swoop
Juniors
- Messages
- 738
28.11.2003
By PETER JESSUP
A near-death experience turned North Shore teenager Mark McGinley's life around and he then turned his sporting life on its head.
McGinley played his first game of league in March this year and went on to make the Auckland Colts under-20 side, played twice for North Harbour in the Bartercard Cup and has now been chosen to trial with the Manly Sea Eagles.
With English parents who settled on the North Shore, McGinley represented New Zealand at soccer at under-17 level and as an under-20 All White.
But a mysterious bout of meningococcal septicaemia nearly stole his future last February.
It was while lying in North Shore Hospital, after 24 hours in intensive care recovering from the blood poisoning, that the 19-year-old decided he wanted to play with his old Rangitoto High School mates.
They all played league for East Coast Bays.
"I just knew soccer wasn't what I wanted," he said, despite having been part of a Rangitoto team that won the national secondary schools title.
He played 16 games for the ECB under-20 side at hooker and halfback and was selected by a variety of seasoned league observers for further chances as a result of his performances.
At 170cm and 80kg, McGinley is small for an NRL player but Manly's junior development officer, former Kangaroo Noel "Crusher" Cleal, said they would bulk him up if and when he proved his worth.
McGinley and two other New Zealand prospects are among a group, including five teenagers from country New South Wales, the Sea Eagles are trialling with their NRL squad next week.
McGinley was recommended to Manly by their former coach and Kiwi mentor Graham Lowe and former Auckland juniors coach Mark Gardner, who are both employed by the club as talent scouts here.
Cleal has watched McGinley play at Auckland under-20 level.
"He's got good speed, being a soccer player he's got good balance and a decent kicking game.
"He's not huge but we'll work on that. This week is not the end of it. We really want to see him play. If he doesn't make it straight in we'll bring him back next year."
McGinley said he enjoyed hooker more than halfback and, despite the size handicap, reckoned he was not scared of the tackling in the middle. That was confirmed by his East Coast Bays coach Laurie Hale.
McGinley, who is halfway through a Bachelor of Commerce degree and financing it by working as a porter at the Hilton Hotel, said it was a great opportunity. "I'm keen to learn as much as I can from the right people and if it doesn't work out with Manly I'll try again."
Also trialling with the Sea Eagles next week are Isaac Sopoaga, 18, a second rower from Mangere and Craig Heslop, 17, a second rower/prop from Hibiscus Coast. Kurt Umbers, 20, backrower from Howick is also in the Manly sights but has exams and cannot make this trip.
Lowe and Gardner have a total of 32 'Manly Kiwis' identified and in training every week. Next May a group of 20 will be taken on tour to Australia to be tested before Manly club management, the trip funded by local Manly fan Dave Henderson of the Kitchener group.
By PETER JESSUP
A near-death experience turned North Shore teenager Mark McGinley's life around and he then turned his sporting life on its head.
McGinley played his first game of league in March this year and went on to make the Auckland Colts under-20 side, played twice for North Harbour in the Bartercard Cup and has now been chosen to trial with the Manly Sea Eagles.
With English parents who settled on the North Shore, McGinley represented New Zealand at soccer at under-17 level and as an under-20 All White.
But a mysterious bout of meningococcal septicaemia nearly stole his future last February.
It was while lying in North Shore Hospital, after 24 hours in intensive care recovering from the blood poisoning, that the 19-year-old decided he wanted to play with his old Rangitoto High School mates.
They all played league for East Coast Bays.
"I just knew soccer wasn't what I wanted," he said, despite having been part of a Rangitoto team that won the national secondary schools title.
He played 16 games for the ECB under-20 side at hooker and halfback and was selected by a variety of seasoned league observers for further chances as a result of his performances.
At 170cm and 80kg, McGinley is small for an NRL player but Manly's junior development officer, former Kangaroo Noel "Crusher" Cleal, said they would bulk him up if and when he proved his worth.
McGinley and two other New Zealand prospects are among a group, including five teenagers from country New South Wales, the Sea Eagles are trialling with their NRL squad next week.
McGinley was recommended to Manly by their former coach and Kiwi mentor Graham Lowe and former Auckland juniors coach Mark Gardner, who are both employed by the club as talent scouts here.
Cleal has watched McGinley play at Auckland under-20 level.
"He's got good speed, being a soccer player he's got good balance and a decent kicking game.
"He's not huge but we'll work on that. This week is not the end of it. We really want to see him play. If he doesn't make it straight in we'll bring him back next year."
McGinley said he enjoyed hooker more than halfback and, despite the size handicap, reckoned he was not scared of the tackling in the middle. That was confirmed by his East Coast Bays coach Laurie Hale.
McGinley, who is halfway through a Bachelor of Commerce degree and financing it by working as a porter at the Hilton Hotel, said it was a great opportunity. "I'm keen to learn as much as I can from the right people and if it doesn't work out with Manly I'll try again."
Also trialling with the Sea Eagles next week are Isaac Sopoaga, 18, a second rower from Mangere and Craig Heslop, 17, a second rower/prop from Hibiscus Coast. Kurt Umbers, 20, backrower from Howick is also in the Manly sights but has exams and cannot make this trip.
Lowe and Gardner have a total of 32 'Manly Kiwis' identified and in training every week. Next May a group of 20 will be taken on tour to Australia to be tested before Manly club management, the trip funded by local Manly fan Dave Henderson of the Kitchener group.
