LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Kotoni Staggs, a star player for the Brisbane Broncos, highlights that an NRL premiership ring symbolizes that "good things come to kind people," and he has exemplified this kindness in his local community, particularly to a family facing tragedy.
Just days before moving into their new home in 2023, Staggs and his fiancée Britt learned that their next-door neighbor, David Orange, had passed away unexpectedly. The 38-year-old local business owner left behind his wife Kerry and their daughter Eylea, who was only seven months old at the time.
In the midst of this family's sorrow, Staggs has stepped up as a source of support and compassion. He frequently assists them by providing groceries, driving them to appointments, and babysitting little Eylea-all without expecting anything in return.
"When somebody needs help and I'm around, and obviously I bump into people like that, I'll do it straight away," Staggs said following the Broncos' 26-22 grand final victory against Melbourne. His perspective is shaped by the understanding that "I'll go through struggles sometimes but someone else is always going through a bigger struggle than what I am. If I can be there for them and put a smile on their face, that's what I'll do."
This generous spirit is further illustrated in his conviction: "I'll take my shirt off and give it to them. If I had my last hundred dollars, I'd do the same thing. I'm a giver."