Mount Isa's proud history of generating rugby league stars from Scott Prince to Kalyn Ponga may soon be continued after three young men were selected in the Cowboys under 18 feeder side Townsville Blackhawks.
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Mount Isa second rower Teurewera Potini, centre Simeona Tala-Sio and fullback Hayden Andrews will now pack up their belongings and head to the coast thanks to a new sports program called Battlewon.
Battlewon is the brainchild of former NRL player John Doyle, who is now the owner of Three Sons fitness gym in Mount Isa, and still plays for Townies.
Potini, Tala-Sio and Andrews will play in the Queensland Cup but all admit they could not have done it with out the help of Doyle and his Battlewon co-creator, sports psychologist Marcel Noronha.
Andrews said he would not have made it without the Battlewon program.
"I take no credit for who I am now or the level my rugby league game has gone to. It all goes to Marcel and John with their Three Sons fitness gym and Battlewon program," Mr Andrews said.
Tala-Sio said the Three Sons gym felt like a home.
"You feel comfortable talking to anyone about anything in here, we are like a big family," Tala-Sio said.
Potini agreed.
"I have been through a lot in my years so its great to be able to come here and chat with people, this place has become a stress relief," Potini said.
Not only has the gym provided the boys with new found physical and mental strength but it has provided a new pathway for Mount Isa junior rugby league talent given the lack of an under 17s competition in town.
Mr Doyle said he had a few connections with NRL managers and believed the boys at least deserved a chance at trialing for major feeder clubs.
"I ended up getting the boys a shot with the Townsville Blackhawks," Mr Doyle said.
"So they travelled to Townsville and went up against 70 other high performing players and those three boys made every selector's side."
Mr Noronha said a lot of the boys' development had come from the mental aspect of the Battlewon program.
"We focus a lot on mental strength in sport, behaviour and discipline and it's paying off," Mr Noronha said.
"In just four months we have three boys who have a shot at playing in the NRL."
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