In Episode 9 of the ABF FIT Podcast, Sereana Tuqiri joins host Bo de la Cruz for a powerful conversation about community, culture, connection, and the real impact of the Arthur Beetson Foundation Future Immortals Tour.

This episode takes listeners beyond the field and into the heart of remote community life — where showing up matters, trust is built through action, and opportunity can change how young people see their future.

For many kids, seeing players and role models arrive in their community was more than exciting. It made something that once felt distant suddenly feel real.

Episode Overview

Sereana shares her firsthand experience of what happens when the Future Immortals Tour arrives in community — not just as an event, but as a moment that creates pride, energy, and belief.

Together, Sereana and Bo reflect on the impact of players stepping off the plane, walking into schools, connecting with families, respecting elders, and being welcomed onto country.

They explore how these visits can lift school attendance, spark motivation, and remind young people that their dreams are not out of reach.

This is a conversation about the power of presence.

It is about what happens when communities are not just spoken about, but genuinely shown up for.

In This Episode

Sereana and Bo discuss:

The impact of the Future Immortals Tour in remote Aboriginal communities
Why follow-through matters when communities have heard promises before
How school attendance lifted when young people knew players were coming
The importance of elders, cultural respect, and being welcomed on country
What it means for kids to meet the people they have only seen on television
The pride felt by families, traditional owners, and community leaders
How sport can open doors to bigger conversations about identity, aspiration, and possibility
Why real connection leaves a lasting impact long after the tour leaves

A Story of Showing Up

One of the strongest themes in this episode is the difference between talking about opportunity and actually delivering it.

Sereana speaks about the feeling in community when people realised the tour was real — when players stepped off the plane, entered schools, joined clinics, and stood alongside the kids.

In remote communities, where distance and access can make opportunities feel far away, those moments matter.

They shift the energy.

They create excitement.

They turn doubt into belief.

More Than Sport

While rugby league is at the centre of the Future Immortals Tour, this episode shows that the impact reaches far beyond the game.

Sport becomes the doorway.

Through that doorway comes connection, cultural exchange, mentorship, leadership, pride, and the chance for young people to imagine something bigger for themselves.

Sereana and Bo talk about the importance of respecting elders, listening deeply, and understanding that entering community is a privilege.

They also reflect on the powerful cultural moments shared with players — moments that stayed with everyone involved.

Why This Episode Matters

Episode 9 captures the heart of the ABF FIT mission.

It reminds us that representation is not just about being seen on a screen. It is about being present. It is about young people being able to stand beside someone they admire and realise they are human, reachable, and proof that pathways exist.

For communities, these moments create pride.

For kids, they create possibility.

For players and ambassadors, they create perspective and responsibility.

This episode is honest, emotional, and deeply connected to the purpose of the Future Immortals Tour.

When opportunity becomes real, young people begin to see themselves differently.

That is the power of showing up.

That is the power of community.

That is the legacy being built through the Future Immortals Tour.