ONE-GAME WONDER
Goulburn lad bags try on debut but never plays for Coast again
TYLER Cornish’s dream first-grade debut came in dramatic circumstances. His tenure at the Titans was over just weeks later but no one can take that memorable game off him.
A promising half from Goulburn in NSW, Cornish had headed north with a 2017 Titans NRL train-and-trial deal in hand and only had to wait until Round 3 to be called up with Neil Henry’s roster decimated by injuries.
Controversy surrounded the match, with Titans officials outraged by the NRL’s rejection of their request for recruit Dale Copley to be included for the Parramatta fixture. Gold Coast defied all odds to take a backs-to-thewall 26-14 victory.
Replacing the injured Jarryd Hayne in the No.1 jersey before jumping on to the wing for the first time in his career when William Zillman joined the casualty ward, Cornish has fond memories of the occasion.
“To be honest with you, it was probably one of the best days of my life,” Cornish reflected. “You dream about that as a kid. To be able to do it was unbelievable and scoring in a win just makes it extra special.”
The now 23-year-old made way the following week and soon informed the club he would be heading back to join family in Goulburn after being told he would not be given a full-time contract.
These days he is playing for Canberra feeder club Mounties in the Intrust Super Premiership and is relatively unfazed about returning to the NRL one day.
“If it comes my way, I will take it with both hands but I’m happy just doing what I am doing at the moment,” he said. “I have just started an electrical apprenticeship so I am really enjoying that.”
Cornish’s older brother Mitchell has chalked up 20 games for the Raiders and Roosters so far; the pair enjoyed quite the backyard footy rivalry.
“Me and (younger brother) Nicholas used to take on Mitchell because that’s the only way it was fair,” Tyler said.