Dedicated Beaudesert Kingfisher Caleb Cresswell is grabbing every opportunity that comes his way, honing his skills as a promising young footballer.
Halfback Caleb is in the Cyril Connell Tweed squad, is on a rugby league scholarship at Marsden High, plays Kingies under 16s and works on his kicking game every chance he gets.
For the love of football
Caleb Cresswell lives and breathes rugby league.
The young man of few words expresses his love for the sport through his actions every day of the week.
He works hard through his Marsden High rugby league scholarship, gets the bus and train to Nerang Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for Cyril Connell squad training, hits Willis Park or the gym Tuesdays and Thursdays to develop his skills and plays footy every weekend.
He does it with the backing of this footy-mad parents Kim and Dean Cresswell, who are also massive supporters of his little brother Carter, who plays Kingies under 14s and his big brother Huntah, 18, who played for the Kingies until recently.
Caleb, 15, has been playing footy for a decade.
He started with Jimboomba Thunder in the under 6s and has been playing for the Kingfishers since under 10s. The Woodhill teenager quietly works away at his skills but is humble about his achievements.
“He was nicknamed the tackling machine for his tackling technique and his ability to tackle anyone regardless of his size,” said proud mum Kim.
“He’s dreamt of being a rugby league player since he could talk. He’s very passionate, very coachable and very driven.”
The hardworking halfback represented South Coast in under 11s and under 12s and was one of 16 Kingfishers selected for the Mal Meninga and Cyril Connell statewide competitions.
The Mal Meninga Cup (under 18s) and Cyril Connell Challenge (under 16s) are the highest competitions players under 18 can reach in the Queensland Rugby League, before progressing to the Queensland Cup.
As well as coming from a Kingy family, Caleb has discovered his own passion for football.
“It’s a good sport, the best sport. It was pretty good being selected for the Cyril Connell squad, just knowing we’re going up against all the best teams,” he said.
Inspired by the likes of New Zealand Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson, Caleb heads to Willis Park on Tuesdays and Thursdays to work on his own skills in the club pre-season.
“I just want to do extras so I can get better. I just do things that we need to work on, kicks and stuff,” he said.
