By JARROD POTTER
REHABILITATING a damaged hip, shifting states and pursuing top tier rugby league are all difficult challenges that Ben Halfpenny has pushed through in his short rugby league career.
Hallam Senior College student Halfpenny, 17, packed his bags and left Merimbula for Berwick and has enjoyed the switch in lifestyle alomg with the step up in his rugby league career and a debut for the Melbourne Storm under-20 team in National Rugby League’s (NRL) Holden Cup competition.
A hip injury derailed his SG Ball under-18s season, but the Storm lock was able to recover quickly and make a late return to resume his captaincy duties.
“I moved down from New South Wales at the end of 2012 to come into the under-18s system at the age of 16,” Halfpenny said.
“Then I played in that, hurt my hip, came back at the end of last year and was lucky enough to captain them and we had an alright season.”
With all eyes focused on the other oval ball code in Victoria, Halfpenny has been able to avoid the league spotlight from the northern states and get on with playing.
“It’s a lot different,” Halfpenny said.
“It’s more AFL dominated down here as opposed to New South Wales, so it’s good that not everyone is in touch with the rugby league here… it’s not too big of a deal which I like.”
Striding out onto AAMI Park for the first time as a player on Saturday 10 May, Halfpenny debuted for the Storm’s under-20 team – the Thunderbolts – and impressed in the 28-14 victory over the Manly Sea Eagles.
“It was a vital win for us,” he said.
“I was named to start off the bench but then got the call up to play… played 60 minutes of the 80 minute game and it wasn’t too bad.
“The coach had talked to me and I knew my role – I’m not too much of a flashy player I just do my job and that’s what I tried to do out there.”
While he’s humbled by his current opportunities, Halfpenny isn’t getting ahead of himself and wants to move towards an eventual NRL debut, staying grounded remains key.
“It feels pretty good (to debut) and the hard work paying off, but I need to keep my head on straight and keep working forward as there’s no point getting stuck in the limelight when I’m not there yet,” Halfpenny said.
“I won’t get carried away, but in the future that (the NRL) is what I’m aiming towards but that’s a long way away.”
Halfpenny wanted to thank Hallam Senior College, the Melbourne Storm and especially his mother – Marcela – who moved down to Melbourne with him to support his rugby dream.
