COUNTRY BOY DON
TITANS STAR’S REP CALL-UP
FOR every Des Hasler and Ricky Stuart there is an Anthony Don.
At 29, the NRL’s newest cult hero will make his NSW Country debut in the final City-Country clash.
A 106-year-old tradition will come to a controversial end on Sunday in Mudgee, 270km north west of Sydney, following a backlash from some NRL coaches.
City-Country may be about to die but for Don it is the birth of his representative career.
The Gold Coast Titans winger epitomises rural footy.
He once scored 40 tries in a season for the Grafton Ghosts and an NRL career was not even on his mind.
Don only ended up at the Titans because he loves the beach.
“There were a couple of Queensland Cup teams that were interested to sign me but I didn’t really want to live in those places because I love the coast,” Don said.
“I had my heart set on going to the Gold Coast and there were two teams here (Burleigh and Tweed Heads).
“I approached (Burleigh) and they were happy to give me a chance. I had to prove myself. They probably didn’t expect me to play Q-Cup. “I was pretty skinny.” Don, grandson of Manly legend Ron Willey, remembers being “in the high 80kg” when he joined the Bears in 2011 after his 40-try haul for the Ghosts.
A solid 2011 season in the Queensland Cup led to a Titans pre-season training contract for 2012 which allowed him to give up teaching physical education.
An NRL debut followed in 2013 and he has now scored 43 tries in 72 matches for the Titans to sit third on the club’s all-time try-scoring list.
Now 99kg and an established NRL player, “The Don” has won a legion of fans and is Titans coach Neil Henry’s premier winger.
“I always wanted to be just a winger that was one of the first picked in the team,” Don said. “We’ve had some quality wingers here in the past with David Mead, Kevin Gordon and Nene Macdonald. It was good getting pushed by them.
“(The Country jersey) means a lot to a lot of people.
“Back in the day it was a big game for Origin selection.
“It’s lost that sheen a little but it will still be an honour.”
Whether it’s producing “Mara-Don-a” soccer-style plays for freakish tries or rolling up his sleeves to get the Titans out of trouble, Don has become one of the Gold Coast’s most loved players.
“You know what you’re going to get with him,” teammate Ryan Simpkins said.
“He should be in contention for a NSW spot.”
Meanwhile, fellow Titan Tyrone Roberts has been named Country halfback.