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Family tragedy inspires former Panther
Author: Dean Ritchie - Daily Telegraph
Wednesday, 1 October 2003
SYDNEY Roosters prop Ned Catic last night revealed a family tragedy will be his inspiration in Sunday night's grand final.
Catic, 25, told of a sickening accident when his brother Ramo was crossing the road and was hit by a car in Penrith. The accident saw Ramo lose his left arm.
The Catic family was left devastated by the accident and Ned considered giving the game away.
But Catic has since risen above the drama and now wants to dedicate to his brother a grand final victory over Penrith, the club he walked away from last year.
Ramo, 28, stays at home mostly since the accident, but Catic is desperately urging his older brother to go to Telstra Stadium and share the emotion.
Catic recalled the days when football was secondary to the pain he was feeling for his brother.
"It cut me in half and I still hate talking about it," Catic said.
"Football just wasn't an option for me for a long time after the accident.
"I just wasn't 'there' for 12 weeks after it happened."
Catic recalled a Premier League game this year against Newtown when he made just one hit-up and one tackle in an entire half of football.
"I spoke to [coach] Ivan Cleary after the game and said I didn't want to play any more and had had enough.
``I wanted a couple of years off,''Catic said. ``But everyone got behind me.
``Jack Gibson even came to speak with me at training. One of his sons has a prosthetic leg.
``It showed I wasn't the only one suffering. After that I started training my backside off.
``But as I said, it still cuts me to pieces and I still daydream about it.''
Catic said Ramo would be in the forefront of his thoughts when he ran on to Telstra Stadium at 7pm on Sunday.
``I'll definitely be playing for him,'' Catic said.
``I'm trying to get Ramo to come to the game but he isn't venturing out much. He's not used to people seeing him without an arm.
``If he comes [to the match] it would be fantastic.''
The grand final will be an ironic experience for Catic.
He was a Penrith Panther just last season but could not strike a new deal with the club. He then joined the Roosters.
``It's strange isn't it?,'' Catic said.
``It is the last thing I expected. Here I am in a grand final against my old club. My manager was pushing for a new deal but the Panthers were undecided and kept putting it on the backburner.
``It didn't feel too good. I think they wanted to keep me but weren't all that worried when I left.
``It's so ironic. Call it fate ... something that was meant to be.''
Roosters captain Brad Fittler, coaching director Phil Gould and assistant coach John Cartwright are all former Penrith men who have left for the Roosters.
Coach Ricky Stuart has praised Catic's contribution after props Peter Cusack and Todd Payten were ruled out for much of the season through injury.
``Ned Catic's a guy who has loads of ability,'' Stuart said.
``He hasn't always had the commitment to fulfil those dreams.
``But over the past four months he has really knuckled down and trained exceptionally hard.
``Ned is now realising he has a lot to offer the game and our team.''
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