NRL sons of guns who discovered living up to a famous name isn’t easy

Having a famous father may be each a blessing and a curse, and there are numerous NRL gamers who’ve tried to comply with of their father’s footsteps with various levels of success.

The inherited rugby league genetics is likely to be useful, and maybe the famous name will open a few doorways alongside the best way, however these advantages not solely include a excessive diploma of expectation and scrutiny, but additionally convey the tall poppy syndrome into play.

There are numerous examples of gamers who have efficiently emulated their father’s profession, and a few have met with way more success than their dad. Suppose Nathan and Ivan Cleary, Brett and Josh Morris and their father Steve, Matt and Steve Rogers, Eric Grothe Jnr and Snr, Brett and Invoice Mullins, Mitchell and Wayne Pearce and Dean and Craig Younger.

Sadly although, many extra fall quick for a host of causes together with the load of expectation, harm, motivation or different circumstances past their management.

Right here’s a workforce of gamers who made a begin in rugby league however by no means reached the profession heights of their fathers.

1. Troy McCarthy (Bobby McCarthy)

Bobby McCarthy was a South Sydney legend and a member the NRL Corridor of Fame. He was a devastating wide-running ahead who completed his profession with over 250 first grade video games, three premierships, and a host of appearances for each NSW and Australia and went on to change into a coach with some success.

Not as large as his barrel-chested father, Troy McCarthy performed both five-eighth, centre or fullback, and seemed to have some promise when representing Queensland as a junior.

He made his first-grade debut for the Gold Coast/Tweed Heads Giants in 1988, along with his father as coach, and went on to play a whole of 45 video games for the membership over the subsequent six years. He additionally spent a while with Hull KR within the Australian off-seasons in 1991 and 1992, taking part in 13 video games within the prime grade.

2. Bronx Goodwin (Ted Goodwin)

Bronx Goodwin seemed to be constructing a strong first grade profession with Canberra after debuting for the membership in 2007, however he made the error of spending his evenings with Todd Carney, one of Canberra’s serial bother makers. The Raiders punted Goodwin in 2008 after he pleaded responsible to an assault throughout a night time out with Carney, and the remainder of his first-grade profession was restricted to simply a handful of video games with Cronulla and St George Illawarra.

Todd Carney in higher occasions. (Picture by Stefan Postles/Getty Photographs)

Against this, his father, “Lord” Ted Goodwin, was one of essentially the most thrilling gamers of the Nineteen Seventies, notably throughout his time with St George between 1972 and 1978. On his day Goodwin may do something and will make the opposition look pedestrian.

He was a key participant within the Dragons’ 1977 premiership win and performed 147 first grade video games in his profession, together with stints with each Newtown and Western Suburbs. He additionally performed 4 video games for Australia and 9 for NSW.

3. Joel Reddy (Rod Reddy)

When on the peak of his powers within the late ’70s, Rod “Rocket” Reddy was arguably not solely the perfect participant on the earth, but additionally essentially the most ruthless and violent. He performed over 200 video games for the Dragons, received premierships with them in 1977 and 1979, and was a common member of each the NSW and Australian sides, together with the 1982 Invincibles Kangaroo tour.

Joel Reddy was finest described as a dependable first grader. There was nothing excellent about his sport, however he was reliable, whether or not taking part in within the centres or on the wing. He performed 136 first grade matches in his profession, firstly with the Eels, then the Tigers and eventually South Sydney.

4. Jed Cartwright (John Cartwright)

There is no such thing as a extra famous name within the Panthers’ lexicon than Cartwright, with the membership owing its very existence to late founding father Merv Cartwright, whose son John constructed a status as one of the Panthers’ best within the mid-Eighties and ’90s.

John Cartwright was a large of a man with the ball abilities of a halfback to complement his energy sport. He was half of the membership’s first premiership win in 1991, Dally M Second Rower of the Yr in each 1991 and 1992, performed over 180 video games for the membership, and represented each NSW and Australia with distinction earlier than embarking on his teaching profession.

