By Jacob Shteyman in Canberra
As Matty Nicholson was preparing to stride on to GIO Stadium for the first time, Raiders mentor Ricky Stuart picked up the phone.
It was only 6.20am in England, but he knew Nicholson’s father Jason was already up, eagerly anticipating his son’s NRL debut.
“I think he was as excited as Matty,” Stuart recalled.
“He said how proud he was and he said, ‘he won’t let you down’.
“I said, ‘that’s why I picked him!'”
Stuart’s faith in Nicholson was handsomely repaid in the form of a sparkling two-try display on Saturday that was the centrepiece of the Raiders’ 32-22 win over a highly-favoured Brisbane outfit fresh off posting a half-century against the Sydney Roosters.
At just 21 years old, the Yorkshireman earned Stuart’s recognition with his performances in pre-season and his professionalism in the Raiders’ opening-round camp in Las Vegas, despite missing out on selection for the squad.
“He was upset in Vegas,” Stuart said.
“But the way he handled preparation being outside the 17 showed how good a bloke he is.
“In our scrimmages and our opposed work he was professional and helped the boys prepare as best he could.”
Nicholson is an understated talker but he credits his parents with having a massive influence on his success.
He’s the type that doesn’t need much in the way of external encouragement, though.
“I spoke to my dad. He didn’t say too much, just said ‘good luck, do your thing,” Nicholson said.
That he did. He was instrumental as a little-fancied Raiders forward pack, missing suspended captain Joe Tapine, outmuscled the likes of Pat Carrigan and Payne Haas.
Stuart has no doubts Nicholson will reach the same heights of success as the long line of English recruits to Canberra that came before him, including former captain Elliott Whitehead, John Bateman and current teammate Morgan Smithies.
Smithies played with Nicholson back in their schoolboy days and helped the new recruit settle into life in Australia.
“I’ve known him for a long, long time and we’re very close mates. We’ve only gotten closer over here,” Nicholson said.
“And it’s just really special I could come over to the NRL as well and play for the same team. Today was special.”
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