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The NRL's off-season from hell has shone a light on bad player behaviour, but former stars of the game say today's generation should look at the power of the positive behaviour.
Former Sydney Rooster Anthony Minichiello, former Bulldog Andrew Ryan and former coach Matt Elliott are part of the Change Room program, helping severely injured people get back to work.
Factory worker Dave Henricks hit rock bottom after he slipped and injured himself four years ago.
"I became a recluse and just sat at home, I would have a conversation with my family and would start crying and I didn't know why," he said.
"I suffered anxiety and depression, so it really dragged me down a long way."
He's since quit his factory job to start his own business.
"Without having gone through this program I don't think I would be where I am today," said Mr Henricks, who has returned to support this year's group of injured workers.
'Work gives us a purpose'
Thirty or so despondent participants, many with walking sticks, crutches and casts have turned up for this year's program at Sydney's Olympic stadium.
Founder Matt Elliott takes them through to the changerooms of New South Wales' biggest stadium, where the great players have sat, before asking how they cope when they feel anxious and depressed.
Photo:
Matt Elliott talks to participants at this year's Change Room program. (ABC News: Chloe Hart)
One participant whose left hand is bound and incapacitated responds "grit your teeth and get on with it".
Elliott assures them they will be supported to get back on their feet.
"No-one likes being on workers comp, people don't like sitting at home, work gives us a purpose," Elliot said.
Five hundred people went through last year's program, with 40 per cent returning to work.
The program starts with a two-day intensive course involving participants, mentors and health professionals.
Groups participate in sessions sharing what they have been through and where they want to go as well as practical and exercises and are assigned a career coaching specialist.
They are mentored and educated by league players sharing their knowledge about health, fitness nutrition, formulate diet and exercise plans and receive ongoing support through online forums and regroup at functions.
"It's very difficult finding the next step, they need to work out what they want in life, we give them the tools around your emotional state, breathing, resilience, sleep, movement, exercise, nutrition," Elliott said.
'We have such an influence'
Minichiello's battle with injury over his 14-year career inspired his passion for nutrition and movement exercise, which he shares with the group.
"We've had guys lose eight kilos in a week, reverse their type-two diabetes, decrease pain and inflammation, reconnect with family — they're the stories that make us happy," he said.
He said the NRL's disastrous off-season should be a wake up call to the players.
"Every other NRL player has a voice to change someone's life," he said.
"We have such an influence over young kids and fans — we are trying to use it as a positive to elevate peoples' wellbeing and that's something we love and we are proud of."
The program helps police and paramedics who are out of work because of psychological injury.
"When I was first medically discharged I had a lot of anger because I never wanted to lose my career, I had a 12-year career and an injury took it away," former policeman and participant David Woods said.
"It was very confronting but uplifting — I should have done this a long time ago," Mr Woods said.
Topics: rugby-league, sport, nrl, work, accidents, workplace, australia, nsw, homebush-2140