Eels axing left Broncos young gun Jharal Yow Yeh fearing for NRL career
MAROONS Origin hopeful Jharal Yow Yeh has spoken of his devastation at being axed by Parramatta in a move that left him fearing for his NRL career. As the Broncos prepare for Friday night's clash against the Eels at Suncorp Stadium, Yow Yeh recalled the gut-wrenching moment he had his Parramatta scholarship torn up after being told he would not cut it in the top grade.And the man who reluctantly delivered the bad news, Eels recruitment chief and former Queensland Origin forward Rod Reddy, admits he is now "kicking himself" at the decision to dump Yow Yeh.
The 21-year-old has emerged as one of the NRL's hottest wing discoveries, with Yow Yeh called into the Maroons' Origin squad in June as a reward for his eye-catching displays on the Broncos flank since his rookie season in 2009.
But Yow Yeh revealed there was a time when he felt he would not recover from Parramatta's rejection of him at the start of 2007.
"I definitely thought it was over for me," Yow Yeh said ahead of Friday night's showdown with his former club.
"Parramatta had told me I wouldn't cut it and I thought to myself, 'That's it.' I thought I'd just go back to Colts and I had no idea where I was going to go.
"When a club knocks you back, you wonder if you're up to it. I went down to Sydney and it was a great experience for me as a young bloke. It would have been good to be there, but it's turned out great at the Broncos.
"I'm up here near my family and playing for a great club. I'd love to stay at the Broncos forever after what they've done for me."
After being snubbed by Reddy, Yow Yeh picked up the pieces with Norths Colts before receiving a lifeline from the Broncos in 2008.He starred in the under-20s, scoring 27 tries from 26 games in Brisbane's charge to the grand final.
Reddy, a member of Queensland's inaugural State of Origin team in 1980, said he was glad Yow Yeh overcame the setback to become an NRL player.
"It's one I'm disappointed we didn't get right because he's turned out to be a very good kid," Reddy said.
"Every time I see him score I think, 'Geez, he could be doing that for us'
"I went and watched him six or seven times I suppose and I had to make a decision on whether he could play first grade. At that stage he just didn't show me enough to say he would cut it.
"I'm kicking myself a bit that we didn't take a chance on him, but I'm really glad Jharal has proved me wrong because he's a great young fella who deserves to succeed.
"Jharal was quite a shy kid at the time. He came down and stayed with me and he was bitterly disappointed when I told him but I'm glad he's kicked on. Maybe the knockback made him more determined to make it."
Yow Yeh said he harboured no ill-feeling towards Reddy or the Eels.
"They're just another team to me now," he said.
"Thankfully, the Broncos gave me a chance and I've tried to take it with open arms."
