It took just one wise crack from Wests Tigers prop Ryan O’Hara to make Corey Payne feel welcome at his new home.
The former St George-Illawarra backrower had not long arrived at training when O’Hara approached him.
“I told Corey he was here ‘to bring the payne’,’’ O’Hara joked.
Payne just laughed. He immediately felt at ease.
It was a far different scenario however from the time the pair last met on the field at Canberra Stadium in 2005.
O’Hara was a prop for the Raiders while Payne was in his first season in the top grade with the Dragons.
Payne made a tackle on O’Hara, who felt his shoulder go upon hitting the ground.
A few minutes later, the pair suffered a nasty headclash. O’Hara had blood all over his face. Payne went off with a split chin.
It was while O’Hara was being treated that the Raiders’ medical team realised the extent of his shoulder injury. It required a reconstruction.
O’Hara hasn’t forgot it, nor the pain that went with it.
“I tripped Corey over at training just to get him back,’’ O’ Hara joked.
Payne smiled.
“I still have the scar on the chin. It took four weeks for it to heal,’’ Payne said.
For 23-year-old Payne, though, the arrival at Wests Tigers means the start of another chapter in his promising league career.
A Chester Hill junior, Payne had four seasons at the Bulldogs, graduating from SG Ball to Premier League. He won two Jersey Flegg premierships.
In 2004, he arrived at Kogarah and spent the year in Premier League under coach Mick Potter. The Dragons were beaten in the grand final.
Payne did enough to impress coach Nathan Brown, who called him up for his first grade debut against, ironically the Bulldogs, in round one at Telstra Stadium in 2005.
He learnt his trade slowly, starting in two games and coming off the interchange bench on 15 occasions.
It was a different story however in 2006. A broken cheekbone, a head clash with team-mate Ben Creagh and then a head clash with Bulldogs prop Mark O’Meley saw Payne play just 12 games.
Of more immediate concern was the ongoing concussion and the constant headaches.
“In three of those 12 games, I was only on the field for five minutes,’’ Payne said.
“It wasn’t an ideal season as I had to sit out training and playing for the rest of the year.
“I had all the scans done and saw a neurologist. It was a worrying time for me. I always wanted to keep playing but I just wanted to make sure my head was right and I wasn’t at any greater risk of any serious brain damage.
“Fortunately, all of the scans showed up clear.’’
Good fortune followed in 2007. All Payne wanted was an injury free season and no concussion. He got that, playing 18 games for the Dragons in between two suspensions to take his tally to 47 first grade games.
His only regret in leaving the Dragons was not winning a premiership. He looks back to the 2005 season, and the pain and anguish of what could have been.
“For the four years I was at the Dragons, they pretty much had a State of Origin team,’’ Payne said.
“That 2005 final at Aussie Stadium…we had the top shelf players there in Luke Bailey, Jason Ryles, Mark Gasnier and Matt Cooper. That was our chance to make the grand final but Wests Tigers blew us off the park.’’
Payne said the chance to learn from experienced and respected coaches in Tim Sheens and Royce Simmons was a major attraction in heading to the Wests Tigers for the next two seasons.
He also has his eyes on securing a starting position in the pack.
“Wests Tigers is a club on the up. There is a good core of young players and most of them have won a premiership already,’’ Payne said.
“I always enjoyed playing Wests Tigers. They are a smart team who play exciting, rugby league with a very mobile forward pack. I can see myself fitting into their style of play.
“I never wanted to be a rugby league journeyman, so this is my chance now to settle down at Wests Tigers. I’m excited to be here.’’
