Growing up in the sweltering streets of Rockhampton, John Doyle knew from his earliest years that his life would be dominated by rugby league.
"Ever since I could walk, I had a football in my hands," John said.
Following in the footsteps of his father, rugby league legend Malcolm Doyle, John set his sights on a professional football career.
"They told me I was too small or too skinny. Then [rugby league coach] Murray Hurst gave me a call."
At 18, John packed his bags and left the beef capital behind, joining the North Queensland Cowboys under-19s side.
A year later, he was lacing up his footy boots for the first-grade squad.
Under the arena lights, with crowds cheering him on, John felt he was exactly where he was supposed to be.
A series of injuries, including a fractured neck, led to his early retirement after completing stints with the Sydney Roosters and Queensland Maroons.
Fans were crushed.
"I played in the professional system for eight years. I played 74 games. The average games you'll play is 20 or so a year, I was averaging like 10," he said.
Time for an outback adventure
Fed up with the politics of rugby league, John headed to the desert town of Mount Isa, in North West Queensland to take a job in the mines and look to the future. It was there he met his wife, and together they had three sons.
"And create some opportunities for young kids, boys and girls."
Now a business owner, John uses his gym, 3SonsFitness, to further his love for the game, as well as his passion to help others.
Shining a light on country talent
Jack Petitt was a 17-year-old filled with doubt about his talent on the field when he began training with John midway through last year.
"It was hard for me to believe, but then dad started saying it, mum started saying it. So, I started coming to the gym here.
"[John] helped me out with a lot of little things I had to improve on."
Now, Jack has his eyes set on the national competition, after signing an NRL contract with the Newcastle Knights earlier this month.
Jack credits John's tireless effort for getting him to where he is now.
"There would have been no way I would have done that without him," he said.
"He's been involved in a lot … he's great."
But John doesn't take any credit for Jack's success.
And Jack isn't the only player making strides on the field with the help of John.
Paving the way for all bush kids
Mount Isa local Maddy Hegarty has recently relocated to Townsville, after being selected in the North Queensland Cowboys QRLW squad, the Gold Stars.
The 19-year-old says it all started with John. Now a close family friend, Maddy began training with John at just 17.
"I told him when I first met him that I wanted to play women's rugby league. That was my dream," she said.
"[John said] if I could believe in myself, and want to make it bigger in footy, that I could. He called the coach, he got me the dates and times for try-outs.
"If it wasn't for him, telling me about it all, or always being there for me as a coach and mentor, I wouldn't be here right now."
Advocacy at its finest
John not only inspires his young charges, he champions them by ensuring that the people who can take them to the next stage in their careers have them on their radars.
"For these kids, I just keep bugging people, sending messages, emailing, ringing them — influencing the conversation [with selectors]," John said.
"It's about trying to change the perception of selectors to stop thinking of bush kids as nobodies.
"If given the chance, they can go anywhere. That's exactly what Jack and Maddy are going to do."
John doesn't want to stop here. With plans to eventually become an NRL coach, John hopes to be able to create change from within.
"All these places have so much talent but don't get the opportunity to be seen and it's not fair," he said.
"If I can get in there, I can start to inflict change even more. I can be there to say we need to get these kids out west, not just Mount Isa, but surrounding areas like Doomadgee, Normanton and Cloncurry."
