Excavator Operator Gets Second Shot at NRL Dream at 29

Pat Herbert was halfway through another hard day on an excavator when his phone rang with news he thought would never come.

The Wests Tigers were calling to offer the 29-year-old a train and trial deal. For Herbert, who hadn't played top-level rugby league in almost four years, it was the second chance most former players only dream about.

Herbert's path back to professional football began to crumble in early 2023. After recovering from knee surgery and being released by the Gold Coast Titans, he suffered a serious Achilles injury just weeks before heading to Europe. His Super League contract collapsed, leaving him stranded in the rugby league wilderness.

With no options left in professional football, Herbert moved his family back to Wollongong. He found work as a landscaper, a laborer, and eventually an excavator operator. Alongside his fiancée, he raised three sons and slowly started building a life beyond football.

During his first stint in the NRL, Herbert made quite a name for himself. He played 59 games between 2019 and 2022 with the Warriors and Titans, earned selection for the Maori All Stars twice, and got nicknamed "Mr Uppers" at the Warriors for his exceptional upper body strength in the gym.

But as time passed and his boys grew older, something shifted. His sons would watch games on TV and recognize his former teammates as "Uncle such-and-such," but those connections were fading. The optimism was fading too.

Why This Inspires

Herbert's story reminds us that second chances don't come from luck alone. While operating heavy machinery in Wollongong, he kept playing in local competitions and starred in New Zealand's Tukana Tournament, an all-Maori knockout competition. When opportunity knocked, he was ready.

Since signing with the Tigers last November, Herbert has worked through the demanding summer pre-season without guarantees. He's already made it past Christmas, the first major cut-off point for train and trial players.

On his first day back on the field, Herbert had to stop and collect himself. "I almost shed a tear," he said. "It was just a moment of gratitude, because it's hard enough to get one shot at this thing."

Now Herbert doesn't think too far ahead. He focuses on making the most of every day and showing gratitude for the opportunity by simply showing up and giving everything he has.

His sons watch him differently now. They're seeing their father fight for something he loves, showing them that dreams can come back even after they seem lost forever.

For Herbert, whatever happens next is secondary to knowing he gave it everything when the phone rang and pulled him off that excavator and back into the life he thought he'd left behind.