By Tania Phillips
Two local Warwick firefighters have swapped their uniforms for footy jerseys to take on NSW in the annual state against state firefighters game in Sydney.
The pair, both key members of the Warwick Cowboys, were part of a strong Queensland Firefighters Rugby League side who defeated NSW at North Sydney Oval 30-nil earlier this month.
It was fullback (and Rugby Union convert) Nick Chapman’s second year in the team while Ben Sullivan, who played at hooker for the game, was making his debut.
“We’ve been training for a few months in Brisbane, which especially for Ben and I, can be pretty hard to get to with different shifts and our roster,” Chapman said.
“From there they named a side that we went to Sydney with.”
“This is the first time for Ben but I played last year as well and did both the game against NSW on the Sunshine Coast and a game against the QLD Cops for the 911 game. So, this was my third game for them.”
Chapman said he was nominated for the team by a coworker.
“Ben’s dad, who also works at the fire station, has been involved with them for a while and when I came to Warwick just under two years ago he got me in touch with the guys in Brisbane who organise it,” he said.
“I went to a few sessions with them and went from their pretty much.”
While his first game was on home soil this time around they took on NSW in enemy territory down at picturesque North Sydney Oval.
“We went down Saturday morning and our game was on Sunday at 1pm between a local game and a NSW Cup game and then I flew back the next day,”
“We did really well, we had a pretty strong side and we got up over them 30-nil,” he said.
“We played really well and I was really impressed with everyone’s efforts – for not really training as a team because of everyone’s different shifts we came together very well.”
“It was very nice and the rain held off for us.”
Chapman played at fullback with Sullivan coming on in the first ten minutes as hooker after another player had a head knock and came off for safety reasons.
The two Cowboys players combined to score a try with Sullivan setting Chapman up to score.
“We definitely work well together,” Chapman said.
“It’s good to have a work mate as a team-mate and we play in the Warwick Cowboys together also. It definitely helps in games like this.”
Despite enjoying some success with the Qld Firefighters and with the undefeated Cowboys, Rugby League is still pretty new for the Warwick-based firefighter.
“I originally come from Union growing up,” he said.
“Coming out to Warwick and doing this (the firefighters team) are pretty much my first taste of Rugby League but the squad and the set up they have – they’ve been doing this since 2011 – has been really good.
“A lot of people are keen and it means a lot to a lot of people so they have a good set up. I’m very happy to be involved with them.”
“But it was a bit tough jumping from Union to League.
“My first season last year – I definitely had a lot to learn and finding my feet with the game was a lot more difficult than I thought it was going to be.
“But I definitely loved it and wanted to have another crack with a bit more knowledge about it all.
“I played with Norths Eagles in Brisbane, then I did a bit with the Brumbies in Canberra and the Aussie Sevens in Sydney.
“I was on the borderline of those teams, I got to experience what it was like but I’m at the stage now where I’m getting use to a new job and sport is a bit more of an enjoyment thing, rather than a career path.
“I’m definitely loving it and the Cowboys are a great club – very welcoming.”
