‘Footy was a way out': The inspirational story behind Dolphins' potential saviour
But now, the unheralded Dolphins enforcer is looking ahead as he seeks to repay coach Kristian Woolf's faith in him and help salvage a season plagued by an injury curse.
'Woolfy says he believes in me and that I can do the job, so I just want to prove him right, and prove to the boys I can be here to back them up,' Tawha said, ahead of his side's Thursday night clash with the Cowboys – his fourth NRL appearance.
'It's crazy, someone like that saying they believe in you. Coming from where I come from, you never thought you'd talk to someone of that calibre.
'Now I'm here playing NRL and he's telling me that – I just don't want to let him down.'
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Tawha left Hamilton for Australia as a bright-eyed teenager to ply his trade for the Tweed Seagulls five years ago, before a shoulder injury seemingly ended his NRL crusade.
He moved back across the ditch for a period, before taking up a shock opportunity to play rugby union in the Netherlands during the COVID-19 pandemic. He later returned home, where he settled for local football while working as a scaffolder.
But an out-of-the-blue call from Yass Magpies in 2023 turned his fortunes around. There, he was spotted by former Redcliffe Dolphins coach and Brisbane Broncos forward Ben Te'o and produced a breakout Queensland Cup season.
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The Age
44 minutes ago
- The Age
Could AI change rugby league? The revolution has already begun
Pressed on specifics, Driussi was diplomatically vague: 'We're exploring multiple AI applications, but competitive advantage comes from execution, not just ideas. The technology helps us analyse information and identify patterns that might otherwise be missed.' What makes the Bulldogs' AI adoption particularly intriguing is Driussi's other role as CEO of Quantium, an Australian artificial intelligence and advanced analytics company. The firm works with major Australian companies, such as Woolworths, Commonwealth Bank, Telstra and Qantas. The connection provides the Bulldogs access to world-class AI expertise that would typically cost NRL clubs millions of dollars to develop themselves. While Driussi is careful not to discuss any formal arrangements, the potential for knowledge transfer is obvious. The 'Family Club' previously revealed it used AI to identify Jacob Preston during his recruitment from the Roosters' pathways system, suggesting the technology has been instrumental in some of their personnel decisions. AI's influence on sport was one of the topics discussed at the NRL's Business of Sport Conference in Las Vegas at the University of Nevada, just before this year's season-opening matches at Allegiant Stadium. The headline speakers were Driussi and Paul Devlin, the latter the global strategy leader for betting, gaming and sports technology at Amazon Web Services. Devlin, who has held high-performance roles at the Brisbane Broncos, South Sydney, Parramatta and Melbourne Storm, said AI would transform the sporting landscape. 'We see AI as absolutely revolutionary, and we think it will impact every area of business in the future,' Devlin says. 'So everybody should be experimenting with it right now, so that was kind of the key message that came out of that NRL event ... AI is going to improve every area of business, but it is really clear on the insight generation from the data side of it in a sport like rugby league on talent identification, load monitoring, safety of the games through simulations, as well as the fan side of sport as well.' Several NRL clubs are already dabbling with AI. One leading head coach, speaking on the condition of anonymity to protect the club's intellectual property, said that AI had the potential to help analysts wade through reams of data to come up with a couple of key takeaways when preparing for an opponent. 'That's where I see the next step in world sport, how AI can save you time in identifying those trends so you're not wasting time doing it yourself,' the coach says. 'The advantage you get is saving man-hours, so you actually spend less time on computers and more with the players. 'You can see the information that's relevant; missed tackles is the most outdated stat because there's no context to it. And completion rates; seven of the top-10 completing teams didn't make the finals last year.' Here's a practical example of how AI is being used. One club found the best way to beat the Storm is to limit their time in possession. If you can restrict them to less than 23 minutes and 25 seconds with the football – they average 26 minutes and 36 seconds – you have an almost 100 per cent chance of winning. Not easy to do in reality, but it's useful information. While most NRL teams focus heavily on pre-contact metres – the distance gained before first defensive contact – to build momentum, a different focus is required to beat Canberra. AI found the Raiders were uniquely driven by post-contact metres, those tough yards gained after contact. Limit those metres, and you can stop the Green Machine. Canterbury's embracing of AI reflects a broader transformation sweeping through professional sport worldwide. American sports leagues are leading the charge, with the NFL processing more than 500 million data points per season through its Digital Athlete system, reducing player injuries by 700 missed games since 2023. Major League Baseball has implemented AI for pitching analysis and injury prevention, while the NBA uses machine learning for player load management and game strategy optimisation. English Premier League clubs are using AI for recruitment: Brighton's system identified Moises Caicedo before his eventual £115 million ($240 million) transfer from them to Chelsea, while Liverpool's partnership with Google DeepMind has produced tactical analysis tools that club experts prefer over traditional methods 90 per cent of the time. The secrecy surrounding Canterbury's AI implementation is understandable given the competitive implications; NRL clubs are notoriously protective of innovations that might provide advantages. The technological investment aligns with the Bulldogs' recent restructure. The blue and whites are constructing a $50 million centre of excellence at Belmore and have significantly expanded their pathways programs, including taking over the Fiji Silktails program. 'We're building for long-term success,' Driussi says. 'That means investing in the best people, the best facilities and the best technology available to us.' Bulldogs chief executive Aaron Warburton confirmed the club's commitment to innovation. 'We're always looking at ways to improve our operations and give our players and staff the best possible tools to succeed,' Warburton says. 'Technology is certainly part of that equation.' Loading The club's return to finals football last year, after missing the post-season for eight seasons, has been attributed to improved recruitment, player development and coaching. However, the role of AI in this transformation remains largely hidden. Given the global AI sports market is tipped to grow from $1.2 billion to nearly $30 billion by 2032, getting in early could be the key to success. Already, rivals are playing catch-up to Canterbury. For a club that has endured wooden spoons and years of mediocrity, the Bulldogs are marrying old-school values with cutting-edge technology. Whether that translates to premiership glory remains to be seen, but the Bulldogs are betting heavily that the future of rugby league will be shaped by artificial intelligence.
Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Could AI change rugby league? The revolution has already begun
Pressed on specifics, Driussi was diplomatically vague: 'We're exploring multiple AI applications, but competitive advantage comes from execution, not just ideas. The technology helps us analyse information and identify patterns that might otherwise be missed.' What makes the Bulldogs' AI adoption particularly intriguing is Driussi's other role as CEO of Quantium, an Australian artificial intelligence and advanced analytics company. The firm works with major Australian companies, such as Woolworths, Commonwealth Bank, Telstra and Qantas. The connection provides the Bulldogs access to world-class AI expertise that would typically cost NRL clubs millions of dollars to develop themselves. While Driussi is careful not to discuss any formal arrangements, the potential for knowledge transfer is obvious. The 'Family Club' previously revealed it used AI to identify Jacob Preston during his recruitment from the Roosters' pathways system, suggesting the technology has been instrumental in some of their personnel decisions. AI's influence on sport was one of the topics discussed at the NRL's Business of Sport Conference in Las Vegas at the University of Nevada, just before this year's season-opening matches at Allegiant Stadium. The headline speakers were Driussi and Paul Devlin, the latter the global strategy leader for betting, gaming and sports technology at Amazon Web Services. Devlin, who has held high-performance roles at the Brisbane Broncos, South Sydney, Parramatta and Melbourne Storm, said AI would transform the sporting landscape. 'We see AI as absolutely revolutionary, and we think it will impact every area of business in the future,' Devlin says. 'So everybody should be experimenting with it right now, so that was kind of the key message that came out of that NRL event ... AI is going to improve every area of business, but it is really clear on the insight generation from the data side of it in a sport like rugby league on talent identification, load monitoring, safety of the games through simulations, as well as the fan side of sport as well.' Several NRL clubs are already dabbling with AI. One leading head coach, speaking on the condition of anonymity to protect the club's intellectual property, said that AI had the potential to help analysts wade through reams of data to come up with a couple of key takeaways when preparing for an opponent. 'That's where I see the next step in world sport, how AI can save you time in identifying those trends so you're not wasting time doing it yourself,' the coach says. 'The advantage you get is saving man-hours, so you actually spend less time on computers and more with the players. 'You can see the information that's relevant; missed tackles is the most outdated stat because there's no context to it. And completion rates; seven of the top-10 completing teams didn't make the finals last year.' Here's a practical example of how AI is being used. One club found the best way to beat the Storm is to limit their time in possession. If you can restrict them to less than 23 minutes and 25 seconds with the football – they average 26 minutes and 36 seconds – you have an almost 100 per cent chance of winning. Not easy to do in reality, but it's useful information. While most NRL teams focus heavily on pre-contact metres – the distance gained before first defensive contact – to build momentum, a different focus is required to beat Canberra. AI found the Raiders were uniquely driven by post-contact metres, those tough yards gained after contact. Limit those metres, and you can stop the Green Machine. Canterbury's embracing of AI reflects a broader transformation sweeping through professional sport worldwide. American sports leagues are leading the charge, with the NFL processing more than 500 million data points per season through its Digital Athlete system, reducing player injuries by 700 missed games since 2023. Major League Baseball has implemented AI for pitching analysis and injury prevention, while the NBA uses machine learning for player load management and game strategy optimisation. English Premier League clubs are using AI for recruitment: Brighton's system identified Moises Caicedo before his eventual £115 million ($240 million) transfer from them to Chelsea, while Liverpool's partnership with Google DeepMind has produced tactical analysis tools that club experts prefer over traditional methods 90 per cent of the time. The secrecy surrounding Canterbury's AI implementation is understandable given the competitive implications; NRL clubs are notoriously protective of innovations that might provide advantages. The technological investment aligns with the Bulldogs' recent restructure. The blue and whites are constructing a $50 million centre of excellence at Belmore and have significantly expanded their pathways programs, including taking over the Fiji Silktails program. 'We're building for long-term success,' Driussi says. 'That means investing in the best people, the best facilities and the best technology available to us.' Bulldogs chief executive Aaron Warburton confirmed the club's commitment to innovation. 'We're always looking at ways to improve our operations and give our players and staff the best possible tools to succeed,' Warburton says. 'Technology is certainly part of that equation.' Loading The club's return to finals football last year, after missing the post-season for eight seasons, has been attributed to improved recruitment, player development and coaching. However, the role of AI in this transformation remains largely hidden. Given the global AI sports market is tipped to grow from $1.2 billion to nearly $30 billion by 2032, getting in early could be the key to success. Already, rivals are playing catch-up to Canterbury. For a club that has endured wooden spoons and years of mediocrity, the Bulldogs are marrying old-school values with cutting-edge technology. Whether that translates to premiership glory remains to be seen, but the Bulldogs are betting heavily that the future of rugby league will be shaped by artificial intelligence.
