29 Mar 2015 Sunday Times, Perth Author: Glen Quartermain • Section: Sport • Article type : News Item • Audience : 204,892 Page: 66 • Printed Size: 444.00cm² • Market: WA • Country: Australia • ASR: AUD 9,452 Words: 453 • Item ID: 388143466

Provided for client's internal research purposes only. May not be further copied, distributed, sold or published in any form without the prior consent of the copyright owner. Page 1 of 2 Top league talent calls Perth home GLEN QUARTERMAIN room with superstars like You realise how fast and quick James Graham, who has cap- it is. Just being up against qual- IT takes a special talent to tained his country (England), it ity players. It was a dream catch the eye of legendary is mind blowing. They are come true to debut.” NRL coach Des Hasler. great players on the field and Rona said he’d already had But that’s just what Curtis even better blokes off it.” an insight into the Hasler Rona has done. Rona moved to Perth from model of work ethic before ex- The New Zealand-born, New Zealand at age five, travagance, building a champi- WA-raised Rona impressed played league until he was nine on team rather than a team of Hasler so much in stints at and then had a stint in union. champions. and North But he saw a better pathway And the million dollar ques- Queensland Cowboys that he to league and signed up with tion, should Perth win an NRL lured him to Canterbury Bull- WA club , franchise to coincide with the dogs. progressed to the state next round of TV rights in The 22-year-old has repaid under-18s and eventually the 2018? “If they did have a team I Hasler’s faith with an explosive WA Reds team in the SG Ball would have to seriously think start to the year from a wing in Cup (NSW under-18s compet- about it,” he said. the Bulldogs’ first-grade line- ition). up, scoring five tries from the Five NRL clubs were chas- opening four games, including ing him, but he landed at the two in Friday night’s 25-24 Roosters, where he played two golden point win over Wests seasons of Toyota Cup (under Tigers at ANZ Stadium. 20s). He joined the Cowboys in It’s further proof that the 2012 and made his debut last pathway from the NRL WA works. year against Manly in Gosford, Rona said he was still com- scoring a try. ing to terms with the fact he “I couldn’t believe it. It was was playing first-grade with a an overwhelming feeling. To side rated an $8 chance to win run out with some of the best the premiership. players in the world like Joh- nathan Thurston, I was pretty “When you see the players pumped and excited,” he said. around you, like Tony Willi- “The whole time I was out ams, Josh Morris, a quality for- there I was running on adrena- ward pack and these all-round line and very eager to give it performers, you have to pinch my best. It was the fastest game yourself,” Rona said. I had played. Your first game of “You are sitting in the video NRL is a whole other level. 29 Mar 2015 Sunday Times, Perth Author: Glen Quartermain • Section: Sport • Article type : News Item • Audience : 204,892 Page: 66 • Printed Size: 444.00cm² • Market: WA • Country: Australia • ASR: AUD 9,452 Words: 453 • Item ID: 388143466

Provided for client's internal research purposes only. May not be further copied, distributed, sold or published in any form without the prior consent of the copyright owner. Page 2 of 2

Top Dog: WA product Curtis Rona crosses for the Bulldogs, Picture: Getty