Family silence is the danger
“THEY say I am a very hard man to get in contact with.”
That quote alone from Tweed Heads centre Brayden McGrady could send veteran footy fans into flashbacks of his famous relative Ewan McGrady.
It’s simply the McGrady way.
Ewan could hold the record for the world’s shortest acceptance speech – eight seconds – after being welcomed up on stage in bizarre circumstances to receive the 1991 Rothmans Medal for player of the NRL season.
The story goes that when officials realised the Canterbury livewire was set to clinch the prestigious medal, the search began for his whereabouts. A police convoy eventually rushed him to the ceremony, at which he humbly – almost reluctantly – accepted the honour.
McGrady was a natural talent on the field, though, and those gifts have been handed down the bloodlines. So have his traits, as proven by teen Glenn McGrady.
After playing a starring role in Palm Beach Currumbin’s schoolboy win over Keebra Park last month, his coach Aaron Zimmerle asked if the fullback was up for a post-match interview.
Most young guns jump at the chance to get themselves in the paper. Glenn? A swift “no thanks”. The McGrady way.
“I think we’re all like that … he’s a shy kid but when he is at home, you can’t shut him up,” older brother Brayden smiles.
Hailing
HE’S A SHY KID BUT WHEN HE IS AT HOME, YOU CAN’T SHUT HIM UP
BRAYDEN ON GLENN MCGRADY
from Goondiwindi, Glenn and Brayden recently inked two-year deals starting 2019 to join Penrith.
For the latter, it came after a flying start to the Intrust Super Cup season in which he raced to 12 tries in seven games.
After the contract signing, the Bulletin tried in vain to contact Brayden by phone, leading Seagulls coach Ben Woolf to laugh about how the 21-year-old is said to have four different numbers.
“I don’t really use my phone much, I just chill out and don’t really get on the social media and that,” said Brayden, who suffered a season-ending ACL rupture just days after agreeing to join the Panthers.
At Tweed, Brayden has benefitted from playing outside five-eighth and cousin Lindon McGrady. Teammates say they have an uncanny knack of knowing what the other is thinking.
The “laidback” vibe Lindon describes his extended family as seems at odds with the bright lights of greater Sydney but he believes “they should go all right”.
The 24-year-old will be at No.6 for Tweed when they take on the Central Queensland Capras in Rockhampton tonight. Burleigh meanwhile host Northern Pride at Pizzey Park from 1.10pm today.