Marly Bitungane to make NRL debut for North Queensland Cowboys after fleeing Tanzania as a refugee

Rugby league’s latest debutant has been inspired by Queensland sprint sensation Gout Gout and wants to leave an indelible mark on the game that has helped him create one of Australian sport’s most remarkable stories.

And this is only the first chapter.

Bitungane, 22, celebrated the ultimate rags-to-riches tale when he made his NRL debut for the Cowboys in North Queensland’s 32-12 loss to Cronulla at Shark Park in Round 22.

The strapping front rower had 40 friends and family in the grandstands celebrating his first-grade triumph – 18 years after Bitungane’s family fled Tanzania.

“I was born in Tanzania and we immigrated to Australia because of war,” Bitungane said.

“I don’t have many memories from around those times but a civil war was breaking out which made it unsafe for anyone there at the time.

“I am one of 10. Seven of us are blood siblings and my parents took in the other three as we were fleeing the country for protection. My parents sold businesses to try and afford flights for as many of us as possible.

“I was fortunate to have them all here. It wasn’t common for families to be able to leave the country as refugees and stay together.

“We came here seeking a better life.”

Bitungane’s parents Ezechiel and Rosine and their 10 children settled in Brisbane’s southside suburb of Woodridge, in the Logan district.

Marly, birth name Emarly, didn’t speak a word of English when he landed in Australia and life wasn’t easy for an African family making a fresh start abroad.

“I didn’t know English and had a translator follow me around at school,” he said.

“We had to start again. It’s not that I didn’t have what I needed, my parents always worked extremely hard, but budgets were tight looking after such a large family.

“Both mum and dad had two jobs at a time. There was a lot going on but I’m lucky enough to say my siblings are my best mates.

“We have been through thick and thin together. We’ve always been there for each other.

“My parents have raised us to love each other.”

Naturally athletic, Bitungane progressed through the grades focusing on his education and it wasn’t until early high school that he decided to have a crack at rugby league.

Before long, he was being offered a scholarship at renowned Brisbane private school St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace - the school that produced Broncos star Pat Carrigan.

“I went to Woodridge State High School, they were low on numbers and my best mates played football,” he said.

“They were egging me on to play and I thought they were taking the piss but they convinced me, I did one session and played the next day.

“I was definitely a lot leaner and skinnier back then. I started on the wing and kept moving closer to the middle.

“I ended up getting a scholarship offer from Gregory Terrace. I had only been playing footy for a couple of months and I got a phone call from them saying they liked what they’d been seeing.

“It was a tough decision because it was a union school, but my parents wanted me to take it up because they cared more about my education before footy.”

That passion for education has seen Bitungane develop and launch an app – Geno Study – that connects students with tutors.

He also has a passion for real estate and was studying psychology at Griffith University, but has parked those ambitions to chase his rugby league dream in Townsville.

Bitungane has watched Ipswich sprinter Gout Gout, son of South Sudanese parents, inspire Australia’s African community along with Tanzania-born Socceroo Nestory Irankunda.

He hopes his story can do the same.

“There’s Gout Gout and what he’s doing in track and field and Nestory is a football icon,” he said.

“I look at them myself and get inspired from what they’ve been able to achieve from hard work. They’ve come from similar situations and shown it’s possible.

“I was fortunate enough to have a community of other African kids in similar situations when I moved here. I’ve seen some mates make the most of their opportunities and others not.

“I am very grateful to come to such an amazing country that has given me these opportunities. I have cousins in Africa that would kill to be here and have the freedoms and opportunities that we have in Australia.

“I hope kids that get the chance to come here make the most of it.”

While he has bigger ambitions, Bitungane is focused on making the most of his shot at the NRL.

He is off-contract at season’s end and at his second club, having spent a year with the Melbourne Storm after finishing school.

The Cowboys team erupted when coach Todd Payten informed them of Bitungane’s debut.

“It’s an incredible story for him and his family,” Payten said.

“He’s worked hard for a long time. He is a big body, quite athletic and the boys got a fair amount of buzz when we told the group.

“Him and his family are really elated for the opportunity ahead of him. You see how much it means to the individual and the people around him.”

Bitungane has had to bide his time in the Hostplus Cup for the past few years in Townsville waiting for a crack at the NRL.

He’s averaged 108m per game and made 37 tackle busts in his 16 matches for the Northern Pride this season.

Starting on the bench in his NRL debut against the Sharks, Bitungane only had to wait 20 minutes for his debut, replacing Coen Hess in the middle for an opening 15-minute stint in horrid conditions. He came on for the final few minutes of the game and finished the match with five runs for 37m, a tackle bust and 11 tackles.

He now hopes there’s more chapters to come in this inspirational story.

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“This is my third year in Townsville and I didn’t want to move up initially, but to my surprise it’s really grown on me,” he said.

“I’m very fortunate. I’ve made lifelong friends and met amazing people. The slower lifestyle has allowed me to focus and lock-in on my footy and business.

“It’s really special, I’m still pinching myself.”

Originally published as Marly Bitungane to make NRL debut for North Queensland Cowboys after fleeing Tanzania as a refugee