[h=1]Moses Mbye is embarking on the same trajectory to NRL stardom as that of Johnathan Thurston[/h]
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Moses Mbye is embarking on the same trajectory to NRL stardom as that of Johnathan Thurston. Source:News Limited
[h=3]Bulldogs back Origin teammates1:03[/h]
Laurie Daley's choice to field a Bulldogs' halves pairing over the Roosters has surprised some but the 'Dogs squad says Daley's decision was the right one
AUTOPLAY
WHEN Moses Mbye began idolising Johnathan Thurston, the young playmaker could not have imagined that he’d embark on the same trajectory to NRL stardom.
Like Thurston, Mbye was bred in Queensland. Like Thurston, Mbye was overlooked by the Brisbane Broncos. Like Thurston, Mbye was forced to move to Sydney in his teens to accept a chance of a lifetime from the Canterbury-Bankstown *Bulldogs.Four years after arriving alone from the Sunshine Coast, the Gambian-blooded prodigy will get his first genuine crack at the NRL when he guides Canterbury’s Origin-decimated side against the Roosters at ANZ Stadium.
Reni Maitua and Moses Mbye are set to line-up in the halves for Canterbury on Friday night. Source: News Limited
Having made his lone top- grade appearance from the bench against Newcastle four weeks ago, Mbye has been named in the halves alongside his new mentor and best mate at Belmore, veteran utility Reni Maitua.At opposite ends of their *careers, the pair make an odd-couple replacement for Origin duo Trent Hodkinson and Josh Reynolds.But necessity often breeds ingenuity, a character trait 20-year-old Mbye has consciously developed since leaving his *single mum behind in 2011. He was first spotted in the Noosa *Pirates under-18s the previous season, by ex-Bulldogs recruitment manager Peter Mulholland, who confessed: “I didn’t even know who he was, let alone know how to pronounce his surname.”
[h=3]Trent Hodkinson's courageous career1:31[/h]
Injury prone Bulldogs halfback Trent Hodkinson's career has been full of ups and downs, but his star is certainly on the rise after being called up to wear the number seven jersey for NSW in State of Origin I.
“It was just the way it worked,” said Mbye, who captained the Canterbury and Queensland under-20s teams last year.“I didn’t have an offer from any Queensland club. The Bulldogs saw something in me that they thought they could dig up and I’m very grateful. I want to repay them with a good career at this club.”Mbye began that process in March, when he knocked back interest from Newcastle to ink a two-year extension. He’s since been named 18th man for the Bulldogs on most weeks, and steps back to the halves in NSW Cup when the draw permits.The waiting game is uncannily close to the one Thurston endured at Belmore, stranded behind established halves Brent Sherwin and Braith Anasta before joining North Queensland a decade ago.
Moses Mbye grew up idolising superstar Johnathan Thurston. Source: News Corp Australia
“I was quite the Cowboys fan as a kid, because of Johnathan Thurston — for mine, he’s the best player in the world,” Mbye said. “My dream is to play against him one day, and I actually think a lot about how he started here at Canterbury and couldn’t get a spot at first.“I’ve only met him a couple of times, but not really gotten the chance to speak with him properly. Hopefully I will one day.”On Friday night Mbye will have to be content re-acquainting himself with fellow Noosa product Jake Friend. Despite playing for the Roosters, Friend was a significant influence in Mbye’s adjustment to Sydney. before commencing full-time NRL training last November, Mbye worked as a teacher’s aide at Bankstown primary school and was billeted with Canterbury’s indigenous liaison officer, Dean Feeney, at nearby George’s Hall.
Moses Mbye with Michael Ennis during a training session. Source: News Limited
“It was pretty difficult coming from a small coastal community to the big smoke,” Mbye said. “I think I’m pretty mature for a young kid and handled it quite well. I know Jake Friend quite well from Noosa, and he helped me out a lot.”
- JOSH MASSOUD
- THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
- MAY 22, 2014 10:00PM
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Moses Mbye is embarking on the same trajectory to NRL stardom as that of Johnathan Thurston. Source:News Limited
[h=3]Bulldogs back Origin teammates1:03[/h]
Laurie Daley's choice to field a Bulldogs' halves pairing over the Roosters has surprised some but the 'Dogs squad says Daley's decision was the right one
AUTOPLAY
WHEN Moses Mbye began idolising Johnathan Thurston, the young playmaker could not have imagined that he’d embark on the same trajectory to NRL stardom.
Like Thurston, Mbye was bred in Queensland. Like Thurston, Mbye was overlooked by the Brisbane Broncos. Like Thurston, Mbye was forced to move to Sydney in his teens to accept a chance of a lifetime from the Canterbury-Bankstown *Bulldogs.Four years after arriving alone from the Sunshine Coast, the Gambian-blooded prodigy will get his first genuine crack at the NRL when he guides Canterbury’s Origin-decimated side against the Roosters at ANZ Stadium.
Reni Maitua and Moses Mbye are set to line-up in the halves for Canterbury on Friday night. Source: News Limited
Having made his lone top- grade appearance from the bench against Newcastle four weeks ago, Mbye has been named in the halves alongside his new mentor and best mate at Belmore, veteran utility Reni Maitua.At opposite ends of their *careers, the pair make an odd-couple replacement for Origin duo Trent Hodkinson and Josh Reynolds.But necessity often breeds ingenuity, a character trait 20-year-old Mbye has consciously developed since leaving his *single mum behind in 2011. He was first spotted in the Noosa *Pirates under-18s the previous season, by ex-Bulldogs recruitment manager Peter Mulholland, who confessed: “I didn’t even know who he was, let alone know how to pronounce his surname.”
[h=3]Trent Hodkinson's courageous career1:31[/h]
Injury prone Bulldogs halfback Trent Hodkinson's career has been full of ups and downs, but his star is certainly on the rise after being called up to wear the number seven jersey for NSW in State of Origin I.
“It was just the way it worked,” said Mbye, who captained the Canterbury and Queensland under-20s teams last year.“I didn’t have an offer from any Queensland club. The Bulldogs saw something in me that they thought they could dig up and I’m very grateful. I want to repay them with a good career at this club.”Mbye began that process in March, when he knocked back interest from Newcastle to ink a two-year extension. He’s since been named 18th man for the Bulldogs on most weeks, and steps back to the halves in NSW Cup when the draw permits.The waiting game is uncannily close to the one Thurston endured at Belmore, stranded behind established halves Brent Sherwin and Braith Anasta before joining North Queensland a decade ago.
Moses Mbye grew up idolising superstar Johnathan Thurston. Source: News Corp Australia
“I was quite the Cowboys fan as a kid, because of Johnathan Thurston — for mine, he’s the best player in the world,” Mbye said. “My dream is to play against him one day, and I actually think a lot about how he started here at Canterbury and couldn’t get a spot at first.“I’ve only met him a couple of times, but not really gotten the chance to speak with him properly. Hopefully I will one day.”On Friday night Mbye will have to be content re-acquainting himself with fellow Noosa product Jake Friend. Despite playing for the Roosters, Friend was a significant influence in Mbye’s adjustment to Sydney. before commencing full-time NRL training last November, Mbye worked as a teacher’s aide at Bankstown primary school and was billeted with Canterbury’s indigenous liaison officer, Dean Feeney, at nearby George’s Hall.
Moses Mbye with Michael Ennis during a training session. Source: News Limited
“It was pretty difficult coming from a small coastal community to the big smoke,” Mbye said. “I think I’m pretty mature for a young kid and handled it quite well. I know Jake Friend quite well from Noosa, and he helped me out a lot.”
