Imagine taking something as ordinary as sports tape and turning it into a symbol of strength. That’s exactly what NRL legend Greg Inglis is doing with his Stick With It campaign, running across the NRL between July and August this year.
After a massive rugby league career with the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Melbourne Storm, Inglis faced his toughest battle off the field when dealing with anxiety, depression, and bipolar II disorder when he retired. The structured life of footy suddenly ended and Inglis struggled, eventually admitting himself to rehab. But instead of giving up, he used his story to help others.
Greg founded the Goanna Academy, Australia’s first Indigenous-owned mental health organisation, and launched Stick With It. The campaign encourages players, coaches, and fans to wear sports tape on their wrists or write messages of hope on it. This visible show of support is meant to start conversations about mental health, a topic many people still find hard to discuss.
Why is this important? Suicide is the leading cause of death for Aussies aged 15 to 44, and rates are even higher for young people, and those in First Nations or regional communities.
Inglis wants the tape to be an “icebreaker”, similar to how a band-aid gets people asking “what happened?” The idea is that the tape opens up chats about mental health.
Inglis, a current member of the Wests Tigers coaching staff, believes mental health is a national emergency. He wants everyone to know: you’re not alone. Small actions, like wearing tape or checking in with a mate, can lead to big conversations and save lives.
So next time you see someone wearing sports tape, remember it’s not just for injuries; it’s for starting a conversation that could change, or even save, a life.
For more information, visit Goanna Academy
