Granty
19-05-2006, 12:38 AM
http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/story/0,20797,19180154-5003409,00.html
Maroons recruit young gun
Ben Dorries
May 19, 2006
http://thecouriermail.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,5155926,00.jpg
QUIET achiever . . . Matt Scott as a cheeky three-year-old wearing a cowboy hat
FROM humble beginnings in a dusty outback town of barely 180 people, the shy little boy in a cowboy hat will next week carry Queensland's hopes of a rugby league resurrection.
Meet Matt Scott, from Ilfracombe, a speck of a place on the Matilda Highway between Barcaldine and Longreach.
You probably don't recognise him . . . but you soon will.
You'll be cheering on the 20-year-old Maroons forward as he charges fearlessly into the city-slicker NSW players in next week's State of Origin in Sydney.
His mother Dianne has been cheering him for years, ever since she drove him on four-hour road trips each weekend so he could play for the Gemfield Giants in the Emerald junior competition.
"Matt was always mad-keen on footy, but there was no junior competition anywhere near Ilfracombe, so I drove him and a few others pretty much all over the Outback," Mrs Scott said.
"He played in Emerald, Moranbah, Capella and Blackwater. What I did was no sacrifice, I just wanted him to be happy."
Queensland this week pitchforked seven rookies into its side, desperately trying to end a wretched run of three consecutive series losses to the Blues.
It was the selection of Scott in the new-look starting side which was the biggest surprise.
The 108kg North Queensland Cowboys big bopper has played just 14 NRL games, making him one of the most inexperienced Maroons ever.
Mrs Scott, who has recently battled illness, insists her son's laid-back country demeanour will never change – not even in the biggest week of his life.
"Matty has got a quiet dedication; he doesn't blow his own trumpet," Mrs Scott said.
"To me he's still the same kid who used to grab a can of spraypaint to paint cricket wickets on a tree trunk so he could play cricket with his brothers.
"And he's the same kid who used to run down to the park so he could kick a footy with the local kids."
Schoolboy rugby league coach Terry Hansen, who recruited the teenage Scott to St Brendan's College at Yeppoon, describes his astounding rise as "the story of a lifetime".
Mr Hansen was scouting for talent at a 2001 league development camp when he saw an outstanding youngster in an outback side which was flogged 72-0.
"I saw a young Matty and he was unbelievable so I just had to get him to the school," Mr Hansen said.
"He couldn't bench-press 60kg and could not do one chin-up when he arrived . . . later that year he could bench-press 120kg and do eight chin-ups.
"He was a real achiever
. . . the most well-mannered boy you'd ever meet and was very tough mentally, that's what has got him where he is.
"A lot of people say they are surprised he is playing Origin so soon, it doesn't surprise me at all.
I'm certain he has got what it takes."
Maroons recruit young gun
Ben Dorries
May 19, 2006
http://thecouriermail.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,5155926,00.jpg
QUIET achiever . . . Matt Scott as a cheeky three-year-old wearing a cowboy hat
FROM humble beginnings in a dusty outback town of barely 180 people, the shy little boy in a cowboy hat will next week carry Queensland's hopes of a rugby league resurrection.
Meet Matt Scott, from Ilfracombe, a speck of a place on the Matilda Highway between Barcaldine and Longreach.
You probably don't recognise him . . . but you soon will.
You'll be cheering on the 20-year-old Maroons forward as he charges fearlessly into the city-slicker NSW players in next week's State of Origin in Sydney.
His mother Dianne has been cheering him for years, ever since she drove him on four-hour road trips each weekend so he could play for the Gemfield Giants in the Emerald junior competition.
"Matt was always mad-keen on footy, but there was no junior competition anywhere near Ilfracombe, so I drove him and a few others pretty much all over the Outback," Mrs Scott said.
"He played in Emerald, Moranbah, Capella and Blackwater. What I did was no sacrifice, I just wanted him to be happy."
Queensland this week pitchforked seven rookies into its side, desperately trying to end a wretched run of three consecutive series losses to the Blues.
It was the selection of Scott in the new-look starting side which was the biggest surprise.
The 108kg North Queensland Cowboys big bopper has played just 14 NRL games, making him one of the most inexperienced Maroons ever.
Mrs Scott, who has recently battled illness, insists her son's laid-back country demeanour will never change – not even in the biggest week of his life.
"Matty has got a quiet dedication; he doesn't blow his own trumpet," Mrs Scott said.
"To me he's still the same kid who used to grab a can of spraypaint to paint cricket wickets on a tree trunk so he could play cricket with his brothers.
"And he's the same kid who used to run down to the park so he could kick a footy with the local kids."
Schoolboy rugby league coach Terry Hansen, who recruited the teenage Scott to St Brendan's College at Yeppoon, describes his astounding rise as "the story of a lifetime".
Mr Hansen was scouting for talent at a 2001 league development camp when he saw an outstanding youngster in an outback side which was flogged 72-0.
"I saw a young Matty and he was unbelievable so I just had to get him to the school," Mr Hansen said.
"He couldn't bench-press 60kg and could not do one chin-up when he arrived . . . later that year he could bench-press 120kg and do eight chin-ups.
"He was a real achiever
. . . the most well-mannered boy you'd ever meet and was very tough mentally, that's what has got him where he is.
"A lot of people say they are surprised he is playing Origin so soon, it doesn't surprise me at all.
I'm certain he has got what it takes."