Sam Thaiday’s touching family admission after very raw confession about suicide

Former Brisbane Broncos star Sam Thaiday says he’s glad that Australia got to see what he’s really like after the NRL legend appeared on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!

The 39-year-old walked away victorious on Sunday night’s finale, winning $100,000 for his chosen charity.

Thaiday told his co-stars in January that he signed up for the show to help raise money for a charity that helps Australian men and boys deal with trauma when the discussion took a very personal turn.

‘My charity is called Find Ya Feet. It’s run by a guy named Tommy Herschell,’ Thaiday began, explaining that the charity goes into schools to help give young boys a way of talking about their problems.

‘As a 13-year-old boy I wanted to take my own life, and I wish I had someone like Tommy around to let me know that it was okay to talk about my feelings,’ Thaiday revealed.

Earlier in the week, Thaiday opened up about why appearing on the show meant so much to him. 

Sam Thaiday says he’s glad Australia got to see the real Sam while on I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!

Thaiday is raising funds for Find Ya Feet, and is an ambassador for the Starlight Foundation, which helps sick Aussie children

‘I really wanted to show Australia the full package of Sam Thaiday,’ he told the FIVEAA Sports Show.

‘I am known and remembered for my footy talents and maybe some fun and humour off the field with the Footy Show and things like that. But to be able to show a kind-hearted Sam is something that not a lot of people get to see. 

‘It’s mainly just at home with my daughters – they get to see that sort of stuff all the time – but Australia doesn’t. So I was pretty pumped to show Australia the full package.’

Thaiday – who played 304 games for Brisbane in a stellar career from 2003-2018 – was born to a Torres Strait Islander father, Billy.

He has previously opened up about his battles with depression, which led to him having more suicidal thoughts as a 15-year-old.

The former Queensland State of Origin star was diagnosed with dyslexia as a child and sent to a special school at age 12.

‘I felt like turning left and bolting… I felt dumb and worthless and thinking “what is wrong with me?”‘ Thaiday said.

”I hid behind comedy and humour and being the big loveable Sam but inside I fell apart.

The Brisbane Broncos great (pictured with wife Rachel and children) said on the show that he felt so lost that he considered taking his own life when he was just 13 years old

Thaiday was also diagnosed with dyslexia aged 12, in another blow to his mental health – but one that he has overcome

‘I still s**t myself when I have to read something in front of people. I hate live reads on radio because I don’t want to stuff it up and people think I am dumb.’

When he was just 15 things were so bad he considered taking his own life, even standing metres from a dam he imagined jumping into.

‘I got home from school and got my footy and told mum I was just going to kick it at the park but instead of going to the park I rode to the dam and there was a hole in the fence and I sat there quietly… blank,’ Thaiday said.

‘I did not care for much at that time. It did not matter whether I fell or I jumped.’

At the time, Thaiday convinced himself ‘no one would care’ if he jumped and that no one would look for him.

The father-of-two kept the experience a secret for almost 20 years until he visited a therapist.

That experience saw him choose to go public with his struggles in the hope he could help young people who are experiencing the same thoughts.

‘On some days I am super confused with what I want to do with my life but it is also good I can see that struggle now and I know what to do with it,’ Thaiday said in 202.

‘It is an opportunity to grow and move and break that cycle.’

In addition to raising funds for Find Ya Feet, Thaiday is an ambassador for the Starlight Foundation, which helps sick Aussie children.

If you need support, contact Lifeline 13 11 14, or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636