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
‘Dirty tricks': Major problem ruining the NRL laid bare as player contracts lose all value
Somewhere along the line, the NRL's player transfer market became a spaghetti junction so complex it can only be traversed with a PHD or BS. Whether it's a player, an agent or a club, chances are they've 1. had exposure to this minefield and 2. bastardised it to their advantage. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. In lay terms, there's no rule that isn't inequitable or prone to manipulation by Isaac Moses- and it's left confidence in the system at rancid lows. This is why the governing body must untangle this web before the player agents wrest total control and rebrand the Wests Tigers as a labour hire agency. As it stands, the salary cap is a proven rort that heavily favours the elite clubs, the November 1 deadline is a joke and the NRL is asleep at the security desk. But it doesn't matter anyway because the contracts governed under this model provide the same legal protections as the T & C's on black market cigarettes. As we know, players can test the market from November 1st at the beginning of the final year of their contract- and the results have been deadly. Some sign so far in advance they risk dying of old age waiting for their new deal to commence, while others run dead waiting for their current one to end. Yes, blokes like Viliame Kikau and Jarome Luai bowed out from Penrith with a trophy after signing eons in advance for the Bulldogs and Tigers respectively. But for every gluttoned Panther there's a Brandon Smith gushing over the Roosters with a year to run on his Storm deal or a Daly Cherry-Evans triggering a form slump that cost himself the Queensland captaincy. The rule treats the fans like mugs too, mainly by forcing them to cheer for players who're already thinking about new shapes and release excuses. Watching a mercenary farcically dial it in may be okay for us old cats blessed with the anchoring nostalgia of the glory years, but for the youngsters with no idea of the loyal one-club company men of this magical era, it sucks deluxe. You wouldn't cop a resigning CEO hanging around for a year or even a kid flipping burgers, you'd march them out the door before they spit in your fries- and the NRL should do the same too. Furthermore, these advance signings also bury footy's news cycle under a dogpile of whispers and cryptic Instagram posts. If you were new to rugby league and the first thing you tracked was the Dylan Brown contract or the Lachie Galvin brouhaha, the most shocking thing you would've learned is both actually play football. That's because transfer imbroglio can snowball in to an all-consuming farrago of loopholing and lies that relegates the 80 minutes on the weekend behind whoever Phil Gould's blueing on 100% Footy. As for the contracts themselves, they've grown so worthless that the only clause recognised is the one about acting like a prat to get an annulment. If there's one thing more unedifying than a player snapping a deal because the coach used a stern tone of voice – or a club trying to force out an unwanted player – it's the manner in which the desired outcome is achieved via Machiavellian smear. With everyone employing dirty tricks via leaks and lies it means a deal signed to '2029' no longer refers to a contract's year but its number of exit clauses. And when this contract is eventually broken? It's usually to accept a pittance to play for a premiership club or a Saudi ransom to be a pariah on the Gold Coast. Yes, the salary cap was supposed to equalise talent distribution but now it just serves successful clubs over the bottom-feeders. Add third party agreements and the silky persuasion of urban magnates like Nick Politis, and it's no wonder juggernaut clubs pilfer developed talent from have-nots like milking a dairy cow for cheesecakes. But how do we overhaul player movement to make it fair for everyone? Transfer windows and swap deals have been suggested, as has a player draft or just folding the Roosters. But the draft gets canned because it was palmed by Terry Hill 25 years ago, player swaps are too complicated for splitting the bill, and the Players Association don't like a transfer window or the June 30 model because it only leaves new signings a measly six months to hire a removalist. As such, we're left with a model that relies largely on honesty and arsey gotchas. And with the NRL focused elsewhere on other trivialities, it means a player breach is only detected if it happens at the same time they fail to play the ball with their foot. It's time to get real. Adopt zero tolerance on breaking contracts for more money and implement the 'Classroom Lolly' rule for TPA's by outlawing the lot unless there's enough for everyone. If that's not to the NRL's liking, perhaps try the recruitment strategy proposed for the PNG expansion and lock them all down in a compound. – Dane Eldridge is a warped cynic yearning for the glory days of rugby league, a time when the sponges were magic and the Mondays were mad. He's never strapped on a boot in his life, and as such, should be taken with a grain of salt.
