Lily and the Raiders Family Bond | Australia News

An 11-year-old girl with autism finds solace and strength in the Canberra Raiders, bonding deeply with players like Josh Papalii and coach Ricky Stuart—whose own kids also have autism. Wearing Stuart’s shirt became her “safe shirt” during school bullying, and she even sang to players, earning signed boots. The team, especially Stuart, has embraced her with tickets, meet-ups, and gifts, turning rugby into a lifeline. This touching story shows how sports can build belonging—and how shared experiences around autism create powerful, heartwarming connections. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/09d6c7a2c876e529