How shock PM XIII selection Corey Allan helped introduce school suicide prevention program
COREY Allan raised eyebrows as the first non-NRL player ever selected in the Prime Minister’s XIII rugby league team but he’s already proven he’s a star off the field with his work on suicide prevention.
Logan
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Shock Prime Minister’s XIII rugby league team selection Corey Allan is a shooting star in the sport, but three years ago he proved a star off the field by helping introduce a school suicide prevention program.
Allan, who on Saturday will become the first non-NRL player to play in the annual clash against PNG, was instrumental in starting a mental health program at his old school of Marsden State High School.
In 2015 he joined a handful of other class mates at Marsden in founding the Mates Talk Change group.
Mates Talk Change is a mental health program started following the suicide of former Logan league juniors Alex Elisala and Francis Winterstein.
Broncos star Anthony Milford, Marsden old boy Israel Folau and boxer Alex Leapai are among high profile sportsmen who support the program.
The suicides of Elisala and Winterstein, and other Logan teenagers around the same time, rocked the Logan community to the core and Allan showed great leadership and strength in initiating the program.
“Corey was one of the original Mates Talk Change group that started our successful positive mental health program #MTC,’’ said Marsden SHS principal Andrew Peach.
As a result of the program, children at the school and wider community were now encouraged to discuss mental health issues
On the field Peach said he was thrilled to learn of Allan’s PM XIII selection and wished him every success in the future.
The wider rugby league community might have raised eye brows in surprise when Allan’s name was read out for the PM side, but not Peach or the Marsden SHS community.
Nor would former Queensland State of Origin centre Josh Hannay have been surprised at coach Mal Meninga’s wildcard choice, or Souths Sydney coach Anthony Seibold who has now recruited Allan.
You see Allan, a North Queensland Cowboy supporter as a schoolboy, is a startling rugby league talent from the famous Logan City league nursery.
It is a region which could assemble a dream team to match any in the world - Cameron Smith, Josh Papalii, Corey Norman, Israel Folau, Tonie Carroll, Brad Meyers, Darren and Jason Smith, Lote Tuqiri, Jaydn Su’a etc.
Now add Allan to the list.
How good is he?
“He’s a wonderful talent and he’s got a bright future if he keeps developing the way he has been,” Queensland under 20 coach Justin Hodges said after having Allan in camp with him last season.
“He’s one of those players that can win you a match.”
His club coach at Souths Logan this season, Jon Buchanan, said: “He has silky skills and is the best right-to-left passer of the football that I have seen in a fullback’’
Hannay, his former Queensland 20s coach, is also on the record as waxing lyrical about Allan’s potential.
Ironically the best thing to happen to Allan was that he did not burst into the NRL stage this season with the Brisbane Broncos, rather that he had a year playing against men in the Queensland Cup.
The kid was a big fish in the pond among his age group, but Allan reached the stage where he needed to confront men on the league field and South Sydney will benefit from his season under Buchanan at the Souths Logan in 2018.
“With 20 games (of Intrust Super Cup) he will be better placed in 12 months time,’’ Buchanan said.
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