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Source:Redirect Notice
Titans teen gets Fittler wrap
By Dean Ritchie
August 13, 2008 12:00am
Centre of attention ... Palm Beach Currumbin High student Jordan Rankin back among classmates after he made his first grade debut for the Gold Coast Titans. Photograph: David Clark / The Daily Telegraph
IF anyone is qualified to assess the Test prospects of a schoolboy footballer, it's Brad Fittler.
And yesterday the Roosters legend did just that, saying 16-year-old Gold Coast Titan Jordan Rankin would one day represent Australia. '
Rankin, at 16 years and 239 days old, became the youngest halfback in history to debut in first grade when he took the field in Monday night's match against Newcastle at Skilled Park.
He missed school yesterday at Palm Beach Currumbin SHS to attend a touch football competition but will today resume studies for his end-of-term exams.
Only five players have debuted in first grade while at school and then played for Australia - Fittler, Paul Langmack, Andrew Ettingshausen, Tim Brasher and Luke Rooney.
"It is amazing,'' Fittler said of Rankin's age. "He will be on top of the world. Having a ball. There will be plenty of hurdles but he'll be okay if he keeps improving and keeps adapting. As long as he does the right thing, I'd say he'll play for Australia. He has shown the potential so far.''
Fittler debuted with Penrith's first-grade side while at McCarthy High in 1989 and, incredibly, played for Australia the following year. "Kids these days are used to the things footy throws up,'' Fittler said.
"TV isn't scary for them. He'll get to an age when he's comfortable. Fifty-odd games, maybe even earlier.''
Adam Ritson was the last 16-year-old to burst into first grade - he did it in 1993 with Cronulla but was forced into retirement just three years later with a brain cyst.
"They would be exciting times for the kid,'' Ritson said. "He'll be doing his best and having a good time. I suppose there isn't that much expected of him at the moment. He's got nothing to lose. If things don't work out, people will say he's only young.
"But he still has to work hard. He can't take anything for granted and has to keep a level head. He should enjoy it because who knows when it will all end? It could be taken at any time. I hope he does well in the game.''
Rankin was protected from the media by Gold Coast officials yesterday - despite him now being a first-grader. In quotes supplied by the club, Rankin claimed he was still bewildered at playing NRL when still in year 11.
"It wasn't as much pressure as I thought it would have been but that's because of the boys and the way they've treated me over the last week. They've really made me feel comfortable,'' he said.
"My dream was to play NRL while I'm still at school and to do it while I'm still in year 11, it's just a great thing and I can't believe it's happened.''
Rankin was dropped back to Toyota Cup yesterday for Saturday night's game against North Queensland in Townsville. He may be recalled to NRL again this season.
Palm beach Currumbin old boy Ben Ikin - the youngest State of Origin player at 18 years and 83 days - labelled Rankin's effort "composed''.
"If you're overawed, it can show up in your performance, but he didn't display that,'' Ikin said. "I was petrified before my first first-grade game. I remember being on the bench for that first Origin game, I was that scared that I would have preferred Fatty to have not put me on.''
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