Imagine being at a crossroads in life, feeling like your dreams are slipping away, only to find a lifeline when you least expect it. This is the remarkable journey of Pat Herbert, a hopeful player for the Wests Tigers, who transitioned from operating an excavator back into the world of professional rugby league.
Just over three years had passed since Herbert last donned an NRL jersey. During this time, he found himself grappling with various challenges after a planned move from the Gold Coast to the Super League fell through in early 2023, leaving him adrift in what he calls the rugby league wilderness.
During this hiatus, Herbert didn't just sit idly by. He took on multiple roles, including landscaping and laboring, immersing himself in a hard day's work far removed from the dazzling lights of elite rugby. It was during one of these long days that the unexpected happened—he received a call from the Wests Tigers, offering him what many former players can only dream of: a second chance.
"I got a call from the Tigers while I was on the excavator, and here we are," Herbert recalled, still amazed at how quickly things changed. "To have a significant break due to unforeseen circumstances and then get another shot? It’s overwhelming when I reflect on it."
For Herbert, this time away from the sport was crucial for personal growth. He emphasizes the importance of young players seizing their opportunities, sharing his own experience of having everything taken away from him. "It got stripped away from me. I'm incredibly fortunate to get another crack at it."
Currently, Herbert is putting in the hard yards during the summer on a train-and-trial agreement with the joint venture, facing uncertainty but also embracing the opportunity to prove himself. At 29, he knows there are no guarantees, yet he’s determined to make the most of it—a sentiment that has always driven him.
Herbert’s background as a physically tough centre is backed by significant experience; he represented the Maori All Stars twice and played a total of 59 NRL games between 2019 and 2022 for teams like New Zealand and the Gold Coast Titans. However, his prospects dimmed in early 2023 after recovering from knee surgery and suffering a severe Achilles injury just weeks before a European contract was set to begin.
The collapse of that Super League deal left Herbert facing a bleak future in professional football. "I found myself with no chips on the table, and it became my new normal," he reflected. "Sometimes you get a bad hand, and you just have to play it."
Eventually, Herbert returned to Wollongong, where he previously captained the St George Illawarra Under 20s team. Surrounded by friends and job opportunities, he worked various jobs while raising his three sons with his fiancée. Despite participating in local competitions, he gradually began to step away from his football career.
As time went on, Herbert noticed the distance between his past life as a rugby player and his present began to widen. His children recognized him more as a former player watching old matches on television, pointing out his teammates as "Uncle such-and-such." The fading optimism about returning to the sport weighed heavily on him as the time since his last game stretched on.
When the Tigers reached out, there was no doubt in Herbert’s mind that he would embrace this opportunity wholeheartedly. "It just put my foot back in the door, and I felt like I had a lot to offer and some fire in my belly," he said. "Whatever happens, happens—but the best way I can show my gratitude for this chance is by showing up and doing my thing."
Even now, Herbert is unsure why the Tigers decided to reach out to him while he was operating an excavator. Perhaps they caught a glimpse of him playing in the Tukana Tournament in New Zealand, an all-Maori knockout competition where he excelled with the champions, Kotahitanga. It could also be that coach Benji Marshall remembered him from their days as teammates in the Maori All Stars. Or maybe it was his reputation as a powerhouse in the gym that caught their attention. Regardless of the reason, Herbert is simply grateful to have this opportunity.
"I've been loving it. I needed to rediscover that passion when I was given this chance. I couldn't be more thankful," Herbert expressed. "The physical demands of pre-season are always tough, but my time away helped me appreciate it from a fresh perspective. It feels so much more fulfilling now.
"My greater purpose is to make my boys proud, which keeps me aligned, especially when the going gets tough."
Herbert's journey has already been long and winding, from a life beyond rugby league to rejoining the Tigers and navigating the pre-season. He has successfully made it past Christmas, which is often a critical period for players, and the first pre-season match of the year is just around the corner.
However, Herbert isn’t focused on what comes next. Instead, he aims to savor every single day. He treasures the camaraderie within the team, noting how willing everyone is to do anything for Marshall and vice versa. He relishes being back in a world he thought he had left behind.
When he eventually returns to his life outside of rugby, a path he began forging during his absence, he will know that he did not give up without a fight. "On my first day back on the field, I had a moment alone where I thought, 'What am I doing here?' and I nearly shed a tear," Herbert recounted. "It was just a moment of gratitude because it’s challenging enough to get a single opportunity in this sport. Whatever role I have here, I just want to repay that faith."
