After 50 years and a difficult battle with cancer, Rees Leyshon has finally called time on his rugby league coaching career
REES Leyshon has helped mould generations of footballers after scoring his first coaching gig as a nine-year-old. Now, five decades later, he’s retiring from the game he loves.
Hills Shire
Don't miss out on the headlines from Hills Shire. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Former Test bowler Bollinger’s greener pastures
- Taekwondo veteran Di Carn is changing the lives of her students
MANY of us live for sport but without it, Rees Leyshon might not be here today.
After 50 years coaching rugby league, the 59-year-old from Baulkham Hills has made the decision to make the 2018 season his last.
“Over the years I have coached age groups from under-6 to A-grade … and even coached three teams at once,” Leyshon said.
“I have coached in 19 grand finals and won 16 of them in all scenarios, both as favourites to win and rank outsiders. I have only missed coaching a team to the semi finals once in that 50 years.”
Leyshon’s illustrious coaching career began when he was asked to coach an under-6 team while playing in the under-10s.
“Way back then you didn’t need coaching certificates or anything like that and you learnt as you went along,” he said.
Leyshon continued coaching throughout school and when he joined the police force as a 16-year-old.
He said he loved coaching so much the idea of giving it up never crossed his mind.
“I have met some amazing people, both players and parents and loved seeing some of my players go onto bigger things and some become successful coaches,” he said.
“It has been great to help some of the troubled youngsters I have coached and help them turn their lives around. I also loved coaching the little ones … it was one of my favourite things to see the faces on parents when their precious cargo scored a try or kicked a goal.”
But four years ago his time on the sideline almost came to a crushing end.
“I was … diagnosed with prostate cancer which had spread to my bladder and required surgery and 38 doses of radiation,” Leyshon said.
“I finished my radiation course on a Wednesday and on the next Sunday, my A-grade were a player short, so I pulled the boots on. I figured if the cancer couldn't kill me, then 13 huge blokes running at me couldn’t either, and I wouldn’t leave my boys a player short.
“I loved playing that day.”
IN OTHER NEWS
Leyshon, now in remission, said it was a fitting time to retire after winning the A-grade premiership with one of his sons as captain of Blacktown City and another as trainer.
“It has been an amazing ride,” he said. “While it has been stressful at times, I wouldn’t swap it for the world.
“I can’t imagine my life without rugby league but it’s time to find out.”