Home hero Glasby to rise
EVEN keen footy fans could have been forgiven for thinking “Tim who?” when they learnt of the side Queensland will take to ANZ Stadium in search of a series-levelling win.
It’s a question no one in Central Queensland will be asking, however.
Former Capras Queensland Cup stalwart Mick Esdale, now a star player for the Southport Tigers, revealed the social media of those linked to the state’s footy-mad central region have been full of support and congratulations for Glasby, 28.
Esdale himself wasted little time in sending a pride-filled message to the late-blooming Melbourne Storm prop who burst onto the scene in three seasons alongside him at Rockhampton.
The North Rockhampton State High School product returned from an under-20s stint with Penrith to win the then Comets player of the year in 2010 – his first season at Queensland Cup level.
Another two strong seasons and he was picked up by the Storm. Esdale noticed Glasby’s huge potential long before, while teaching in the area.
“I sort of took notice of him because he was at North Rocky and he stood up against the likes of teams like (renowned league school) St Brendan’s, who probably had guys like Dave Taylor,” he said.
A bulked-up Glasby later made an immediate impression upon hitting the Browne Park training paddock ahead of the 2010 season.
“Mainly the thing that shocked me was how explosive he is,” Esdale said.
“Like we did 40m sprints and he was probably one of the fastest forwards and up there with the backs. And just a freakish ability to score tries near the line.
“He has got a really good forward running style and I think what kind of got him picked up and why our coaches loved him was because he always finds his front.
“Whenever he is tackled, he is very rarely put on his back so that’s a big thing these days and I think why he fits in so well at the Storm.”
Esdale still sees the same attributes in Glasby to this day, albeit in a leaner, fitter, better all-round model.
“If you don’t have Foxtel you mightn’t have seen too much of him. I think he will be a sleeping giant for the Queenslanders,” Esdale said.