement he was asked for more information.
Four days later, about a week before Christmas, the opportunity was gone.
The 42-year-old has never hidden or shied away from his background - he is immensely proud of his heritage, but News understands that at no point in the application and interview process was his cultural background raised.
If it was, he would’ve told them.
Some confusion may arise in the fact Williams has twice represented elite Indigenous rugby league teams - one of which was the inaugural All Stars game.
In 2008, he was part of the Indigenous Dreamtime team at the Rugby League World Cup in Sydney, and two years later was called up to the Indigenous All Stars side for the first pre-season All Stars clash, which has become one of the most important dates on the rugby league calendar.
Again, Williams never shied from his background.
In an interview published around the time of his All Stars appearance he spoke of how his father was “brought over as slaves” from the South Sea Islands.
Williams has also spoken in-depth about his family’s cultural heritage in interviews with News, detailing what his father and family went through.
It is a sad state of affairs, especially given the game’s most prominent South Sea Islander Mal Meninga, the NRL Immortal and current Kangaroos coach, was part of a panel which assessed Williams in the first place.
Meninga sat on a panel alongside former All Stars coach Laurie Daley, Indigenous Pathways Manager, Timana Tahu, and Jillaroos coach Brad Donald assessed potential candidates and consulted with both the Indigenous Players Advisory Group and the Australian Rugby League Indigenous Council prior to the coaches being selected.
The Australian Rugby League Commission approved the appointment, with chairman Peter V’landys trumpeting how the purpose of this year’s appointments would introduce an elite pathways system for Indigenous coaches.
“The All Stars game was originally created to showcase Indigenous talent on the field, our purpose is to showcase Indigenous talent in all areas of the game,” Mr V’landys said in a statement announcing Williams’ appointment.
Williams has taken the blow in his stride - he said those close to and around him are more angry and frustrated than he is.
The Cowboys legend has coached the Northern Pride since 2017, chalking up more than 100 games in charge of the Cairns-based Hostplus Cup club.
He has handled the issue with class, and while there’s a pang of frustration with how it unfolded, his focus is purely on steering the Pride to the finals for a third time in his tenure.
No replacement Indigenous All Stars assistant coach has been announced.
matthew.mcinerney1@news.com.au
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