Pride as MG’s son picked for Panthers
Mark Geyer is one of the toughest men to ever play rugby league in Australia, but the former Panthers hard man was brought to tears when he found out his son Mavrik was going to make his NRL debut against the Roosters on Thursday night.
The Geyer name is royalty in Penrith, with Mark winning the competition with them in 1991 and forging a reputation as one of the most feared forwards in footy.
But now a new generation will get the chance to pull on the Panthers jersey, with Mavrik coming off the bench for the injured Scott Sorensen.
Geyer said he froze when he found out last Sunday that his son would make his debut 38 years after his first game for the club.
“It’s immense pride because he’s worked his arse off,” he said on Triple M’s Mick & MG in the Morning.
“When he first left school, he worked on roofs for a couple of years. He’d come home from working in 40 degree heat, have a swim in the pool and then go to training.
“He then had a couple of
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niggling injuries over the past couple of years – a broken thumb and a dislocated elbow that put him back – but this year he hasn’t missed one training run in the off-season.
“He went to England for the World Club Challenge, so he’s earned the right. We’re immensely proud of him because he’s a great kid, he’s a beautiful kid.”
It’ll also be a special moment for the extended family, with Mark married to the sister of Ben and Greg Alexander who both played for Penrith.
Hearing his son talk about Ben was particularly emotional for the former representative forward, with Ben killed in a car crash in 1992.
“He spoke about me playing for Penrith and his uncles, Greg and Ben,” Geyer said, with ‘Brandy’ Alexander also there to present Mav with his jersey.
“We don’t often talk about Ben because it was a really sad part of our lives, so as soon as he started talking about Ben, I choked up.
“The synergy that he brought as a kid with him wearing that family jersey every time he runs out, it meant so much to me.
“When we hand him his jersey today, it’s going to one of those moments where I’m trying to tell myself ‘just don’t cry, be strong’.
“It’s only a first grade game and rugby league, but it means so much to us because it’s the club that made me who I am today.
“As soon as they were announced yesterday, we started getting calls from people … so we’ve got about 90 people going on buses.
“We’ve got shirts made up, we’ve got tickets. It’s amazing.”
Panthers players are delighted for their new teammate, with Liam Martin revealing he’s already been pestered to hand over his free tickets for the game.
“Everyone loves Mav. He’s the best, so to see him get his opportunity is exciting.”