Even think back to primary school, because the earlier you go back the more fantastical, and often hilarious, that answer probably is – maybe you wanted to be an astronaut, a secret agent or even Batman.

Of course with young men there will inevitably be a few who dream of being professional athletes.

Naturally, it’s pretty rare for someone to eventually follow the path they aspired to in their pre-teen, or early teenage years.

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Well, meet Blayney’s Lewis Bird, he’s one of the few who’s done just that, even if he did only realise it not long ago.

“I found something from year seven, where I’d written that I wanted to be a sports trainer in rugby league,” Bird explained.

“I always had an interest in coaching when I was younger, and funnily enough it’s come to fruition now, I’d never have dreamed it would on this scale though.”

Bird, who before moving to Sydney had played with the Blayney Bears since he was eight and coached there as well, also having a stint at Orange CYMS, has just been appointed head coach of the Samoa NSW under 16s and he’ll also act as trainer for the open side too.

Speaking to the Central Western Daily 24 hours before he named his final squad for the season ahead, which kicks off against the Cook Islands on September 29, Bird said it’s an opportunity he never expected to be given.

He explained how it came about too, after a couple of years serving an apprenticeship of sorts.

“I’m very blessed to be given the opportunity, and very grateful for it too because it’s not something I was expecting,” he enthused.

“In 2016 I studied [through the Penrith Panthers] and after I graduated I moved home and started doing a bit of coaching, but got a call from a mate in Sydney to come down and do some casual work with the NRL as a development officer.

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“I spoke to my wife about it and we sort of said ‘let’s do it’, then one of my mentors was involved with the Pacific Islands side that was playing in the (2017) Universities World Cup. He asked me to come along as a trainer there.

“We were five weeks or so out from competition whereas Australia had been in camp for quite a while, but we managed to come second which was incredible. Australia beat us in the final.”

That Pacific Islands side was coached by Panthers legend Tony Puletua, who will mentor Samoa NSW’s open side this year. 

Another former Panther, and Bulldog, in Frank Pritchard has been named to mentor the under-18 group.

“It just snowballed a bit after [the Universities World Cup],” Bird continued.

“I did some work as a trainer with Penrith’s under-17s and I was a trainer for Samoa NSW side too, and then I was lucky enough to get the call-up to coach the under 16s this year.”

Bird explained the Rugby League Samoa NSW Chapter was only established last year but with other nations “getting on board”, they’ve already substantially increased the number of games they’ll play.

That’s what it’s about too, Bird said, continuing to develop and providing players with another pathway.

“It’s still a bit of a new concept,” he said.

“Basically it’s a way to help develop players with Samoan heritage that are playing the sport, and help continue giving them a pathway to hopefully eventually represent their country at a higher level.

“We teed up a few games last year, a few other countries have got on board with their own programs and I think we’ve got eight or nine games this season, and we’ll play in the (NSW Blue) Harmony Cup as well.”

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The latter tournament is one that includes sides made up of NSW Junior Rugby League play with Tongan, kiwi, Lebanese and Italian heritage among other nations, as well as Indigenous Australian sides.

The part of the job Bird’s most enthusiastic about is that development, and he also wanted to promote the fact there are coaching pathways available to the younger generation that are based in the bush too.

“It’s pretty great to see the concept develop, and see these players get given another opportunity,” he said, CYMS gun Tyrone Harrison was a part of the under-16 outfit last year.

“You do want to win, but we want to set the standard from the beginning that it’s not the be all and end all. We want to give them a chance to represent their country and their heritage, and give them every opportunity to succeed, which they more than deserve after the seasons they’ve put in.

“I think there’s a lot of coaches out there who sort of, maybe, don’t aspire to go on to the higher levels because they think it’s a bit out of reach.

“But it’s definitely doable and I want to show that there is pathways there for coaches too. It is an option, for juniors too, if that’s something they want to do.”

The last time Bird coached in Group 10 was actually last year, when he mentored the Bears’ under 18s.

They ran fourth in 2017 and were bundled out in the first week of the finals by Mudgee, but a number of that outfit backed up in this year’s side, that fell to CYMS in the preliminary final.

“I was really proud to see that side do so well,” Bird said.

“Being such a small town you do often struggle for numbers in Blayney, you know, but for them to develop as a side the way they did, it was great to see even though they just fell short.

"There’s a wonderful group of juniors coming through at that club, they’re a good, tight-knit group. The club’s put a big focus on that, and I think they’ll reap the benefits in the next few years.

“I keep a pretty close eye on the regional ares because I do miss my country footy, and there is opportunities in this kind of program for players out that way.

“If anyone is interested I’ll always try and provide an opportunity for them if it’s the right fit, so they’re more than welcome to get in contact with me about it.”