John’s son Jed Cartwright, however, continues to be struggling to make his mark within the sport. A Penrith junior, he debuted for the membership in 2019, however that was his solely top-grade look for the membership, and he then performed one other 30 odd first grade video games for Souths after which Newcastle over the subsequent 5 years. Maybe his latest transfer to Hull FC within the Tremendous League will unlock the 28-year-old’s potential.

Jed Cartwright with South Sydney. (Picture by Mark Kolbe/Getty Photographs)

5. Jarrad Anderson (Chris Anderson)

Jarrad was all the time going to wrestle to emulate the famous rugby league deeds of his father, and ultimately, he acquired nowhere close to them. Chris Anderson was one of the highest wingers within the sport throughout his 14-year profession with the Bulldogs, crossing for 94 tries, represented each NSW and Australia, after which went on to be a premiership-winning coach with the Bulldogs, additionally teaching Australia in 25 Checks with an 88 per cent win file. Spectacular.

Jarrad’s solely declare to rugby league fame got here in 2003 when his father and coach elevated him to the Cronulla first grade aspect. He performed 14 video games within the prime grade for the Sharks that yr earlier than being unceremoniously punted by the membership on the finish of the season, evoking a sturdy response from his father.

Jarrad Anderson didn’t play first grade once more.

6. Luke Branighan (Arthur Branighan)

Luke Branighan made his debut for the Dragons halfway by means of the 2000 season following Anthony Mundine’s departure from the sport to pursue his boxing profession. He then joined the Sharks in 2001, however made just one additional NRL look, and after spending a while battling away within the decrease grades, headed to England in 2009 for a couple of seasons with each Gateshead Thunder and Halifax.

His father Arthur was a excellent centre for South Sydney within the late Sixties and early ’70s. Arthur Branighan performed in Souths’ grand closing loss to St George in 1965, received premiership rings in each 1968 and 1970, and was a non-playing reserve for Souths in each the 1969 and 1971 deciders.

7. Dane Dorahy (John Dorahy)

Dane Dorahy’s father was one of the sport’s highest profile gamers in the course of the Nineteen Seventies and Eighties, and there wasn’t a lot he didn’t obtain in rugby league. A fullback or centre, he was a prolific point-scorer, sturdy defender and nice damaged area runner in assault, and in a profession that stretched some 20 years he performed over 400 video games, each right here and in England and represented each NSW and Australia.

Dane Dorahy’s NRL profession was restricted to simply a single season with Wests in 1999, and he then had a quantity of seasons in England earlier than hanging up the boots and pursuing a profession in teaching.

8. Lincoln Raudonikis (Tommy Raudonikis)

Once you suppose Western Suburbs Magpies you naturally suppose of Tommy Raudonikis, who epitomised the tough, robust, battling persona of the membership. Tommy performed over 200 video games for the Magpies, received the Rothmans’ Medal in 1972, performed 24 video games for NSW, together with captaining the Blues within the very first Origin sport, and performed 31 Checks for Australia. He was arguably Western Suburbs’ best participant.

(Picture by Sean Garnsworthy/Getty Photographs)

Lincoln, however, performed simply 24 video games for the Magpies throughout the 1998 and 1999 seasons, successful solely two of them, with Tommy as his coach. Maybe his largest declare to fame is that he was half of the one father-son, player-coach mixture to take part in a membership’s last-ever sport.

9. Scott Fulton (Bob Fulton)

When it comes to famous fathers, it’s onerous to beat Bobby Fulton. He’s a rugby league immortal, received three premierships as a participant, two as a coach, performed 16 video games for NSW, 35 Checks for Australia, 39 video games as Australian coach, and the listing goes on and on.

