‘Costly’ debut in NRL
Brad Davis gave up a Residents jumper for whirlwind Titans tilt
BRAD Davis paid a high price to make his Gold Coast Titans debut.
But missing out on playing for the Queensland Residents in a State of Origin curtain-raiser allowed the Tweed half to achieve a lifelong goal of making the NRL – and notch up a win against Melbourne Storm to boot.
With regular Titans halfback Scott Prince winning a late call-up to the Maroons’ Origin side, Davis made his debut alongside Mat Rogers in an 18-0 win against the Storm at Robina.
“I was in camp for Queensland Residents at the time and Carty (coach John Cartwright) pulled me out of the Residents camp to play,” Davis said. “I ended up missing out on the Residents game but making my debut.
“I was a bit disappointed but it was a major goal for me to play NRL, so I was more than happy to do that.”
An injury to Prince soon after allowed Davis to get another five consecutive games CONNOR O’BRIEN AND EMMA GREENWOOD TAKE A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE that season, rounding out his NRL stint.
“I signed on again for 2009 but just didn’t get any more games. Things just didn’t fall my way that year.”
At the level below the NRL, Davis is a legend, picked as captain of the Queensland Cup 20th anniversary team. A teacher at Palm Beach Currumbin High School, Davis’s greatest legacy in the game though has been what he has passed on to the next generation.
“I’m coaching the Bs and helping Aaron Zimmerle with the As and we’ve just come off the back of a national championship,” he said.
“It’s super enjoyable to have that connection with the kids and to try to educate them a bit about the world of footy and watching them develop and grow during the years that you have them at school.
“To have a small part to play in their development is a major reward and something that’s really exciting.”