One of Gold Coast rugby league’s most recognisable players is back, flowing red locks and all.

Brock Hamill has overcome more than most in his 21 years, so no coronavirus shutdown of the local first grade competition is going to blunt his enthusiasm for 2020.

SIGN UP NOW FOR OUR FULL ON FOOTY GOLD COAST NEWSLETTERS

After all, being diagnosed with testicular cancer at 18 has a funny way of delivering perspective … and a warped sense of humour.

“That was pretty heartbreaking,” he said of losing his hair as a by-product of his chemotherapy.

COAST JUNIORS STAY IN THE GAME

“I was more upset about losing my hair than finding out about having cancer.

“The day that went was pretty sad but I’ve grown it all back.

“It’s probably healthier now than before.”

JUNIOR DAYS

A SOCCER player until under-11s, Hamill found the round ball code a little too genteel for his cutthroat nature.

It was only in his switch to the Southport Tigers in rugby league that he found his tough-talking calling.

“I used to play soccer; I made a few rep teams,” he said.

“But I was always too physical in that game.

“Dad decided to bring me over to rugby league.

“I remember my first training session I was told to tackle around the ankles and go low, that’s all I knew how to do.

“From there I loved it and loved it ever since.”

LIFE AND DEATH: WILL ALL COAST CLUBS SURVIVE?

STAR TEAMMATES

IT took more than a flowing red mane to get Hamill noticed in a Keebra Park high school team containing future NRL talents Tanah Boyd, Payne Haas and David Fifita.

“Tough” was the word thrown around in footy circles about the forward who charges like Webcke and tackles like Gillmeister.

“Keebra was the best school for me and my league; I loved it,” he said.

“We lost the 2016 national (schoolboys cup) final to Westfield Sports High and then won it against them the next season.

“It’s weird to think how far they (the NRL stars) have gone from back in high school.

“They were so good back then.

“We always said to Payne ‘you are going to go far’ and he did.

“Payne and I have a few stories. But he was always a monster and was so aggressive back then, like he is now.”

ONE-ON-ONE WITH TITANS BOSS

PATH TO BIG TIME

NATIONAL titles tend to catch the eyes of scouts after a false start at one-time Keebra affiliate Wests Tigers in 2016, Hamill repeated Year 12 to land a deal with new partners Canterbury Bulldogs at the end of 2017.

“I was playing some pretty good footy and was meant to go to the Wests Tigers,” he said.

“But it fell through and at the end of 2017 the Bulldogs came in and offered me a contract and I took it with both hands.

“The set-up was great at the Bulldogs and I moved in with eight other boys trying to make it.

“We had a house mum and they feed you well.

“But being away from parents was one of the struggles. Another one was finding work.”

Things in 2018 were going well on the field, at least.

After spending time with Bulldogs feeder club Moorebank Rams in the Sydney Shield, Hamill played one under-20s game against Manly.

“We smashed them 60-0 or something. I scored two and set up a try and got man of the match,” he said.

In the background, though, lay a sinister worry.

CANCER SCARE

HAMILL knew something wasn’t right. He could feel it.

In December 2017 he got confirmation: testicular cancer.

“Like men do I was feeling around down there one evening and thought ‘this doesn’t feel right’,” he said.

‘TEAR A CLUB APART’: FEARS OVER COAST LEAGUE CHANGES

“I gave it two weeks and told my dad and school coach. They said ‘go get that checked out’ and I did so we went and ran tests.

“The doctors said you might have to get surgery.”

After an initial all clear, the tumour returned in April 2018, sparking more chemotherapy and the loss of that prized hair.

“It was pretty scary but I had a great support group with mum and dad, and my coaches like Dowdy (Southport coach Steve Dowd),” he said.

“I had two weeks of chemo and one week off and the doctors told me to try walking and doing little things.

“I couldn’t do much but did as much as I could.”

10 BIGGEST COAST SPORTS STORIES OF THE WEEK

RETURN TO FOOTY

A SECOND green light, this time four months on from his second scare, prompted thoughts of a footy return.

“They said go at your own pace and don’t over-exert yourself,” said Hamill, who still gets regular checks.

“But as soon as I was given the all clear I was straight back into training.

“The first few trainings were hard; in my mind I was thinking ‘this is easy’ but my body wasn’t saying that at all.”

There was of course the challenge of slimming back down, a task made easier by Keebra coaches Glen Campbell and James Chapman.

“I didn’t lose weight from chemo; I went the other way,” he said.

“I went from 95kg to 100kg and then to 110kg within three months.

“They were giving me so much fluid and I was eating like I was still training.”

It was all worth it.

MEET COAST SPORT’S ULTIMATE POWER COUPLE

“The first game back was at the Dogs and it was good to get back out there,” he said.

“I said to myself ‘I’ve missed this’.”

RETURNING HOME

Hamill isn’t one to be put off by being cut from the Bulldogs at the end of 2019.

He was, after all, lock of the year and players’ player for the Rams, as well as chalking up about 12 games for Canterbury in the Jersey Flegg competition.

“It was pretty upsetting (to not get a new deal) because I loved my time at the Bulldogs and loved every minute of it,” he said.

“But I wasn’t too upset to come home.”

Dowd, for his part, was happy to have the local junior back.

“He’s one of the best blokes around,” he said.

“He’s a great footballer too so it’s good to see him back on the Coast.”

Intrust Super Cup club Tweed stepped in with the offer of a pre-season deal, and a registration with Southport was to follow.

If only the footy could now return.

‘FUN TO WATCH’: HOW BURLEIGH ARE BACK AT TRAINING

“I would have liked to have a few (ISC) games and play majority of my football at Southport,” he said.

“It sucks because I was really keen to have a good year and win a premiership for the Tigers.

“Hopefully we’re back soon.”