Dolphins at Dawson mine

Early this week, the Dolphins NRL players paid a visit to the iconic Dawson coal mine in Moura, Central Queensland owned by the team’s premium partner Anglo American.

The players toured the site before hitching a ride on a 400t Cat797B truck and going up in a dragline, getting a real experience of life on the mines.

“It’s good to have the boys come out and to see what one of their key sponsors does and get involved,” says Anglo American dump truck driver Glen Cecil.

There are some notable synergies between mining and sport with teamwork being at the core of both operations.

“It doesn’t happen with just one person, everyone has a different role,” Mr Cecil said.

“Resilience is key for us here and the players too.”

The team were also quizzed on leadership, superstitions and training routines in a Q&A session held at the site’s camp.

“Whether you’re in the mining pit, on the field or in the gym – success comes from trust, discipline and teamwork,” says Dawson HR manager Ben Leis.

“That’s something our crews and the Dolphins have in common.

“In regional communities like Moura, sport is more than just a game — it connects people across generations, industries and different backgrounds — just like the mining industry does.”

Amongst the players was local Central Queenslander Trai Fuller who was ecstatic to ride in the cab of the colossal truck.

“It’s crazy just how big they are and how much dirt they can move,” Mr Fuller said.

“It’s been good coming back out here not too far from my hometown, to see what everyone else does for work and just opening opportunities up for all the boys after footy.”

On their journey through rural Queensland, the team also visited schools in Moura, Banana and Biloela to talk to kids about wellbeing and resilience as well as playing footy with the local junior rugby league Biloela Panthers.

“We don’t get these opportunities much out in the small country town like Biloela, so the kids have been excited,” says Biloela junior rugby league president Karl Stevens.

“It’s good for the community and good for the club.”

“The connections that are created through sport in communities like us and an industry like ours is one of the things that keep these communities together and keeps it ticking,” Mr Leis said.

“So, that kind of experience and the players taking the time to visit the kids at school and talk about what they do just reinforces it.”