Scott Fulton was by no means going to stay up to that legacy, however he did handle to play 49 video games for Manly between 1993 and 1999, which was, apparently, the identical interval wherein his famous father coached the workforce. Does nepotism exist in rugby league?

10. Dean Britt (Darren Britt)

Issues acquired off to a promising begin for Dean Britt, popping out of the St Gregory’s Faculty system and taking part in for the NSW Beneath 20’s Workforce in opposition to Queensland in each 2013 and 2014. He joined the Storm when he left faculty and made his debut for them in 2017 prior to being loaned to the Rabbitohs mid-season.

He performed 16 video games for Souths earlier than heading to his father’s non secular house on the Bulldogs in 2020, the place he performed his closing 12 first grade video games earlier than being launched on the finish of 2021.

Britt’s father Darren was an distinctive entrance rower who grew to become an inspirational chief with the Bulldogs after spending a few years with Western Suburbs. He captained the Bulldogs to their seventh premiership in 1995 and performed 168 video games for the membership throughout eight seasons earlier than becoming a member of St Helens within the Tremendous League, the place he was half of their grand closing victory in 2002.

He additionally performed 9 Checks for Australia. One of the unique “Dogs of War”.

11. Jamil Hopoate (John Hopoate)

To explain Jamil Hopoate’s father John as a rugby league dangerous boy can be a severe understatement. Whether or not it was his undesirable novice proctology exploits, or simply his dangerous mood, John Hopoate was all the time within the information for the unsuitable causes, however he certain may play when he put his thoughts to it.

He was a weapon on the sphere, racked up 209 profession video games, received a premiership with Manly in 1996, and performed for NSW, Australia and Tonga.

Not like his siblings Will, Lehi and Albert, Jamil Hopoate didn’t use his inherited expertise to construct a profession within the sport, racking up a number of convictions earlier than lastly making his first grade debut for the Broncos in 2020. His profession was short-lived although, as he was jailed for drug provide in early 2021.

12. Jack Johns (Matthew Johns)

When your father is Matthew Johns and your uncle is rugby league immortal Andrew Johns, you’d think about that sufficient ability would rub off simply taking part in yard footy, however that wasn’t the case for Jack Johns.

He spent the primary couple of years of his profession taking part in within the decrease grades for Newcastle earlier than becoming a member of Souths in 2019 the place he made his first grade debut the next yr. He then rejoined the Knights in 2021 and performed a additional 14 video games throughout the 2021 to 2023 seasons, leaving the membership on the finish of that yr.

Matthew Johns is one of Newcastle’s favorite sons, having performed 176 video games for the membership and successful a premiership with the Knights in 1997. He has additionally represented each NSW and Australia.

Johns at Blues camp with brother Andrew and Greg Alexander (Picture by Matt King/Getty Photographs)

13. Paul Carter (Steve Carter)

Put merely, Steve Carter was one of the Panthers’ finest clubmen, spending 14 years on the membership, churning out some 260 video games. He had nice tempo and all of the methods you’d count on in a five-eighth, was a Panther by means of and thru and was half of the membership’s first premiership victory in 1991.

Paul Carter inherited a lot of his father’s capacity however seemingly none of his good character or software. A proficient lock, second rower and hooker, he acquired off to a good begin, representing each the Australian Schoolboys and the NSW Beneath 20’s workforce, was named within the 2012 NYC Workforce of the Yr and performed for the NSW Residents’ workforce in 2013.

He joined the Titans in 2014 the place he made his first grade debut that very same yr however had his contract terminated in December 2014 for disciplinary causes. His subsequent port of name was South Sydney in 2015 however by July the next yr his contract was terminated and joined the Roosters in 2017.

That association lasted till June 2017 when the membership launched him with out remark, successfully bringing his NRL profession to an finish on the age of 25. His file of ill-discipline and alcohol abuse has gotten progressively worse since his soccer profession got here to an finish.

Are you able to suppose of any NRL gamers who failed to stay up to their father’s legacy?