By Lauren Wright

WITH a dad who was a soccer player, Glenn and Rachel Sargood thought their son Tom would follow in his footsteps.

But they were wrong.

2012 will be the third year Tom has played for Bowral Kookaburras Rugby League Club.

After two years playing in the under-6 competition, Tom will step up to under-7s this year.

While Glenn was a soccer player before he was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, rugby league has always been a big part of life for the Sargood family.

Rachel said ever since he was a toddler he would go to the games with his father, with the family holding Sydney Roosters season passes.

"He just loves it. He loves watching it and loves playing it," she said.

"From the time he could walk he'd be in the backyard throwing a footy around. It's something he's always seemed to like doing."

His cousin Christian and uncle Adam also played for Bowral until this season, and Rachel said the two cousins enjoyed many afternoons kicking the ball around in the backyard.

Tom has already had some experience in under-7s, occasionally filling in last year when the team was short on numbers.

While Rachel said Tom knew it would be a difficult step up, he was excited for the challenge.

When Tom started playing two years ago, Glenn ran water for the team and while he is no longer able to do do, Rachel said he is still at every one of Tom's games cheering him on.

"We still got him out to all the games. He looks forward to it as much as Tom does," she said.

"He [Tom] loves knowing his dad's there watching him. It's still something they can do together."

"It means a lot to him to know that dad's out there watching him."

As a Roosters fan, Tom's favourite player is Sam Perrett, who he got the chance to meet last year when Perrett visited the Sargoods to help them with a fundraiser.

Through their connection with the Roosters, Tom was also given the opportunity last year to be ball boy at three of the Newtown Jets home games and Rachel said the club had offered him the opportunity again this year.

"All in all he just loves it," she said.