WENTY'S SILVA LINING
In Jerome Mackenzie, the Magpies have found their very own Rocket Man
By Matt Logue
RLW February 27, 2013, Pg 42
When he's on song, Wentworthville fullback Jerome Mackenzie evokes memories of 'Rocket' Rod Silva.
That's the opinion of Magpies coach Brad Cook, who sees plenty of silky smooth ex-Rooster and Bulldog Silva in the club's 2012 Rookie of the Year.
"Jerome reminds me of Rod a lot, because he is just good on his feet and is a similar build in that there isn't too much of him", Cook tells RLW. "I played against Rod in the under-23s for Souths back in 1988 and '89 when he was playing with Easts and this kid is just so similar."
But there's a problem: MacKenzie's on-field enthusiasm doesn't translate to the training paddock, and it recently cost him an opportunity with the full-time Parramatta squad.
The 21-year-old trained with the Eels until a week before the Christmas break, before being sent back to Wentworthville.
"That wasn't a good feeling," MacKenzie says. "They sent about six of us back to the NSW Cup and a few of them have gone back to the full-time squad, but I still haven't. I'd taken it a bit easy in the full-time squad and I wasn't training hard. I was going through the motions and not putting in my best."
MacKenzie may have paid the price for his lack of effort, but he shouldn't forget it was only two years ago he was playing in the local A-grade competition with Wentworthville.
In 2012, his career went from the Bundaberg Red Cup under former Eels, Northern Eagles and Storm hardman Alex Chan to the NSW Cup.
Cook is of the belief there is no reason why MacKenzie can't learn from his mistakes and force his way into the Eels NRL squad. "I want to make Jerome realise the opportunity he's got and the he probably only has a small window - the next year or so - to grab it," he says. "This is a big year, because he'll need to play consistently well to stay in the NSW Cup side and then maybe get a shot in the NRL. I just hope he takes (the advice) on board and trains harder and shows the same enthusiasm he does on the field as he off it...when you put him on the football field he just flicks a switch."
MacKenzie has since taken on the role of willing pupil."Brad told me a few things I need to learn from and I took getting sent back to Wentworthville as a lesson," he says. "I still have a chance of playing first grade if I have a few good games and impress at Worthville, and hopefully the message will get back to the guys at Parramatta."
MacKenzie can also draw inspiration from his two older brothers, Cecil and KJ, who play for Wentworthville in the Bundaberg Red Cup. Like Jerome, the pair had chances to play at higher levels but didn't take them.
"My brothers tell me all the time that I need to make the most of everything," says MacKenzie. "They remember being like me with opportunities, but they let them slip. Everyone tells me I've got a chance...it's exciting to be in this position."
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