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Tigers keen to keep Siro junior in the family
Daniel Lane
September 25, 2011
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ONE of the reasons why Australian Schoolboys representative Curtis Sironen is ranked among the code's hottest young prospects is that he's following an old-fashioned truism his father - and Balmain great - Paul Sironen instilled in him from a young age.
Sironen, an 18-year-old five-eighth, goes into camp with the Australian Schoolboys team tomorrow to prepare for the tour of New Zealand - 28 years after his father was handed his national schoolboys team jersey - and his dad's advice is still ringing in his ears.
"There's a few old cliches from years ago that ring true today, including the 'harder you work the luckier you get,'" Sironen snr said. "Outside of that, I don't say too much to Curtis, I've been happy to let him find his own way. I just keep an eye on him to make sure he's focused. I think the most important thing at his age is he needs balance with his school work, football and social life."
In keeping with the wisdom that hard work equates to luck, Siro and son took time out on Friday to meet Wests Tigers management to discuss the possibility of Curtis training full-time with the club's senior squad over the summer, following an outstanding season in the under-20 National Youth Competition. "You see the body shape guys have that play in the NRL and that's through being conditioned over a few years to be strong enough to absorb the impact that goes with playing first grade," Sironen snr said. "We met with the club to speak about him training with the squad during the off-season."
There was talk that Sironen jnr, who weighs 93 kilograms and stands at 193 centimetres, was considered for some top-grade time this season. While Sironen snr was reluctant to talk about that, he acknowledged coach Tim Sheens wasn't scared to give youngsters their shot. "Tim has shown many times, if you are good enough age isn't a barrier," he said. "He's played Aaron Woods, Jacob Miller and Matt Groat at 18 or 19 to give them a taste of the intensity."
Sironen jnr said it was an honour to be selected to follow the likes of his father, Ben Elias and Chris Lawrence as an Australian Schoolboy.
"It means a lot after plenty of hard work at school,'' he said. "It's topped off a great year." He admitted thinking about playing in the top grade, but added that he had plenty to learn. "I guess everyone thinks about it, but I'm happy with where I am at the moment," Sironen jnr said.
Daniel Lane
September 25, 2011
\
\
ONE of the reasons why Australian Schoolboys representative Curtis Sironen is ranked among the code's hottest young prospects is that he's following an old-fashioned truism his father - and Balmain great - Paul Sironen instilled in him from a young age.
Sironen, an 18-year-old five-eighth, goes into camp with the Australian Schoolboys team tomorrow to prepare for the tour of New Zealand - 28 years after his father was handed his national schoolboys team jersey - and his dad's advice is still ringing in his ears.
"There's a few old cliches from years ago that ring true today, including the 'harder you work the luckier you get,'" Sironen snr said. "Outside of that, I don't say too much to Curtis, I've been happy to let him find his own way. I just keep an eye on him to make sure he's focused. I think the most important thing at his age is he needs balance with his school work, football and social life."
In keeping with the wisdom that hard work equates to luck, Siro and son took time out on Friday to meet Wests Tigers management to discuss the possibility of Curtis training full-time with the club's senior squad over the summer, following an outstanding season in the under-20 National Youth Competition. "You see the body shape guys have that play in the NRL and that's through being conditioned over a few years to be strong enough to absorb the impact that goes with playing first grade," Sironen snr said. "We met with the club to speak about him training with the squad during the off-season."
There was talk that Sironen jnr, who weighs 93 kilograms and stands at 193 centimetres, was considered for some top-grade time this season. While Sironen snr was reluctant to talk about that, he acknowledged coach Tim Sheens wasn't scared to give youngsters their shot. "Tim has shown many times, if you are good enough age isn't a barrier," he said. "He's played Aaron Woods, Jacob Miller and Matt Groat at 18 or 19 to give them a taste of the intensity."
Sironen jnr said it was an honour to be selected to follow the likes of his father, Ben Elias and Chris Lawrence as an Australian Schoolboy.
"It means a lot after plenty of hard work at school,'' he said. "It's topped off a great year." He admitted thinking about playing in the top grade, but added that he had plenty to learn. "I guess everyone thinks about it, but I'm happy with where I am at the moment," Sironen jnr said.
