88 SPORT SUNDAY DECEMBER 22 2013 COURIERMAIL.COM.AU THE MIDAS TOUCH KICKS IN FOR TOM

CHRIS GARRY formally kicked off in 2005. ONE rugby league “At that time we already fanatic’s punt on a had eight teams who backyard game he wanted to play so we just invented with university set up a proper mates has created a competition. sporting revolution. “It was a social In the space of eight competition. It grew years, Tom Longworth’s organically. There was no Touch Rugby League advertising, just word of MANLY BOY: Coach Geoff creation has boomed from mouth. Toovey is getting results. a Sunday catch-up with “There were no friends to one of commercial reasons to set ’s biggest TRL up. I was very naive Toovey social sports. and only charged what was TRL is pushing touch needed to cover costs at the football for popularity in start and even it didn’t close to southeast Queensland and cover costs. despite the NRL recently “When it got to the formally recognising point of having 40 teams ... signing traditional touch as its reality sunk in and we non-contact cousin, TRL thought this could be has rapidly expanded and something bigger and we contract even gained a foothold in could have 100 teams in Sydney. Brisbane. This year alone more “Now we are in Sydney, DAVID RICCIO than 1000 teams played the Gold Coast and this TRL, which is not bad year alone we had 1000 MANLY’S boardroom war has considering it was started teams play in our had little impact on Geoff by a bloke who just wanted competitions. Toovey, with the head coach to play a game of touch “I never thought I on the verge of extending his where he could kick the would be doing this today. future at Brookvale until at ball. It was something I fell least 2016. “It came about from just into.” The Sea Eagles were hoping being with a bunch of The rules of TRL allow to announce the new deal last mates on a Sunday and for a kick on any tackle Friday, but instead Toovey modifying the rules of and the ball must be played spent this weekend going over touch to suit our needs and as it is in rugby league with the terms of the deal which will create a game that we a foot touching the ball. keep him at the club he has al- wanted to play,” This slows the play ready spent a remarkable 24 Longworth (pictured) said. down to force greater years with, both as a first grade “Over time we tweaked tactics and creativity than player and an NRL coach, for things and then we traditional touch football. at least a further two seasons. Toovey’s new deal will pro- vide the ultimate Christmas cheer for members and fans who have been left stuck in the middle of an ugly boardroom battle for control of the Manly District Football Club. It was at last Thursday’s an- nual general meeting that Manly chief executive David Perry provided an update on negotiations with Toovey to the football club board, which the members decided to retain at the ballot box. Despite some discussion within the room last Thursday night that St George Illawarra were interested in Toovey, Perry informed the directors that after two months of nego- Tyson’s about face tiations with the head coach, a deal was imminent. In just his second NRL sea- CHRIS GARRY “I just didn’t want to play An offer to train with the son at the helm of the Sea Ea- rugby league. I didn’t think I Cutters in the pre-season gles after taking over from Des IN A reversal of rugby league was good enough. turned into a full-time contract. Hasler, Toovey’s nous to steer stereotypes, boxing has de- “When there wasn’t interest Last season his performan- a battered and bruised Manly livered Mackay prop Tyson I thought that’s it, my dream is ces attracted the Sea Eagles side into last year’s grand final Andrews an unlikely NRL op- over and I will never play in the who needed to boost their was revered even by their most portunity three years after he NRL. front-row depth. spiteful rivals. quit the sport. “The Broncos were always “The year off was great for The performance and With a first name of Tyson, good to me so there are no me and it cleared my head,” character which Toovey drove the 23-year-old Brisbane Bron- hard feelings there. I just need- Andrews said. out of his players led rugby cos junior was always bound ed to clear my head. “I didn’t want to be left with league immortal and club leg- for a pugilism career. “So I just thought I would regrets about rugby league.” end Bob Fulton to champion However it was a year spent give boxing a go.” With Manly’s cult hero Ge- the signing of Toovey to an ex- as a boxer in 2010 that reig- He did more than that. He orge Rose moving to the Mel- tended deal. nited his passion for the 13- was undefeated and contem- bourne Storm there is a front The ’ Mick man code, a desire culled when plated making the Olympics row spot to be filled at Manly. Potter, he was unwanted after his Na- OUT OF THE RING: New Sea Eagles prop is his next goal. Manly has had recent suc- Matt Elliott, South Sydney’s tional Youth Competition ca- a former Australian amateur boxing champion. But there was always a cess turning fringe forwards Michael Maguire and Cronul- reer finished. voice in the back of his head re- into regular first graders with la’s Shane Flanagan are all off- Now he is impressing Broncos did not renew his con- Within the space of a year minding him rugby league was Brenton Lawrence and Justin contract with their respective Manly Sea Eagles coaches tract and there was little inter- he won the Australian heavy- his first love. So in 2011 he Horo having breakout seasons clubs in 2014. with his pre-season training ef- est elsewhere. weight amateur title but more started from the bottom. in 2013. Dragons coach Steve Price forts after signing a two-year The feeling of rejection left importantly rediscovered his He turned up to train with “Seeing how those guys per- is in a unique situation where deal with the club. him frustrated with the sport. passion for league. local Mackay side Wests and formed at Manly was a big at- the club has an option to keep Andrews was relegated to So he quit to become a boxer, a “I wasn’t in a good place impressed the coaching staff of traction for me to come here him on-board for 2015, or sever rugby league’s scrapheap at sport he had dabbled in grow- after the under-20s finished,” Intrust Super Cup team the and I’m loving it,” Andrews ties with the 36-year-old at the the end of 2009 when the ing up on the Sunshine Coast. Andrews said. . said. end of the 2014 season.

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