Rabbitohs Head Coach Michael Maguire is using his experience walking the Kokoda Track to help his playing group understand and appreciate the significance of the NRL's ANZAC Round ahead of this Friday's clash against the Brisbane Broncos.
Michael Maguire walked the Kokoda Track in late 2014, taking a group of developing youth players with him, and developed a deep appreciation with the ANZAC legacy.
"I was very fortunate to take a young group of players over there two years ago and experience what possibly they could've gone through,"
"The terrain is incredible: To think that Australians went over their and combined with Papua New Guineans and protected our country - it's a very special place.
"It was extremely hard but quite easy when you think about what the men had to face during their time over there. It's changed my life and how I've seen a lot of things."
Maguire has also formed a strong connection with the Australian Defence Force during his tenure as Rabbitohs Head Coach, putting his team through pre-season commando style team-building exercises and boot camps with the Defence Force personnel.
Heading into our clash with the Brisbane Broncos, Maguire is using his experience to help inspire his playing group to understand and appreciate the significance of the NRL's ANZAC Round.
"The team are aware of the experiences that I've gone though but it's something that grows inside our Club," said Maguire.
"We've got a lot of people that are tied to us through the services. We've got the Jersey that represents, in a small way, the great people who have been before us and the things they've done for us,
"The more we know about that the more education these young guys have and the more they appreciate what we have.
"It's a very special game for the whole NRL."
The Rabbitohs have a strong connection to the Kokoda Track and Papua New Guinea. Legendary Rabbitohs captain Jack Rayner served in the Australian Army during World War II in Papua New Guinea.
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