Frank Pritchard overcomes near-death experience to make helping kids his life’s work

From coaching one of the premier schoolboys footy teams to giving kids a safe space to do their homework. Former NRL hardman Frank Pritchard is using his ‘second chance’ at life to make a difference.

Frank Pritchard calls it his second chance at life, and he refuses to waste it.

The 256-game NRL veteran sent shockwaves through the rugby league community last December when he spent three days in a coma following Covid-19 complications at the start of the year.

The former bulldozing backrower says he was “knocking on heaven’s door for a while”.

But in the same pugilist style that was a hallmark of his decade-long career in the top grade, Pritchard refused to give up without a fight.

“It is no accident that God gave me a second chance,” Pritchard, 38, said.

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Frank Pritchard has turned to junior coaching with Patrician Brothers Fairfield to help kids in their development. Picture: Toby Zerna

“There is a purpose for me, this is my second chance at life. When things happen to you like this, you restructure and put things in perspective, like what is important. I need to put my kids and family first and my community.”

It was Pritchard’s fighting spirit which he has now channelled into his life’s purpose — getting at-risk youth off the southwest Sydney streets and into the classroom, and giving them the tools to make sure they don’t fall through the cracks like countless others he has watched before them.

Pritchard is leading this charge in the classroom and on the footy field at Patrician Brothers Fairfield, but also after school every week through his homework sessions at Cabramatta Leagues Club.

“I have always had passion to help out the youth,” he said.

“Even when I was playing, I would volunteer my time with the youth, at Cobham (Youth Centre) and in my community. Giving back to youth was something I loved doing.

“Working in the school system and knowing what it takes to get to the top. I have had the experience of seeing a lot of kids come through the system, not make it and struggle to adapt to life.

Students at the Cabramatta after-school homework clinics which are run by former NRL player Frank Pritchard. Picture: Supplied

“All the kids have their eggs in the one basket. The harsh reality is 30 per cent of any SG Ball team won’t make it to first grade.”

The rise in gang warfare across Sydney’s western suburbs has also troubled the former Bulldogs and Panthers enforcer.

The ‘postcode wars’, which have been linked to the horrifying Easter Show stabbing earlier this year, have already claimed several young lives in recent years.

That is where Pritchard believes his homework hub, which is run with the support of community groups and the Cabramatta Leagues Club every Tuesday afternoon, is making a difference.

Frank Pritchard recovering from Covid

Pritchard faced a long road of recovery after he suffered severe complications following a shocking battle with Covid-19.

Pritchard offers to personally pick up anyone who can’t make it via public transport to make sure they don’t miss a session.

“We offer that for the kids at school and in the community, they can come and get support from qualified teachers with their homework,” Pritchard said.

“It is a safe hub. If they have any assessment tasks due, they can come and get it done. We have about 40-50 kids that once they finish school on a Tuesday, they come to Cabramatta learning hub.

Students at the Cabramatta after-school homework clinics which are run by former NRL player Frank Pritchard. Picture: Supplied

“I am fully engaged in getting these kids off the streets.

“I love it because as a Pasifika person, as a Polynesian, we didn’t have these things growing up. We didn’t think long term of doing a trade, doing a course or doing a university degree. It was football, football and football. We have to change that culture.”

The former New Zealand and Samoan international has not let his footballing nous go unchecked either, having joined the Patrician Brothers Fairfield coaching staff ahead of the Peter Mulholland Cup schoolboys league competition.

Pritchard is in his second year as head coach of the competitive outfit with the proud school having produced plenty of past NRL champions including Peter Sterling, Paul Langmack and Greg Alexander.

Joshua Alhazim will captain the Patrician Brothers Fairfield side in the Peter Mulholland Cup this season. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The Daily Telegraph will exclusively stream every match of the NRL Schoolboys Cup competition including the Peter Mulholland Cup in NSW and the Phil Hall Cup in Queensland.

Patrician Brothers Fairfield head of external sport Brendan Wallace said Pritchard had been a great addition to the staff and had quickly adopted the school’s focus on building more than just capable sportsmen.

“It is great to have his experience at the top levels of the game in that role, but also he touches on the different cultural aspects that make up our school community,” Wallace said.

“For the boys to have someone who has been there and done that and has been to the highest level of the game, it is always beneficial to have that. Someone who knows what it takes.

“We have a belief that you are a student first and an athlete second. It is something I have pushed with Frank and something he has embraced. Football is not going to be a career for every one of these kids, and you have to prepare them for life before you can prepare them for a game.”