Mitchell Moses: “My life today is honestly a blessing. Growing up in Sydney wasn’t always easy. I grew up in a close-knit community where everyone knew everyone, and expectations were always high—especially if you had a footy ball in your hands. I remember waking up early on chilly winter mornings, bundling up just to get out on the field before school, running drills, or kicking goals on the local park while most kids were still in bed. My mates were often still snoozing, dreaming about cartoons or video games, but I had this drive—this hunger to get better every day. It was tough, but it taught me discipline, patience, and resilience from a young age.
At home, life wasn’t always simple. Money was tight, and I learned early that if you wanted something, you had to work for it. My mum worked long hours, keeping the household running while still making sure I had enough to eat. I remember grabbing a chocolate bar when no one was looking, just as a little personal victory. Looking back, it sounds trivial, but those moments mattered. They taught me to appreciate the little things and that hard work—even in the small stuff—makes a difference. Life doesn’t hand anything to you for free, and I carried that lesson onto every field I played on.
I wasn’t always the most talented kid. There were games where I made the wrong decision, missed a pass, or got tackled hard and went down in pain. It was frustrating, especially when it seemed everyone else was ahead of me. But giving up was never an option. Every fall, every mistake, every early morning practice built me. When I finally made my NRL debut, standing on that field, it hit me. All those sacrifices, all those tough mornings, weren’t wasted. Footy wasn’t just a game anymore—it was a way of life, a proving ground for every lesson I had learned.
There were so many sacrifices. I missed birthdays, nights out with friends, even casual hangouts just to train, watch footage, and improve. Some days, I felt isolated, wondering if all the effort would ever pay off. But I reminded myself that nothing worth achieving comes easy. I’d spend hours perfecting my kicking game, reading strategies, and imagining the future—visualizing myself leading a team to victory, making plays that mattered. Slowly, it all began to fall into place—one game at a time, one kick at a time, one decision at a time.
Looking back, I realize those early struggles shaped me in ways I didn’t understand at the time. They taught me focus, perseverance, and gratitude. Every tough match, every loss, every setback became a building block. Today, I get to play at the highest level, doing what I love, while inspiring younger players who are chasing their dreams. It’s humbling, and it reminds me why I started this journey in the first place. I wouldn’t trade a single early morning, a single missed outing, or a single challenge, because without them, I wouldn’t understand the true meaning of the life I live now.
And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that success isn’t measured just by trophies or wins—it’s measured by the effort, dedication, and heart you put into every single day.”