Nix recruit takes the long Way
Reuben Way couldn’t believe the young man to his right was just 19.
Way and Nelson teenager Callan Elliot were unveiled by the Wellington Phoenix as the club’s latest signings on Wednesday, ahead of their A-League season opener against the Newcastle Jets on Sunday.
But while Elliot was stoked to sign a professional contract so early in his career, Way, a mortgage broker who played for Heidelberg United in the Victorian National Premier League, appeared stunned by his sudden elevation. At 28, he thought his break would never come.
‘‘This has come out of nowhere . . . I got over that break up. But I’m ecstastic as well,’’ said Way, whose rise to professional football has been so rapid he was still busy sending work emails just minutes before he stepped into yesterday’s press conference.
‘‘I’m involved in finance back home. When you play semi-professional you’ve got to work. So it was a strange phone call because I was expecting the phone call to go in a different direction. I thought there was a bit of banter going on when he said you’ve got to go over to Wellington because there’s an opportunity here.
‘‘But being in finance, you could be in finance until you’re 70, I can’t play professional [for that long], so it’s a bit different for him [Elliot] because he’s a lot younger. Mine was a dormant dream, his was current.’’
Elliot joins the Phoenix after two standout seasons for Tasman United, where he emerged as one of New Zealand’s brightest talents.
Born in Scotland, he moved to Nelson when he was seven-years-old before he moved again, to join Paul Ifill’s Wairarapa-based academy following a successful trial three years ago.
The New Zealand under-20 representative has worked closely with the former Phoenix star throughout that period and even played alongside him for both Tasman and Wairarapa United.
In fact, it was actually Ifill who recommended him to coach Mark Rudan at the beginning of the Phoenix’s preseason and he quickly caught the eye with his work ethic.
‘‘He’s a good kid who has come through the ranks. He’s been with us for a while and he can fill a number of roles in the playing squad and on the training pitch, which is good as well,’’ Rudan said.
‘‘I’ve really liked his enthusiasm and his desire to learn and improve. He fills our last under-20 spot and Paul Ifill has worked with him and made me aware of his talent quite early on in the piece. But he’s worked hard for it and he’s got it. He’s got the confidence of the players, he’s got a good head on his shoulders and there’s a bright future for Callan.’’
Meanwhile, the Phoenix have also lured Gianni Stensness and Taci Kumsuz across from Australia to join their academy set-up. Rudan said both players were open to the prospect of representing New Zealand in the future and although they will primarily play for the reserves team which competes in the ISPS Handa Premiership, they remain in the running for first team contracts.
‘‘If there’s a chance and an ability to bring them over then why not? They’ve both spoken about the opportunity of representing New Zealand because they’ve got that lineage in their blood so that’s a bonus and I think it works both ways.
‘‘It’s about strengthening and improving and we’ll always keep our door open to New Zealand talent, but they’ve got to want to be a part of this football club as well.’’