PASSION LOCKS
Cash no big deal for emerging Reds star
RETURNING Queensland Reds star Angus Blyth is living proof that money isn’t everything when it comes to footy.
Like Joseph Suaalii, who has sparked a public tug of war between league and union, Blyth also had to choose between two codes when he was a teen after he was approached by the Gold Coast Suns.
Standing 2.04m tall and already a rising star in Queensland rugby, Blyth was under no illusions about why the Suns were suddenly showing interest, and while he didn’t encounter any of the fanfare Suaalii has faced, he was still taken aback by the offer.
“I hadn’t ever played a game of AFL in my life. I think I’d only ever seen two games on TV and hadn’t really kicked a ball,” he said.
“They offered me a lot more money (than rugby) so I thought about it seriously because I was only about 18 and it was a lot more cash.
“But in the end, rugby’s the game I love, it’s the game I’ve always played and I’m so glad I made that decision.”
Instead of big bucks, the carrots that rugby dangled in front of Blyth were as much to develop him as a person as a player.
He was awarded a scholarship, named after Australia’s greatest lock John Eales, to study commerce at Bond University, and has a direct line to the two-time World Cup winner with any questions about his game or life in general.
He’s also travelled from New Zealand to South Africa, Argentina and Japan, although the lock said it was still a difficult call to make as a teenager.
“For me, it didn’t come down to money in the end. It came down to the game,” he said.
“I also liked the idea of being able to travel the world and the opportunity to wear the gold jersey one day, which are things you can’t do in AFL, so for me rugby was the better option and I’m glad I stuck with it.”
Australian rugby is glad too because Blyth’s stocks have been rising.
A former junior Wallaby, the now 22-year-old has quickly emerged as one of the country’s best prospects to fill the void at second row after the departures of Izack Rodda, Rory Arnold, Adam Coleman and Harry Hockings to rich overseas clubs.
Back in the Reds squad after a short injury lay-off, he now finds himself preparing to pack down alongside Test backrower Lukhan SalakaiaLoto against the Brumbies in Canberra on Saturday in a match that could have a big bearing on who gets picked for Australia at the end of the year.
“For a lot of young guys who are coming through, this is a great opportunity just to put their hand up and that’s how I’m looking at it,” Blyth said. “It was disappointing to see those guys go but we’ve still got a lot of good locks and I think the guys coming through are all playing really well and hoping to move on to the next level.
“I’ve been in the Reds pathway system for a while now so they have put a lot of time and effort into developing me and Queensland’s my home so I want to keep playing for the Reds.”
Young gun Jordan Petaia, who has been out of action since February after injuring his shoulder while in Argentina, will .almost certainly start off the Reds bench.