Former Eels prospect Steve Dresler is helping improve the lives of the children with a disability
This rising Parramatta Eels forward is refusing to let the end of his NRL dream be the end of his incredible story.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
It’s 1pm on a Sunday afternoon when the phone of former Parramatta Eels prospect Steve Dresler pings with an email notification.
He doesn’t recognise the name of the sender.
But the 22-year old immediately tends to the email; after all, he is running a business in its infancy and it could be something important.
Kayo is your ticket to the best sport streaming Live & On-Demand. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
“Hi there, we just want to pass on compliments to a group of your staff and kids who were having a lovely day at Boat Harbour today,” the email read.
“The kids were having a great day, it was a joy watching them so happy. Your staff were kind and so hands on and we really enjoyed sharing the beach with them today.
“Thought it was worth passing on so you could let them know they are doing a great job.
“Regards, Peta.”
In moments like these, the pain from Dresler’s crushed NRL dream stings a little less.
Before Dresler was receiving high praise from total strangers for the work his NDIS business, What Ability, does with kids and people with a disability, he was a teenage rugby league sensation destined for a career in the NRL.
Such was his talent, Dresler was plucked from a macadamia farm in Yamba, on the far northern NSW coast, by the Gold Coast Titans as a 12-year-old.
From then, everything the rising forward did was dedicated to the pursuit of his NRL dream.
But his growing body had other ideas.
Dresler’s horrid run with injuries started in 2013 as a 15-year-old — he suffered around nine serious injuries over the next five years including two ACL ruptures.
But NRL clubs were not deterred; Dresler’s talent was obvious and hard to ignore.
As well as the Eels, Canterbury and South Sydney wanted Dresler to come south of the border.
With his wrist in a cast, broken in his final game for Keebra Park High School, Dresler packed his life into his car and drove nine hours south to Parramatta.
There his desire to play NRL only grew but so did his injury list.
In 2017, he suffered his second ACL injury.
Dresler made it back onto the field for Parramatta’s NSW Cup side but again it would be short-lived.
After playing the 2018 season in complete agony, Dresler received the news his ACL was absent and three different surgeons delivered the same heartbreaking prognosis – his rise to NRL stardom was over.
Parramatta stars Reed Mahoney and Dylan Brown were Dresler’s housemates at the time.
Brown, who remains close friends with Dresler, still remembers the sheer cruelty of his former teammate’s hard luck.
“It’s so weird because it always happens to his type, he was one of the most passionate footy players I knew and he came down from Queensland to chase his dream,” Brown told The Daily Telegraph.
“He made that sacrifice for it to go out the door … that’s not only heartbreaking for him but everyone.
“He was one of the most talented players in our age group, so when it happened I was pretty sad for him and everyone around him.”
But away from the football field, Dresler’s passion for another, arguably more noble pursuit, was growing every day.
During his time at the Eels, Dresler and a number of other players including Brown, Mahoney and Oregon Kaufusi, would devote their free time to Giant Steps – a school for children with Autism.
There Dresler found a purpose greater than rugby league and the roots for his own disability service business were planted.
So in July 2019 Dresler started What Ability, a service designed to provide care and recreational activities for people with a disability, where athletes are recruited as support staff.
“After Giant Steps a few of the boys wanted to work on weekends so I thought ‘why don’t I start a professional, semi professional disability service?’,” Dresler said.
“It’s grown beyond that to include young people in general but we still have NRL players, netballers and Super Rugby players.
“What Ability adds some youthful energy to the disability sector and I think that’s why it has been so popular.
“Within a couple of months we had 50 emails from parents wanting us to look after their kids. Now we have around 100 participants with a disability aged four to 30 with around 112 support staff.”
What Ability is one of the more unique offerings in the disability sector and that in part has resulted in its success.
Through his business Dresler has one aim, to help the most vulnerable connect with their communities through something as simple as having fun.
“It’s all about community access. We are about having fun and doing the things that bring them joy,” Dresler said.
“We take the kids swimming, on bush walks, surfing, to events and we even have camps that we conduct.
“We have a wide range of people with disabilities and capabilities, some are non verbal that can’t speak or can’t do a single thing on their own.
“Then we have those that live on their own and can order their own food or go play golf.
“When the kids are having fun we are changing their lives and the lives of their families. We see it every day.
One look at What Ability’s Instagram page backs up Dresler’s claims.
The feed is filled with ear-to-ear smiles of participants and their support staff doing the things the rest of us take for granted.
One familiar smiling face is that of Brown and participant Luke, who has down syndrome.
The two were pictured having a blast body boarding on the beach only last month.
“That’s Luke, he loved it and that was the most fun I’ve had with a kid. He is always happy,” Brown said.
“There’s also James, he just loves to have fun and he’s one of the kids I’ve worked with most and he’s a joy to be around.”
For Brown, 20, the time he spends with What Ability is a chance for him to “pause” his fast-paced life as an NRL superstar.
“I’m quite young and I jumped into the spotlight and that is sometimes pretty overwhelming,” Brown said.
“So hanging out with these kids is a ‘pause’ on the footy side of life, which takes up every hour of my day.
“It’s not like I leave the footy field and it’s done. You go to a cafe and people recognise you.
“But these kids don’t know who we are but when we hang out we put smiles on each other’s faces.
“We are helping each other out.”
Dresler is planning to take What Ability national in 2021 and is hoping more athletes from all over the country will jump on board.
Brown wants to see more athletes like himself take part in What Ability as its reach grows.
“Just join it, just come and have fun. It doesn’t feel like a job and you won’t regret it,” Brown said.
“The kids will probably bring you more joy than what you bring to them.”
ABOUT WHAT ABILITY
What Ability – happiness comes first
VISION
To bring happiness to people living with a disability
MISSION
Through community experience we will bring a smile to participants, enriching they‘re lives and unleashing they’re potential.
VALUES
Passion – to create a inclusive world through youthful energy
Empower – participants to try new things and staff to excel at they‘re jobs
Empathy – in every Interaction with every person
Respect – individuals needs and strengths meeting everyone where they‘re at
DRESLER’S INJURY REPORT
2013 Elbow surgery
2013 Knee surgery
2014 ACL surgery
2014 Hand surgery
2014 Removal of hardware and cleanout
2015 Scaphoid (wrist) surgery
2017 ACL surgery
2017 Shoulder reconstruction
2017 Knee arthroscope
2018 Knee arthroscope
2018 Removal of all hardware and damaged ACL and meniscus
Originally published as Former Eels prospect Steve Dresler is helping improve the lives of the children with a disability
NRL star’s blunt reality as exit looms
An NRL star has spoken out for the first time over his contract situation as he confirmed his club are not interested in re-signing him.
Aussies run riot in PNG demolition job
An Australian team bursting full of young NRL stars has proven far too strong for PNG in an annual clash against the PM’s XIII.