Wellington Cowboys call on Nathan Merritt and Timana Tahu to lift the club and community out of its darkest days

THE town known as the ice capital of Australia has called on two of rugby league’s greatest indigenous players to help lift it out of its darkest days.

Nathan Merritt is one try off setting South Sydneys all time try scoring record. Redfern Oval. Redfern. Picture Gregg Porteous

THE town known as the ice capital of Australia has called on two of rugby league’s greatest indigenous players to help lift it out of its darkest days.

The Sunday Telegraph can reveal Wellington have secured the services of former NRL stars Nathan Merritt and Timana Tahu in playing and mentoring roles.

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Merritt will don the boots for the Cowboys, while Tahu has agreed to work in a community that was previously nicknamed the “South Pole” for the amount of the drug ice that is in the town in central NSW.

Wellington president Darren Ah See, who doubles as the CEO of the Aboriginal Medical Service, says luring two of the NRL’s finest flyers extends beyond results.

Of course the Cowboys want to rebuild the once Group 11 powerhouse, especially after the first grade side failed to win a game last season.

Merritt has played all across New South Wales since his NRL career ended.

But as Ah See can attest, the club’s influence on the Wellington people isn’t solely on the field.

“This is far from being just about football,” Ah See said.

“It’s around the health and social wellbeing of our community.

“As CEO of the heath service that is one of the major reasons I wanted to get involved with the club. Wellington has a drugs problem, but I think it is no different to any other town and hopefully I can have an influence with the health side of things.”

Ah See has called on Merritt and Tahu in the past to help promote the Quit B Fit smoking program, an Australian Government funded initiative aimed at indigenous health.

He believes the respected paring are perfectly suited to making a difference.

Tahu will work in the community.

“It’s about having those boys involved with the club as good role models,” he said about Merritt and Tahu, who played a combined 433 NRL games.

“They can push from a health perspective, but also I think there needs to be some stability and support for the younger generation in Wellington.

“They are both non-drinkers and smokers, so they are very good people.”

In a bid to help the Cowboys recapture their form, Wellington has also signed former Newcastle Knights half Adrian Davis and journeyman forward Reg Saunders.

Ah See has no doubts both players will be beneficial for a Wellington outfit that are desperate to rebuild the proud club.

“There has been a bad culture at the club for a number of years,” he said.

“But being an ex-Cowboy myself and coming from Wellington, I wanted to do something.

“We’ve got a new committee this year and we’ve got a number of new sponsors come on board.

“But it’s not about results on the field, although we’ll probably have a lot better year.

“It’s also trying to revive the club’s culture and bring back the credibility.

“In the early 90s we made five grand finals in five years and won four, so it’s about rebuilding and making the club more committed.

“That will augur well for the community as well, because they love their football.”