Rugby legend Wally Lewis says discipline key to career success

IT’S been 30 years since rugby legend Wally Lewis sliced meat for a living. But it taught him lessons he would carry onto the football field and later careers.

Disciplined ... Wally Lewis says his experience working at a deli paid off later in life.

IT’S been 30 years since Wally Lewis sliced meat for a living at The Rhine Barrel, a delicatessen in Cannon Hill which he owned with his mother, June.

But the old deli taught him important lessons he would carry onto the football field and into his later career as a sports reporter and commentator.

“There was discipline involved with that job,” the rugby league legend said.

“If you want to make sure that you provide benefit for yourself and your family, you’ve got to learn to have that discipline.

“You’ve got to learn to stick to the rules.”

Running a small business in his early 20s while playing rugby league kept him busy, but Lewis focused on developing a routine and finding balance.

Between the early morning trips out to the seafood markets at Colmslie and nightly training sessions at the Valley’s and Wynnum-Manly football clubs, the days were long and exhausting.

“But it was a business that I used to enjoy going to,” Lewis said.

“Remaining positive is the thing I believe is most important.

“If you’re after a job that you know is going to be very rewarding, you’ve got to be prepared to put the time in.”

Disciplined ... Wally Lewis says his experience working at a deli paid off later in life. Picture: Annette Dew

That’s the advice the father of three has passed on to his now adult children.

His eldest son, Mitchell, has carved out a career in radio while his daughter, Jamie-Lee, became the first deaf athlete to represent Australia in a hearing sport in water polo and is aiming for the Rio Olympics.

Lewis said his middle son Lincoln Lewis had succeeded as an actor by remaining positive and persisting.

“As much as there have been successes along the way, there have been enormous disappointments (for him),” Lewis said.

“But when Lincoln missed out on a position, he wasn’t gutted and the smile would quickly return to face as he continued his trek towards that goal that he had.

“Remaining positive (when looking for work) is essential.”

***News Corp Australia and Woolworths Ltd, have joined forces to launch Generation Success, an initiative focusing on youth employment. Unemployment in the 15 to 24 age group is now 12.4 per cent — more than double the overall national rate. To tackle the issue Gen S brings together some of the country’s biggest employers: Woolworths, Leighton Holdings, National Australia Bank, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Toll Group, Spotless, Telstra and Qantas. Youth leaders, industry and government will attack the issue at discussions in April.