Rex
Bencher
Bennett (not Connell) was indisputably the decision maker at the time, and he told Ballin he would probably never play first grade at the Broncos. So if that isn't being told you're not wanted, I don't know what is. The Broncos were only upset AFTER Daly made it at Manly.
Kiwi was clearly the dog with the right bone.
Manly hooker Matt Ballin has proven doubters wrong
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/manly-hooker-matt-ballin-has-proven-doubters-wrong/story-e6frep5o-1226148155230
Matt Ballin dives over for a try in the first round of finals against the North Queensland Cowboys. Source: The Daily Telegraph
HOOKER Matt Ballin was once famously told by Wayne Bennett that he would probably never play first-grade at the Broncos.
But the boy from Kingaroy never doubted himself, and enters Sunday's NRL grand final as a key plank of Manly's plan to beat New Zealand.
Proud dad David, principal at Kingaroy High School, yesterday praised his son for having the courage to try to prove Bennett wrong.
Ballin Sr said his son relished knocking the club that spurned him out of the finals last Friday night, but held no grudges.
Rather, Bennett's knockback, after Ballin had a stint in the lower grades at the Broncos in 2002, ended up being the best thing that happened to his son.
"At the time, when Wayne told him he would probably never play first-grade at the Broncos, he was pretty hurt and cut up," Ballin Sr said.
"Some people would have given up. But Matt put his head down and was really determined and committed to playing first-grade.
"He had the courage to move on and try to play somewhere else.
"He now realises it is the best move he has ever made.
"If he had stayed in Brisbane he almost certainly would have never got a chance at the big time. The whole thing has given him a lot of pleasure."
In a NRL grand final devoid of major interest for Queenslanders, Ballin will give league fans north of the border at least one reason to cheer for Manly.
The tough hooker, who played his junior representative football for Wide Bay, was pounced on by Manly recruitment chief Noel Cleal after being unwanted at the Broncos.
He has never looked back, tasting grand final glory when the Sea Eagles beat the Storm in 2008, and playing Origin for the Maroons when Cameron Smith was injured last year.
Legendary former Broncos scout Cyril Connell was one of the first to spot Ballin's potential and, as usual, was right on the money.
"'Cyril was always saying to the Broncos they should give him a try," Ballin Sr said.
"It's funny how life goes because now Matt really likes beating the Broncos, although there is no resentment there.
"Matt was studying to be a physical education teacher and if he had stayed in Brisbane, I'd say he would be teaching in a classroom somewhere rather than playing first-grade."
More than 60 years ago Ballin's late grandfather, Ron Lidgard, played at hooker in the Manly district competition in the days before the Manly-Warringah club was formed in 1947.
The extended Ballin family will travel down to Sydney later this week.
Kiwi was clearly the dog with the right bone.
Manly hooker Matt Ballin has proven doubters wrong
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/manly-hooker-matt-ballin-has-proven-doubters-wrong/story-e6frep5o-1226148155230
Matt Ballin dives over for a try in the first round of finals against the North Queensland Cowboys. Source: The Daily Telegraph
HOOKER Matt Ballin was once famously told by Wayne Bennett that he would probably never play first-grade at the Broncos.
But the boy from Kingaroy never doubted himself, and enters Sunday's NRL grand final as a key plank of Manly's plan to beat New Zealand.
Proud dad David, principal at Kingaroy High School, yesterday praised his son for having the courage to try to prove Bennett wrong.
Ballin Sr said his son relished knocking the club that spurned him out of the finals last Friday night, but held no grudges.
Rather, Bennett's knockback, after Ballin had a stint in the lower grades at the Broncos in 2002, ended up being the best thing that happened to his son.
"At the time, when Wayne told him he would probably never play first-grade at the Broncos, he was pretty hurt and cut up," Ballin Sr said.
"Some people would have given up. But Matt put his head down and was really determined and committed to playing first-grade.
"He had the courage to move on and try to play somewhere else.
"He now realises it is the best move he has ever made.
"If he had stayed in Brisbane he almost certainly would have never got a chance at the big time. The whole thing has given him a lot of pleasure."
In a NRL grand final devoid of major interest for Queenslanders, Ballin will give league fans north of the border at least one reason to cheer for Manly.
The tough hooker, who played his junior representative football for Wide Bay, was pounced on by Manly recruitment chief Noel Cleal after being unwanted at the Broncos.
He has never looked back, tasting grand final glory when the Sea Eagles beat the Storm in 2008, and playing Origin for the Maroons when Cameron Smith was injured last year.
Legendary former Broncos scout Cyril Connell was one of the first to spot Ballin's potential and, as usual, was right on the money.
"'Cyril was always saying to the Broncos they should give him a try," Ballin Sr said.
"It's funny how life goes because now Matt really likes beating the Broncos, although there is no resentment there.
"Matt was studying to be a physical education teacher and if he had stayed in Brisbane, I'd say he would be teaching in a classroom somewhere rather than playing first-grade."
More than 60 years ago Ballin's late grandfather, Ron Lidgard, played at hooker in the Manly district competition in the days before the Manly-Warringah club was formed in 1947.
The extended Ballin family will travel down to Sydney later this week.
