James Ackerman remembered by Intrust Super Cup clubs Redcliffe Dolphins and Sunshine Coast Falcons

JAMES Ackerman’s death in June last year sent shockwaves through the rugby league community. The pain felt nowhere more than Ackerman’s two clubs, who battle this weekend.

Doing whatever it takes

James Ackerman’s death in June last year sent shock waves through the rugby league community. The pain felt nowhere more than at Ackerman’s two clubs — Sunshine Coast Falcons and Redcliffe Dolphins — who battle in round five of the Intrust Super Cup this weekend.

The two teams will play for the inaugural James Ackerman Cup — a trophy to be contested between Redcliffe and Sunshine Coast in the first regular game of the season every year.

It is always a tough game between the “little brother and big brother” and this week at Sunshine Coast Stadium at 6pm promises to deliver much of the same.

The Sunshine Coast side has an injection of Melbourne Storm players this year and has already proven in the first few rounds of the season they are a side not to be taken lightly.

Sitting in fifth place (but equal second) on the competition ladder, Craig Ingebrigtsen has his new side on the Coast firing, coming off a tough but impressive win over PNG last weekend.

Redcliffe can perform on a big stage and showed that against Wynnum Manly before the bye last weekend.

After a shaky start, Adam Mogg’s side showed why they were considered early favourites to take out the competition with a 38-6 win over their bayside rivals.

They will be desperately seeking another win while playing for the James Ackerman Cup in honour of one of their greatest servants — playing 95 games in all grades during a seven-year period with a couple of years at the Brisbane Broncos in the middle.

Ackerman was a member of the Dolphins’ 2012 grand final side.

There are players at both clubs who played against and alongside Ackerman.

For one, the loss of his high school mate was almost unbearable to the point he contemplated giving up the game all together.

Tyson Andrews doing whatever it takes to honour his mate “Ackers”

THERE  was a time when Tyson Andrews contemplated giving up rugby league.

The heartbreak of James Ackerman’s death in June last year outweighed the love of rugby league he and Ackerman shared — the same thing that brought the two together at Mountain Creek State High School more than a decade ago.

“I would be lying if I said (giving up rugby league) didn’t cross my mind,” Andrews said after losing the mate he played against as a young child and then beside as a teenager on the Sunshine Coast.

“It did cross my mind quite a bit — more the mental side, trying to pick myself up for it and just the draining of always thinking about it.

“But you can take things two ways. I’ve chosen to look at it as life is too short and I’m going to try and do as much as I can with it.”

The 104kg front rower is as tough as they come — already proving that with his powerful runs and punishing tackles in the opening rounds — but concedes he will find this week’s match against Sunshine Coast Falcons the toughest one yet.

The two clubs where Ackerman played in the Intrust Super Cup will play for the James Ackerman Cup on Saturday night. It will ­become an annual fixture.

“I imagine it will be more emotional, especially for all of the guys who have played with James or against him,” Andrews said.

“He’ll definitely be on my mind. He’s always on my mind, but even more so that day.”

Andrews said he would draw on many of the traits that earned ‘Ackers’ the respect of all Redcliffe fans during his five yearsat Dolphin Oval.

“I’d like to strive to be like him,” Andrews said.

“He was always tough; he never looked for the fancy plays, he would just do what was needed for the team and just hit hard and play hard.

“You always knew what you would get out of him and you would never get anything less.”

Both sides rip into it for Ackers — by Redcliffe Dolphins team manager Jon Sloan

James Ackerman for Redcliffe.

TRADITIONALLY, our clashes with the Sunshine Coast are close, hard-fought battles and I expect this year will be no different.

What will be different is James Ackerman won’t be lining up for either side.

I first met James and his best mate Todd Murphy late in 2007 when they joined the Dolphins to play colts in the 2008 season.

Both were quiet, well-mannered and respectful young men from good families and, a bonus for us, good footballers.

Ackers played 95 games for Redcliffe in all grades in a seven-year period with a couple of years at the Broncos in the middle.

He was a guy that played tough; he was the type of player everyone wanted to play with because he never let you down.

A flood of memories come to mind — the Ackers’ grin, the day he lost his passport in PNG.

James left behind wife Saraa, children Ollie and Milly, parents Michael and Sonya, brothers Andrew and Tom, a host of crazy aunties and their families.

This weekend the two sides will rip into each other for 80 minutes — just how Ackers would want.