Widders doing a job for life at South Sydney

Because Widders, sitting in the concourse at Erskineville Oval and chatting about the Rabbitohs' first finals appearance in 18 years, also remembers the time in April when police pulled him over outside the same inner-city ground and hammered home the very stereotype he's trying to smash.

"I'm still confused about the whole reason behind it," said Widders, talking for the first time about the incident which occurred with Jeremy Smith also in the car. "No-one's ever come forward from the police to explain it to me. I've seen it happen to other people around this area, where they're picking on Aboriginal kids and giving them more attention because of the colour of their skin.

"I hope it wasn't that. But I'm really confused as to why he did it. And no-one has come to me and said why. Was it because I was black? Or was it because I was a footy player?"

Widders reported the incident to Souths co-owner Peter Holmes a Court, but remains confused. Yet it's for both these reasons that the tubby back-rower who you just want to hug has found his place at the reborn club. A black footy player with a higher purpose.

He might be the definitive practical joker. He'll pinch football manager Tony Henderson's mobile phone and text chief executive Shane Richardson: "You really should be paying me more money, Richo."

But there's serious work ahead, having joined Souths this season as much to work with the Aboriginal players in the club as make his trademark freight-train runs off the bench, the ones that will be vital to any Souths upset against the Sea Eagles.

"It's been great for me coming here," Widders said. "It's brought the things I want to do on and off the field closer together. And it's working already. How we've gone this year has just lifted the indigenous kids. People are walking this community with their heads held high. Proud."

Appreciate the significance: Widders playing this role at a club whose former captain, Bryan Fletcher, spat racial invective at him while he was playing for Parramatta only two years ago.

"It is ironic," Widders said. "But when that happened, the most support I got off anyone - apart from my coach at the time, Brian Smith - was from Souths. I was always comfortable about coming here. I never thought it was a racist club. This place has done so much for Aboriginal people and I want to help to make it greater - at giving young Aboriginal kids a go and giving them a way out."

When Widders first arrived at Redfern, he spoke to veteran centre Nigel Vagana about the role he filled in the club. "I had a talk with Nigel about the Pacific Islander kids," he said. "They're coming through in numbers, but the Aboriginal kids aren't. Five years ago, there was a lot coming through. Now they aren't. From where we were five years ago, we've gone backwards."

Widders is changing that, and he isn't doing it by preaching. "Deano lets his actions lead by example," says Souths skipper Peter Cusack. "He's first to turn up to training; the last to leave."

Cusack then adds - in reference to Crowe's famous comment in the ABC documentary South Side Story - "And Russell loves him - he's set for life."

Does Cusack love him?

"Deano or Russell?"

Both.

"I don't like using love and blokes. Nah, we're really close … There is a lot of love at the club at the moment."

Widders wants to share that love with more of his people.

"They see Greg Inglis scoring tries and think it's easy," he said. "They don't realise how much hard work he's doing in the background. They need people to take time out to show them those sort of things."

http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/widders-doing-a-job-for-life-at-south-sydney/2007/09/04/1188783239041.html