Father Ted
First Grade
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Dragons hooker Mitch Rein enjoying proving his doubters wrong
Standing tall: St George Illawarra hooker Mitch Rein. Picture: Brett Costello Source: The Daily Telegraph
LAST week it was his boyhood idol, Danny Buderus.
This week it's incumbent NSW Origin rake Michael Ennis.
But pint-sized St George Illawarra bolter Mitch Rein has conquered much steeper obstacles to become the Dragons' first-choice hooker this season.
Rein, 174cm these days, was dismissed as being too short to make a genuine fist of rugby league as a teenager.
And when he finally threatened to prove the doubters wrong, the Kiama product found himself at the wrong end of the NRL's most competitive hooking market.
Twelve months ago Rein was ranked behind internationals Nathan Fein and Dean Young, as well as fellow tyro Cameron King.
He was even overlooked for St George Illawarra's successful 2011 World Club Challenge tour, where King's season ended with a torn pectoral muscle.Bumped up the Dragons pecking order, Rein eventually made 15 NRL appearances under former coach Wayne Bennett and successor Steve Price maintained that faith by starting him in the season opener against Newcastle. The 21-year-old repaid his coach, outshining the NRL return of Buderus.
But pint-sized St George Illawarra bolter Mitch Rein has conquered much steeper obstacles to become the Dragons' first-choice hooker this season.
Rein, 174cm these days, was dismissed as being too short to make a genuine fist of rugby league as a teenager.
And when he finally threatened to prove the doubters wrong, the Kiama product found himself at the wrong end of the NRL's most competitive hooking market.
Twelve months ago Rein was ranked behind internationals Nathan Fein and Dean Young, as well as fellow tyro Cameron King.
He was even overlooked for St George Illawarra's successful 2011 World Club Challenge tour, where King's season ended with a torn pectoral muscle.Bumped up the Dragons pecking order, Rein eventually made 15 NRL appearances under former coach Wayne Bennett and successor Steve Price maintained that faith by starting him in the season opener against Newcastle. The 21-year-old repaid his coach, outshining the NRL return of Buderus.
"As a kid I always looked up to Danny Buderus because I really liked the way he played," Rein said.
"But coming into the match, I didn't really think about that. It's always good to come up against the best players and test yourself."
Rein can expect his learning curve to take on a different direction on Saturday night opposite Bulldogs skipper Ennis, arguably the competition's best niggler. But this is a kid who's defied negativity to make the date.
"There were always people with doubts, mainly because of my height," Rein said.
"I didn't make any NSW or Australian junior rep sides, but there were a lot of good players at the time.
"I always prided myself on defence. No matter what, I could always tackle.
"There were people that questioned me, but deep down I knew I could make it."
Rein's graduation was only confirmed after some advice from Bennett, who needed to counsel him about time management as he struggled to combine tertiary studies with the full-time demands of NRL football last year.
"Wayne really helped me with that and it showed on the field by the end of last year," he said. "I worked hard over the off-season to put myself in the best possible position to get the start and Pricey showed faith in me. I don't want to let anyone down."
"But coming into the match, I didn't really think about that. It's always good to come up against the best players and test yourself."
Rein can expect his learning curve to take on a different direction on Saturday night opposite Bulldogs skipper Ennis, arguably the competition's best niggler. But this is a kid who's defied negativity to make the date.
"There were always people with doubts, mainly because of my height," Rein said.
"I didn't make any NSW or Australian junior rep sides, but there were a lot of good players at the time.
"I always prided myself on defence. No matter what, I could always tackle.
"There were people that questioned me, but deep down I knew I could make it."
Rein's graduation was only confirmed after some advice from Bennett, who needed to counsel him about time management as he struggled to combine tertiary studies with the full-time demands of NRL football last year.
"Wayne really helped me with that and it showed on the field by the end of last year," he said. "I worked hard over the off-season to put myself in the best possible position to get the start and Pricey showed faith in me. I don't want to let anyone down."
