David Holt with former housemate Jaydyn Hoeta, Daniel Foley and SimonVanzanten.
For most small-town rugby league club presidents, the off-season involves budget planning, sponsorship hunting, and player retention. But for David Holt, President of the Junee Diesels, the job description often includes an unwritten, and decidedly unique, clause: Accommodation Provider.
Holt’s commitment to the Diesels’ growing roster of overseas imports has turned his four-bedroom home into a bustling, sometimes chaotic, temporary barracks for young players looking to make their mark in the Group 9 competition.
“I’ve got a four-bedroom house, so the other three were in rooms for about a month or so,” Holt explained in a recent off-season catch-up. His generous hospitality saw his home burst at the seams.
“A couple of them would share a room. One bloke was on the lounge, another two were in opposite corners of my pool room with a mattress on the floor.”
A Full House of Footy and Opinions
At its peak, Holt was living with seven young men, a situation he admits got “a bit messy at times.” Despite the tight squeeze, the shared living space fostered a unique camaraderie, especially on game days.
“It was pretty full on with seven blokes living at the one house,” he recalled. “I’ve got a pretty big loungeroom, so when the footy was on telly it was fairly entertaining with that amount of opinions floating around the room.”
This unconventional arrangement has been a recurring feature of the club’s success in attracting talent. James Strickland from the Cook Islands, initially signed in 2021, has been a long-term resident, save for a brief attempt at a separate rental.
Fijian players Jese Wainibuli and Ratu Saurara (since 2022) have also used Holt’s place as their base, with many other players coming and going temporarily.
At one point, Holt was also hosting four players alongside his son and twin grandsons.
“It’s all good, it all works out and then usually by Christmas time I’m left at home by myself, and then we get ready for the next season,” he said, reflecting on the annual cycle.
Missed That Bit in the Paperwork
When jokingly asked if “becoming the Houser of the boys” was detailed in his contract as president, Holt chuckled. “I missed that little bit in the paperwork, if it was.”
Holt’s role as landlord began in earnest with Strickland’s arrival.
“The previous committee had signed James Strickland with the promise of accommodation and employment,” Holt explained. “He showed up on the doorstep, and I said, well, you may as well camp there, as I had a spare bedroom and make yourself at home. I didn’t mean itliterally!”
The players, typically in their mid-20s, with a few younger talents like 20-year-old Jaydyn Hoeta (who is now chasing a Jersey Flegg spot with Newcastle), often juggle football with work. Holt ensures the imports are connected with local employment opportunities.
“If you look at a lot of places, it’s not hard to pick up employment,” he noted, citing the booming construction industry between Junee and Wagga. Strickland has found work in welding and metal fabrication, while Saurara utilises his skills as a cook at the local aged-care hostel, Cooinda Court. Others have found casual work on the concrete sleeper project at the ARTC.
Diesels’ 2026 Season Outlook
Looking ahead to the upcoming season, the Diesels are focused on continuity and strong combinations, despite losing a couple of key players who are pursuing higher-level opportunities, such as Dredin Sorensen chasing the Super League in Europe.
“We’re pretty much sticking with what we had, minus a couple,” Holt said, adding that the club is finalising a couple of new signings but is largely retaining its 2025 roster. Crucially, the Diesels are expecting a much earlier return for key players Ben and Chase this year, a positive sign for pre-season training. Chase, who has gone back to France to play in a World Cup, is expected to return in time to bolster the squad.
The club is banking on the combinations developed over the last season to give them an edge. For Holt, the dedication of the players—and the annual sacrifice of his spare rooms—is all part of the commitment to keeping the Junee Diesels competitive.
– Tully Potts
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