I was chatting with a good friend of mine recently—a Catholic priest with a deep love for both faith and footy—when he brought up the virtue of fortitude, and how it plays out not only in the spiritual life but also in sport.
Fortitude is one of the four cardinal virtues. It’s often described as courage in the face of adversity, but it’s more than just being brave.
Fortitude is the strength to do what is right, even when it’s hard. It’s what helps us persevere in trials, stay faithful when it would be easier to give up, and keep going when all seems lost.
He said to me,
“What greater example is there of fortitude in sport than being down 20 points at half-time and coming back to win the game?”
And that’s exactly what we saw this past weekend in the NRL.
If you missed it, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs pulled off an incredible second-half comeback against the Canberra Raiders, turning a 20–0 deficit into a 32–20 victory at GIO Stadium.
It was one of those games where fans on both sides were left shaking their heads—for very different reasons.
But the Bulldogs weren’t the only team to flip the script in Round 10. Several matches featured teams clawing back from behind to draw level and even snatch victory.
There’s something about those kinds of games that stirs the heart. We admire teams who don’t quit. We remember the comebacks long after we forget the final score.
Why? Because they show us something deeply human and even spiritual—the refusal to surrender when the odds are against you.
In the Christian life, we’re called to that same kind of fortitude.
Sometimes it feels like we’re down 20-nil at half-time. Maybe it’s the struggle to overcome a habit of sin, the weight of suffering, or the temptation to just coast spiritually and give up trying.
But the saints remind us that the second half still counts—and in fact, it’s where the victory is won.
God doesn’t ask us to be perfect from the start. He asks us to keep showing up, to fight the good fight, and to never lose hope.
And when we do fall behind, He gives us the grace to keep going. In our weakness, His strength is made perfect.
I couldn’t help but think how different the Bulldogs’ dressing room must have looked at half-time. Were they discouraged? Perhaps. But they believed the game wasn’t over. And that belief drove them back onto the field with fire in their hearts.
What stood out most was the way Stephen Crichton took the game upon himself.
He didn’t wait for someone else to take control. He stepped up. And isn’t that what we’re all called to do in the spiritual life?
When things look grim, God calls us not to shrink back, but to rise up—to be the ones who lead, who love, who take responsibility for turning things around, not just for ourselves but for those around us.
So the next time you feel like giving up—whether it’s in your faith, your family, or your everyday responsibilities—remember that comebacks are possible. Not because we’re strong, but because God is.
Fortitude doesn’t mean we’ll never be behind on the scoreboard. It means we keep playing with purpose, knowing that with grace, the second half can change everything.
