Queensland Maroons players have been inspired by the motivational message delivered by New York firefighter James Dowdell as the team prepares for the opening State of Origin match in Sydney.
Dowdell, a New York Fire Department (FDNY) lieutenant, was invited by Maroons head coach Billy Slater to address the players in camp about his experiences.
James turned 17 the day before his father, Lieutenant Kevin Dowdell of Rescue 4, passed away in the South Tower of the World Trade Centre on September 11, 2001.
Kevin Dowdell was one of 343 firefighters to lose their lives while helping others on that tragic day.
As history shows, the unity and resilience of the FDNY came to the fore during and after the shocking 9/11 event.
in a unified band, James and older brother Patrick joined the search and recovery mission in the rubble with other determined firefighters.
Dowdell said his message was about “resilience, leadership and taking action”.
“The team is only as good as everyone working as a unit,” said Dowdell, who has previously shared his story with Maroons great and current manager Nate Myles, as well as Sam Walker.
“What makes the uniform great is not the individual. It is all the members who put it on before you and all the people who are supporting you.”
Maroons prop Lindsay Collins was inspired by Dowdell’s story.
“He said they sort of don’t assess the building. They just go straight into the fight,” Collins said.
Dowdell became a New York City firefighter and carried on his father’s legacy.
“I imagine it’s similar to a lot of these guys who grew up playing rugby league and their fathers played,” Dowdell told AAP and The Courier Mail.
“It’s what you know. That’s what I knew and I enjoyed it. I saw how happy it made my father.”
Maroons prop Tino Fa’asuamaleaui was deeply moved by Dowdell’s story.
“When he lost his dad … he went from his mum making his lunch the day before to just jumping straight in as a volunteer to look for his dad during the rubble,” Fa’asuamaleaui said.
