With the Sevens box ticked and giving it my all at Randwick, the possibility of turning this rugby thing into a career was starting to creep onto my radar. I never had the hype of a young hotshot nor was I some widely-acclaimed prodigy. I was a toiler and I bloody enjoyed the team atmosphere and doing whatever I could, whenever I could, to get us across the line.
THE POSSIBILITY OF TURNING THIS RUGBY THING INTO A CAREER WAS STARTING TO CREEP ONTO MY RADAR.
I never expected ‘the call’ but sure enough, one fateful Matraville day, after the third of seven police cars had visited my building for one reason or the other, the phone rang. My first thought? ‘F*&k me. Who paid the phone bill?’ My second thought: ‘For the love of God, please don’t be Telstra’.
I’d received offers from both the NSW Waratahs and Western Force. They wanted to give me a go. ‘Look out. The Badge is about to go prime time.’
I was ecstatic. Happier than a mosquito in a blood bank. The Force told me to hit the frog and toad and bring the old man along to see what the West was all about.
I WAS ECSTATIC. HAPPIER THAN A MOSQUITO IN A BLOOD BANK.
And compared to Sydney, Perth was lawless. There was open space, hipsters were at a minimum and the entire city and surrounding suburbs were easier to navigate than a single block in Sydney. Let’s be honest, Sydney roads are like a maze on the back of a Happy Meal completed by a three-year-old. It’s a mess.
So there was a lot to like and when it came down to negotiations, the old man had just what it took to make a deal – absolutely no idea and blind confidence. It’s the winner’s way; a method that’s made generations of Australians millions. Matter of fact, there could be a TED Talk in that . . .
Anyhow, later that arvo – and with NSW still an option – the old man grabbed a six-pack of Crownies and we sat together on the deck to watch the sun set over the water. The romanticism was lost on me, but by the time the old boy knocked off five of the beers he was in love. The deal was done. I was staying in Perth and making my Super Rugby debut for the Western Force.