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John Butterworth, a winger for the <\/span><\/em>South’s Sunnybank Rugby League<\/span><\/em> Club, made his debut for the Philippine National Rugby League (PNRL) at last year\u2019s Cabramatta International 9s. His story growing up as an Asian-Australian Rugby League player mirrors the story of many of his brothers in the PNRL.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n <\/span><\/em>This is his story and reflection of the international match between the PAL Tamaraws and the Latin Heat Rugby League national teams.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/em>The Rugby League International game <\/span>between the Philippines and the Latin Heat is definitely something special. Two countries are brought together by a game that is not considered a traditional sport in their home lands. Whilst I won\u2019t have the opportunity to lace up the boots with my new found brothers, I still feel passionate about the game. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span>My support for the game and the PNRL doesn\u2019t stem simply by being half Filipino, it goes deeper.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n <\/span>In 2003, I made a goal of one day representing the Philippines in a game of Rugby League. I was 13, a late bloomer, and in my first season of club Rugby League. For a child, hopes and dreams seem like they will eventually come true. As I moved into my teen years, I realised \u201chow could I play Rugby League for the Philippines? Rugby League isn\u2019t even played there and it\u2019s not even really an international game!\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n <\/span>Childhood desires of becoming a doctor, a nurse, a professional athlete, famous musician fade until they one day become a forgotten memory. Then <\/span>in late 2010, a random Facebook article sparked my interest. It read \u201cPhilippines enter team in 2011 Cabramatta 9\u2019s.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n <\/span>I wondered if this was the opportunity I dreamt about as a child. But I was grown up, 22 years old. I had commitments. I couldn\u2019t drop everything for the sake of a childhood dream. Hearing about the success made me happy that a team of Filipinos had fought against the odds, attitudes and stereotypes of being too small, weak and soft to play the greatest game of all. I was happy, and hungry \u2014 hungry to be involved. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n <\/span>In 2012 there was a Brisbane based training session scheduled. I now had an opportunity. I hadn\u2019t played Rugby League for 5 years. However I can say attending that first training was one of the best decisions I ever made.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n <\/span>In February 2013, I was able to achieve my childhood ambition. Running out for the Philippines at the 2013 Cabramatta International 9\u2019s, and this will be a memory I will forever cherish. The PNRL community is essentially one big family, one that I am proud to be a part of.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n <\/span>Born in Australia to an Australian father and Filipino mother, I can say I did have those dreams of playing for the Brisbane Broncos, the QLD Origin team or the Australian side. Even though those accomplishments are at a level that I will never achieve, pulling on a Philippine International jersey is just as special. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n <\/span><\/strong>The Latin Heat test match is one of many more games to come; meaning my journey with the PNRL is not yet over.\u00a0Reflecting back on my time with the PNRL, I believe many other players shared a similar childhood dream. The game is making positive strides in the Philippines and the improvement in competitiveness of the minor nations at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup definitely showcased that Rugby League is truly a world gam<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/em> So as a forward, back, water boy, or spectator, I will be there cheering for the PNRL to support what they have achieved and what is to come. Watch out Rugby League world, the Tamaraws are coming!\u201d <\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" John Butterworth, a winger for the South’s Sunnybank Rugby League Club, made his debut for the Philippine National Rugby League (PNRL) at last year\u2019s Cabramatta International 9s. His story growing up as an Asian-Australian Rugby League player mirrors the story of many of his brothers in the PNRL.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[65],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.philippinesentinel.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3008"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.philippinesentinel.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.philippinesentinel.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.philippinesentinel.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.philippinesentinel.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3008"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.philippinesentinel.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3008\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.philippinesentinel.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3008"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.philippinesentinel.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3008"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.philippinesentinel.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3008"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}