FOR once, all-round sports star Anthony Mundine happily played second fiddle — proudly watching from the stands as his son competed in a historic school basketball match.
Twelve-year-old Anthony was part of the all-indigenous basketball team to compete at the Pacific School Games for the first time.
Former rugby league star-turned-boxer, Mundine, said he was thrilled with how the team, called Gaiyimarr — meaning Kangaroo — took on a tough Queensland squad at the Campbelltown health club in their third match.
Mundine Junior helped his team put up a good fight before the Sunshine State players took control in the second half, winning the game by 37 points.
Mundine, 42, said he couldn’t be more proud of the boys, who had just one training session together before jumping into competition.
“They put this team together through the grapevine, it all got pulled together in the last couple of weeks,” Mundine said.
“They’ve definitely improved. They love playing and I had a talk to them about passion.
“I said don’t fear anybody, have a go, show your heart and just enjoy it. Go out there and have fun and play for your people and make yourself proud.
The 2017 Pacific School Games opening ceremony at Adelaide Showgrounds. Photo by Naomi Jellicoe1 of 25
The 2017 Pacific School Games opening ceremony at Adelaide Showgrounds. Team South Australia. Photo by Naomi Jellicoe2 of 25
Matey the Games Mascot. Photo by Naomi Jellicoe3 of 25
Team Tasmania. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe4 of 25
Team NT. Photo by Naomi Jellicoe5 of 25
Team NT. Photo by Naomi Jellicoe6 of 25
Team Phillipines. Photo by Naomi Jellicoe7 of 25
Team Victoria. Photo by Naomi Jellicoe8 of 25
Team NSW. Photo by Naomi Jellicoe9 of 25
Team NT. Photo by Naomi Jellicoe10 of 25
Team Queensland. Photo by Naomi Jellicoe11 of 25
Team Macau. Photo by Naomi Jellicoe12 of 25
Team Queensland. Photo by Naomi Jellicoe13 of 25
Team Western Australia. Photo by Naomi Jellicoe14 of 25
Team Singapore. Photo by Naomi Jellicoe15 of 25
Team South Australia. Photo by Naomi Jellicoe16 of 25
Team South Australia. Photo by Naomi Jellicoe17 of 25
Team Western Australia. Photo by Naomi Jellicoe18 of 25
Team Macau. Photo by Naomi Jellicoe19 of 25
Team India. Photo by Naomi Jellicoe20 of 25
Team India. Photo by Naomi Jellicoe21 of 25
Team India. Photo by Naomi Jellicoe22 of 25
Team First Nations. Photo by Naomi Jellicoe23 of 25
Team Fiji. Photo by Naomi Jellicoe24 of 25
Team China. Photo by Naomi Jellicoe25 of 25
“Mundine Junior played division-one basketball for the Sydney Comets and they came second in the nation. Before that he was playing rugby league and he was killing it, he was scoring tries left, right and centre.
“But once he started playing basketball he just fell in love with it and became passionate about it.”
A notable face in the Gaiyimarr line-up was zippy larrikin Wundarra Thomas. The 11-year-old was cast as Adelaide Crows goalsneak Eddie Betts in the NAB’s Mini Legends advertisement.
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