Childhood field of dreams provides career highlight for Kurt
BY ROBERT DILLON
KURT Gidley remembers driving past Elland Road as a 13-year-old and marvelling at the famous stadium on the outskirts of Leeds.
At the time, Gidley and his parents were travelling around England supporting his older brother, Matthew, who was on tour with the Australian Schoolboys.
Little was Gidley to know that 14 years later he would return for a closer inspection of Leeds United's home ground, as a member of Australia's Four Nations squad for the tournament decider against England last month.
"I never thought I'd be playing in a final on that ground," he said yesterday.
"It was pretty surreal."
Named as Australia's reserve back for the final, Gidley was pitched into action midway through the first half when centre Justin Hodges succumbed to injury.
The Newcastle skipper proceeded to enhance his reputation as league's premier utility player with a confident display that culminated in him creating the final try in Australia's 46-16 triumph.
It was Gidley's seventh Test and a career highlight, especially as his position in the squad appeared in doubt earlier in the series.
After Australia's 20-all draw with New Zealand in the first game, he was dropped for their next round-robin clash against England and admitted he feared spending the rest of the tour as a spectator.
"I was disappointed, certainly, after being left out for the second game," Gidley said.
"I only played 20 minutes in the first game as lock, so I didn't get much of a run, and to be dropped after it was disappointing.
"But it was good to play a full game at fullback against France [in the third game], and I must have done enough to be called back into the team for the final, and I was happy to get a good run in the final.
"It was awesome a great atmosphere to play in."
Gidley stayed on in Europe for two weeks after the final, visiting Amsterdam and Paris with former teammate Brian Carney and spending a week with Matthew, who now plays for St Helens.
He then enjoyed a week in Thailand with his girlfriend, swimsuit model Brooke McNamara, before returning to Newcastle on Sunday.
Regarded as one of the NRL's fittest players, Gidley has been excused from rejoining his Knights teammates at pre-season training until after Christmas.
And the 27-year-old has no intention of doing anything too strenuous until then.
"I'll just be having a nice break now," he said.
"The five weeks I had with the [Australian] team was all pretty solid training, so it's nice just to be doing nothing now."
Herald
