Reed Mahoney has always been small in stature but big on courage, according to those who witnessed his rise from the junior ranks.
The 24-year-old is poised to play for Parramatta against Penrith in the NRL grand final in Sydney on Sunday, after a remarkable journey to the big stage.
Born in Nambour, Mahoney grew up in the Sunshine Coast hinterland and found his footing with Beerwah Bulldogs and then the Kawana Dolphins, before leaving for Sydney.
His Kawana coach, television news presenter Rob Brough, recalled the first game Mahoney played in local A-grade, as an 18-year-old.
“The thing that blew you away with the kid was that he was tough,” he said.
“I’ll never forget him stepping out on to the field as a No.9, against Maroochydore, and he was just knocking blokes over, one after the other.
“He wasn’t a big boy, but he backed down to nothing and made every tackle.
“He just had that incredible competitive nature. There was no giving up in him.
“Being smaller just wasn’t an issue. He always wanted to take people on.
“He had that belief and that little bit of arrogance, in a good way, to say ‘I can take you on and I don’t care how big you are or how good you are’.”
When Mahoney went to Sydney, Brough was worried the young man’s gruelling playing style was unsustainable.
“I watched him play in the under-20s there and he was making 40 to 50 tackles per game,” he said.
“It was courageous, but I thought, ‘How is he going to survive doing that for a long period of time, at his size’?”
“But he did … and he continues to do it.”
Mahoney earned his NRL debut with the Eels in June 2018, and has since notched 100 games and become a force in the league, despite his 175cm, 86kg stature.
“I love the fact that, in a game of big bodies and power and athleticism, this kid, who has given away so much in size, is able to play intelligently and play with so much courage,” Brough said.
Mahoney showed his spirit in the preliminary final against the Cowboys, when he slipped over but still managed to make a crucial tackle in the dying moments of the game.
“He pretty much made that tackle on his knees,” Brough said.
“If he didn’t make it, then the Cowboys may have snatched victory on the last play.
“That effort just epitomised him.
“He was out on his feet but somehow found more to give in that moment.”
Brough said Mahoney was a confident and crafty player.
“When he played for us, he was a cocky bloke and a likeable footy player,” he said.
“You couldn’t help but like him and he had so many tricks up his sleeve on the field. He was clever and thinking all the time.”
Meanwhile, Beerwah club president Shannon Roy said everyone at the club said the same thing about Mahoney.
“His work-rate is what they talk about,” he said.
“They all say he’s always been a great defender, with his work ethic.”
Roy said the Bulldogs were immensely proud of Mahoney.
“He’s probably the highest achiever to come from the club,” he said.
“He’s set the bar for the kids coming through here.
“We’re proud of him and for him to get to the grand final is a great look for our club and for Sunshine Coast rugby league.”
Roy said Mahoney was leading the way for youngsters at small, regional clubs.
“A lot of kids get told they need to go to certain clubs and be in certain areas to get noticed,” he said.
“But Reed’s a good example that, through effort and hard work, you can make it from anywhere.
Several of Mahoney’s old Bulldogs team-mates are really getting behind him for this weekend.
“A heap of lads are road tripping down to support him in the big game,” Roy said.
“Ever since he went down there, they’ve supported him, and they go down there every chance they get to watch him play.”
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