A chance meeting with rugby league Test great Steve Rogers nearly three decades ago proved a pivotal moment in the sporting career of Mercy College Mackay staff member Matthew Paul.
A proud Paul – who was named Honorary Coach of the 2022 Confraternity Rugby League Merit Team after 20 years of sterling service as a player and official to secondary schools competition – has vivid memories of his first encounter with the late champion Kangaroos and Cronulla Sharks superstar centre.
The iconic Rogers was manager of the fledgling Western Reds franchise in the Australian Rugby League competition and along with experienced official Peter Parr travelled to Mackay to attend the 1996 Confraternity Shield Rugby League Carnival.
Paul, an industrious forward with a high work rate and natural ball skills, was part of a strong St Patrick’s College Mackay team that finished third at the prestigious Queensland secondary schools tournament.
Rogers was most impressed with the strapping young forward’s ability throughout the series and offered him a Reds contract on the spot.
“I agreed to terms with the newly-formed Perth club but had to pinch myself to believe it was true,” confessed Matthew, who went on to play U/19s with the Reds when the 1997 Super League competition was formed.
“When I arrived home my dad asked how we went and I told him that a couple of Reds officials were very keen to sign me,” he recalled.
“Dad asked who I had spoken to and when I told him it was Steve Rogers the manager of the Western Reds he nearly fainted.”
Two of Matthew’s St Patrick’s College teammates that year were boom centre Shannon Hegarty, who would go on and make 173 top grade appearances with the Sydney Roosters, South Sydney and North Queensland clubs as well as four Test matches for the Kangaroos and three Origin fixtures for Queensland and future Brisbane Broncos hooker Michael Roberts.
“We lost only one match during that Confraternity Carnival to St Mary’s Toowoomba in an absorbing semifinal which could have gone either way,” recalled Matthew.
St Mary’s fielded a shooting star in Australian Schoolboys centre Chris Walker, who was later named Player of the Carnival.
Walker – who chalked up 163 first grade matches and six Origin games for Queensland during an illustrious NRL career – was named along with Paul and Hegarty in a Confraternity representative team for a tour of Papua New-Guinea.
“That tour never eventuated but we did play matches against the Brisbane Broncos Development squad,” reflected Matthew.
When Super League disbanded after the 1997 season, back rower Paul was snapped up by the Melbourne Storm for the 1998-99 NRL campaigns.
He was a mainstay for feeder club Norths Devils and figured in Colts and Queensland Cup premiership triumphs as well as the North Queensland Marlins before a spate of chronic injuries cut short his career at the age of 21.
A shattered Paul then turned his hand to coaching with the Souths Sharks in the Mackay & District Rugby League competition – winning three Under 17 and Under 19 premierships before taking on roles with the Mackay Cutters Under 16s and St Patrick’s College as a coach, manager, trainer and administrator.
With more than two decades of distinguished service to Queensland rugby league under his belt, pundits can appreciate the Mercy College teacher that once captured the attention of the legendary Steve Rogers.
By Chris Karas
Matthew Paul was named Honorary Coach of the 2022 Confraternity Rugby League Merit Team. Photo supplied
