KEY POINTS:
What a terrific step taken by the Warriors this week in appointing Dean Bell to community and development manager for the club.
When we spoke a few weeks ago, he mentioned the prospect of this position. I could hear the excitement in his voice and his delight in returning to New Zealand.
Not only will he bring experience from his playing days but more importantly, Dean will deliver programmes that will return some values to players - values which have been missing for over a generation. They will learn what it means to be a rugby league player, given Dean's pedigree and background; from the working class blocks of Otara to become a household name within the rugby league fraternity in New Zealand.
He became a member of the rugby league elite in Australia and, in particular, England. His record as a player with Wigan is incomparable and respect follows him.
But despite all of the benefits bestowed at that level, Dean has remained humble, with his feet firmly planted on the ground.
His programmes will teach children values lost a number of years ago, including respect for others as well as manners, especially to adults.
What has that to do with rugby league, you may ask? If we can use the vehicle of sport and league in particular, then we will be producing better people with the hope they will become better sportspeople.
We may then reduce the amount of indiscretions by some individuals like late night drunken behaviour or fighting.
Constantly we hear of reckless actions of individuals in public places which draws unwelcome attention not only to themselves but to the sport as well.
It's attention both parties do not want and regret is the first emotion felt when it all blows up in the media. I know that there are individuals in the public who like to bait sportsmen in the hope of provoking a reaction but, in this professional era, sportspeople need to understand the best response is to walk away to prevent any escalation of the situation. Better still, it is better to not even place yourself in a position where circumstances canget out of control, especially late at night.
Your values determine your actions. What you learn as a young person from the people who care about you instils behaviour that you live by. This is where our society has fallen by the wayside, with the loss of values as a base for producing good people.
If we watch with interest the workings of Dean Bell on his return to this country and his dealings with the youth of today, we hope to witness the production of better individuals who create not just better rugby league teams but who also help to build an improved society.
