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  • Article on Max McCathie

    https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/why...03-p5mcc2.html


    The Sydney Roosters should be thanking Bryan Fletcher and The Footy Show for helping deliver their latest debutant, Max McCathie.

    McCathie, a 21-year-old back-rower – and the sixth current Roosters player to graduate from Scots College – will debut off the bench for the Roosters when they host the Wests Tigers on Sunday afternoon.

    Tom Rodwell, the son of Illawarra favourite Brett Rodwell, will also play his first NRL game on the wing.

    McCathie was born and raised in North Bondi, but only wanted to play league after he spotted Fletcher on The Footy Show appealing for players to join the Paddington Colts. The club folded for several years before being resurrected more than a decade ago.

    “Max watched ‘Fletch’ one night advertising for players to join the Colts, and he turned to me and said, ‘Dad, can I do that?’,” said McCathie’s father, Hamish.

    “He would have been 10 or 11. He played all his junior footy with [Paddington], and came through every age group at the Roosters.”

    When told he had helped inspire McCathie to take up rugby league, Fletcher laughed and said: “Beauty, I might take some of his match payments. Better still, I might have to see one of the local SP [starting price] bookies at one of the pubs and have something on Max to score.

    “It’s great to know the club has kicked on since it started back up. I’ve got friends for life at that club, and I’m sure it will be the same for Max.

    “Victor Radley has been the most successful junior probably since I retired, and we haven’t had many Colts players. [South Sydney’s] Tallis Duncan came down for a couple of years. We had the likes of the legendary Barry ‘Bunny’ Reilly, and [Newtown Jets great] Frank ‘Bumper’ Farrell.

    “Max is a genuine junior, and that makes me proud. Bondi often gets a bad rap, but people forget what it was like compared to what it is now – a lot of knockabouts have done well.”

    Fletcher praised Scots College for nurturing six Roosters players, and said he attended the more modest Christian Brothers Bondi, “where three blokes rocked up to a recent reunion wearing ankle bracelets”.

    McCathie, Billy Smith, who is good friends with McCathie’s older brother, Jack, Siua Wong, Angus Crichton, Blake Steep and Hugo Savala all attended Scots.

    Hamish revealed McCathie also loved rugby, played with Scots First XV, and was with the First XV Colts at Easts. Hamish spent time as director of rugby at Easts, and also featured in first grade as a fullback.

    “I’m a Rooster through and through, grew up in the eastern suburbs, and was coached by Russell Fairfax at Easts – Russell actually dropped me from first grade to second grade,” Hamish said.

    Two busloads of friends and family will make the short journey from Easts Rugby Club to Allianz Stadium for McCathie’s milestone game. McCathie, the NSW Cup captain – and the club’s 2023 Jersey Flegg player of the year – has already requested more than 150 tickets.

    The match will double as the 50-year reunion for the 1975 premiership Roosters team.

    Roosters utility Connor Watson was glad the Roosters’ production line was continuing – McCathie and Rodwell will take the number of NRL debuts to eight at the Bondi Junction club – and said of the pair: “Max is a lifelong Chooks fans he’s a proper diehard – he was in the Tricolours Syndicate [fan club]. For him, this is living out a childhood dream.

    “Tommy came to the club this year, and the way he trained in the pre-season, he did such a good job. His back-field carries, he’s a bit like Brian [To’o] with the nuggetty, shorter build, but the work he gets through is so impressive.

    “Both boys play the game the way we want – they leave everything out there and go after it. I’m excited for them both.”
    Exonerate the West Memphis Three - www.wm3.org

  • #2
    Great article. I'm loving watching these local young players come into first grade. Well done to all involved in getting this junior pathway happening—it's going to be vital going forward.

    Congrats to Max McCathie!

    Comment


    • #3
      Great article, nothing better than a local junior story. Best of luck to Max and his family.

      Comment


      • #4
        Im interested to know the collective thoughts on Max's debut?

        I missed the game and have only seen brief highlights.There as not one commentary about home in the match thread.

        Is he a future prospect?

        Comment


        • #5
          I only saw it live - can’t watch the replay - he was very much a reserve grader today - had no memorable impact good or bad from what I saw. Won’t judge him long term on his first game that has probably come a season too early due to our injuries and origin concurrence.

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          • #6
            Was it Max that gave away the dumbest of dumb penalties at the end of the game for the late hit on Terrell, effectively costing us the game?

            If so, his debut should be his last game aswell.

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by HunchoRooster View Post
              Was it Max that gave away the dumbest of dumb penalties at the end of the game for the late hit on Terrell, effectively costing us the game?

              If so, his debut should be his last game aswell.
              What a ridiculous statement. Give the guy a farkin chance.

              You're always up and about after a loss

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by HunchoRooster View Post
                Was it Max that gave away the dumbest of dumb penalties at the end of the game for the late hit on Terrell, effectively costing us the game?

                If so, his debut should be his last game aswell.
                It was Losalu and it was a weak penalty.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Hard to tell how Max went given the entire team was ass....

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Batemans Bay Rooster View Post

                    What a ridiculous statement. Give the guy a farkin chance.

                    You're always up and about after a loss
                    Yeah, not the sort of support we need for a deb. I assume (hope) it was said light heartedly.

                    From my view, Max did pretty well for first dig in the top grade. He looked bigger than I expected too.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Batemans Bay Rooster View Post

                      What a ridiculous statement. Give the guy a farkin chance.

                      You're always up and about after a loss
                      I’m usually “up and about” regardless of the result chief unless I’m away for work with no internet access.

                      And look, a bit hyperbolic of me but geez it was farrking dumb.

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Jacks Fur Coat View Post

                        Yeah, not the sort of support we need for a deb. I assume (hope) it was said light heartedly.

                        From my view, Max did pretty well for first dig in the top grade. He looked bigger than I expected too.
                        Hyperbolic somewhat but not overly light hearted. Was fuming with it at the time because of how dumb it was.

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Inflictor View Post

                          It was Losalu and it was a weak penalty.
                          You’re right, my apologies I’ve hijacked poor Max’s thread for no reason.

                          Soft/weak pen indeed but so incredibly stupid nonetheless. I like Losalu so it’s a shame, a couple weeks back on the tools to think about his actions I reckon.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by HunchoRooster View Post

                            You’re right, my apologies I’ve hijacked poor Max’s thread for no reason.

                            Soft/weak pen indeed but so incredibly stupid nonetheless. I like Losalu so it’s a shame, a couple weeks back on the tools to think about his actions I reckon.
                            You had to make me go back and look at the highlights package to confirm ffs.

                            And looking at it again if that was a penalty then there would be 10 of those a game. If a tap like that drops May then I am glad he has fcuked off.

                            As I have asked before. How many games can you recall when three soft penalties were given in front of the posts?

                            FFS

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by HunchoRooster View Post

                              I’m usually “up and about” regardless of the result chief unless I’m away for work with no internet access.

                              And look, a bit hyperbolic of me but geez it was farrking dumb.
                              Wasn't even him who gave the penalty away. You just can't wait to get stuck into a player. Chief.

                              Comment

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