gong_eagle
First Grade
- Messages
- 7,655
Chip off the old "Spud"
July 19, 2007 - 1:18PM
Manly great Mark Carroll gave Adam Cuthbertson his start at the Sea Eagles nearly a decade ago.
So it was only fitting the former Test prop, nicknamed "Spud", made a point of congratulating the promising young Sea Eagles forward on his first-ever NRL man-of-the-match performance this week.
"He was getting up me," said Cuthbertson, whose barnstorming 30-minute display against the Wests Tigers last Friday, in which he set up the Sea Eagles final two tries, earned him best afield honours.
"He said 'after 10 years of my career I only got one man of the match, and you do it in 10 games.'
"It was a massive moment for me in my life so far.
"And especially for him to call me and chat about it too, was pretty exciting."
The 22-year-old, who made his first grade debut last year, will line-up for just his 12th NRL game tomorrow night as the Sea Eagles aim to end a 21-year hoodoo at Cronulla.
He is yet to start a game this year, and will again be on the interchange bench.
But with the Sea Eagles impressive big-men stocks beginning to thin somewhat - prop Jason King (knee, six weeks) last week joined George Rose (leg, season) on the sidelines - the ball-playing 112kg prop is shaping as an important member of the club's premiership aspirations.
"At the moment, there's nothing better than playing in the NRL, but they'd be nothing better than playing in the NRL finals," said Cuthbertson.
"I really can't wait for it.
"But the next seven weeks I've just got to concentrate on becoming a better player in the NRL, getting used to the speed of the game and the hype of it.
"And if I'm still around by the finals, then I'll have to get used to the semis and finals."
Despite overtures from North Queensland - and the urgings of his mother to move north - the local junior was expected to re-sign with Manly this week.
He first played with the club as a 14-year-old in the Harold Matthews competition, when Cuthbertson claims he was told by Carroll he reminded him of a young "Spud".
"I just came down to muck around and try out," Cuthbertson said.
"Mark Carroll was the coach at the time. He watched us play and I didn't think I was a chance at all.
"I was a big fan of him, and that night he gave me a ring on the phone.
"I couldn't believe who I was talking too, I was going 'what's going on here', I nearly had to slap myself in the face to realise what was happening.
"He gave me a buzz and said that he thought I was awesome and reminded him of him.
"I don't know if I enjoyed that compliment, but he said I had to come down and play with his team, and I did.
"And I've never really looked back."
AAP
July 19, 2007 - 1:18PM
Manly great Mark Carroll gave Adam Cuthbertson his start at the Sea Eagles nearly a decade ago.
So it was only fitting the former Test prop, nicknamed "Spud", made a point of congratulating the promising young Sea Eagles forward on his first-ever NRL man-of-the-match performance this week.
"He was getting up me," said Cuthbertson, whose barnstorming 30-minute display against the Wests Tigers last Friday, in which he set up the Sea Eagles final two tries, earned him best afield honours.
"He said 'after 10 years of my career I only got one man of the match, and you do it in 10 games.'
"It was a massive moment for me in my life so far.
"And especially for him to call me and chat about it too, was pretty exciting."
The 22-year-old, who made his first grade debut last year, will line-up for just his 12th NRL game tomorrow night as the Sea Eagles aim to end a 21-year hoodoo at Cronulla.
He is yet to start a game this year, and will again be on the interchange bench.
But with the Sea Eagles impressive big-men stocks beginning to thin somewhat - prop Jason King (knee, six weeks) last week joined George Rose (leg, season) on the sidelines - the ball-playing 112kg prop is shaping as an important member of the club's premiership aspirations.
"At the moment, there's nothing better than playing in the NRL, but they'd be nothing better than playing in the NRL finals," said Cuthbertson.
"I really can't wait for it.
"But the next seven weeks I've just got to concentrate on becoming a better player in the NRL, getting used to the speed of the game and the hype of it.
"And if I'm still around by the finals, then I'll have to get used to the semis and finals."
Despite overtures from North Queensland - and the urgings of his mother to move north - the local junior was expected to re-sign with Manly this week.
He first played with the club as a 14-year-old in the Harold Matthews competition, when Cuthbertson claims he was told by Carroll he reminded him of a young "Spud".
"I just came down to muck around and try out," Cuthbertson said.
"Mark Carroll was the coach at the time. He watched us play and I didn't think I was a chance at all.
"I was a big fan of him, and that night he gave me a ring on the phone.
"I couldn't believe who I was talking too, I was going 'what's going on here', I nearly had to slap myself in the face to realise what was happening.
"He gave me a buzz and said that he thought I was awesome and reminded him of him.
"I don't know if I enjoyed that compliment, but he said I had to come down and play with his team, and I did.
"And I've never really looked back."
AAP
