NEWLY selected Australian representative Cody Adams enjoys developing his skills playing rugby league for the Rosewood Roosters.
However, during more than 16 years of playing footy, he could only dream of one day competing for Australia.
That rare opportunity has arrived after Cody was chosen to serve his country overseas in another sport.
Cody, 22, is heading to The Netherlands for a four-day tournament in July after being picked for Team NSL (National Speedsoft League) Australia.
The sport – requiring speed, agility, sharp-shooting and tactics – is relatively new in Australia.
Having grown up with rugby league, Cody joined with a group of mates in 2020 to try “something different”.
After becoming involved in local competitions near Gatton, Cody slowly progressed into higher level events, advancing to drills and skills training and being invited to trial for national selection.
His dedication to a new sport paid off when Cody was recently chosen for Team NSL Australia to compete among 12 countries at a global series.
“It all started with an idea floated by me and my mates,” Cody said.
“We had a crack and then we got selected in the top 12.
“We went through the rigorous start of going to all the trials and going to all the trainings.”
Cody said when he realised he could do something with his new sport, he kept “pushing and pushing and here we are”.
He became the third team member picked in a final Aussie squad of five competitors and two reserves.
Cody hopes to help the Aussies finish on the podium or higher than their fifth placing competing overseas for the first time last year, also in The Netherlands.
When he returns home, Cody wants to rejoin his Roosters teammates in this year’s Rugby League Ipswich C-Grade competition.
He will spend the immediate future watching from the sidelines before launching his international sporting career.
Cody’s new challenge involves working as part of a five-strong team to take a flag to the opponent’s wall in an indoor arena.
Competitors kitted out in compulsory masks and other equipment of their choice, use a blaster to fire single shots at opponents to eliminate them one by one until the objective is achieved.
“When you are playing, you want speed, agility … you want to be as quick and as fast as you can to get from point A and point B,” he said.
He said competitors need to stay low moving across the field to avoid becoming a casualty of the “one shot, one kill” format.
“You want to have a good aim,” he said.
“There’s lots of little things involved in our games.
“It’s very tactical.”
But unlike using gel balls in Queensland, Cody may have to adjust to shooting metal pellets in The Netherlands.
Cody is grateful for what he gained from his long-term sport.
“Rugby league has helped me, first of all, with my fitness,” he said.
“Playing footy and being at the training every week kind of got me to step up into the fitness side of things because I was doing something active.”
Cody said his football background also taught him to play without hurting himself.
The former Mutdapilly State School student retains strong connections with Rosewood and works as a panel beater.
With his new sport in its infancy in Queensland, Cody hopes to help broaden its appeal in representing Australia and when he returns from overseas.
“It’s still very much under the radar,” he said.
“The whole point is we, as the Australian team, are just trying to put it out there more … make it more known and add to the sport.”
Current competitors train in the old sheds behind the Ipswich Jets fields at North Ipswich.
