By MARK CASHMAN

Yool Yool would like nothing better than to have his mother and family in the stands for the big northern beaches derby between Manly and Warringah on the first Saturday of September.

Rubbing shoulders with the likes of Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper at the Village Green, along with all the other rugby royalty that flock to the big derby each year.

Covid-19 restrictions mean that’s not really possible at the moment but like they have done all this season they have gathered as a family group in Melbourne and watched the exploits of the youngest in their mob on television.

“Having them see a big game like the derby live would be great,” Yool said. “I know my brother Chemir would love to see that one live, Marlins v Rats at Manly Oval.

“It would give them all an idea of what rugby at this level is all about and see all the good things about the Shute Shield and where I live.

“They all got together in Melbourne when we were the 7TWO TV match of the round against Northern Suburbs a couple of weeks back, but there’s nothing like seeing one live and taking in the whole experience of the day.”

Yool’s journey to the Shute Shield is an unusual combination of bravery, luck and persistence.

He was six months old when the family, led by his mother Helena, fled war torn Sudan in 1999.

Sudan was in the midst of its second major civil war over the past 60 years with the seceding of South Sudan and the imposition of Sharia Law on the Christian population in the north the major bone of contention.

“I must admit that I have no real memories of Sudan only that it was pretty hot and dry,” Yool added.

“But from what mum has told us she knew that we needed to get out of there.”

They sought asylum in Egypt and lived there until Yool was four years old and the opportunity came to come to Australia.

The family – mum Helena, brothers Chemir, 26, and Akon, 28,  along with sisters AJ, 30, and Awien, 18 – all moved Seven Hills in Sydney initially and then to Orange in country NSW.

Yool and the family threw themselves into the local community and the sporting life of the area.

“I had a go at pretty much everything to be honest – athletics, basketball and the footy of course,” Yool added.

With Yool’s sporting exploits starting to be noticed he was offered a scholarship at St Stanislaus College in Bathurst.

He had two years in the First XV under coach Bruno Rossit and represented the ISA Second XV in his final year before heading to Sydney with some ‘Stannies’ mates to play colts at Manly.

Some good performances at the Marlins colts saw an invitation to join the NSW Waratahs academy come his way at the start of 2019.

This year is Yool’s first season in grade footy and he has been part of a Manly Shute Shield side that has shown some potential without really putting it together in the first five rounds of the competition.

Marlins coach Matt McGoldrick says that Yool is still a work in progress but there is no doubting his ability.

“You can’t coach speed and I must say that Yool has that in shovel loads,” McGoldrick said.

“He’s still a little bit inconsistent at the moment, and that’s not a criticism, but he’s working really hard on his game.

“I suppose Yool’s a little bit like the Marlins as a team at the moment – there are some great things in his game and then he’s got stuff that he needs to work on.

“Being able to compete consistently at this level just takes time but he’s working hard and that is half the battle with a young talent like Yool.”

McGoldrick has tried Yool on the wing and also at fullback.

He has even been called upon at different times to do the kicking for the Marlins with injuries at different times to Sam Lane, skipper James Ohmsen and BJ Hartmann.

“Shute Shield has definitely been a step up from any of the rugby that I have played in the past,” Yool said.

“Everything is just that little bit faster and more physical but at the same time I am enjoying the challenge that those things bring to the table.”

Away from the footy Yool is studying for a Bachelor of Property degree at the International College of Management and is keen for a career in real estate once his playing days are over.

“I might have to tap the Bergelin boys on the shoulder at some stage,” he said in reference to former Marlins president Anthony and current team-mate Harry.

Both of whom are at the core of leading Manly property agency Bergelin Estate Agency, started by their father, the late Bernie.

IMAGE: KAREN WATSON