It may have just been a trial game, but son of a gun Mavrik Geyer made a perfect start to his NRL career and a bold impression on Sunday afternoon.
After signing a development contract with the Penrith Panthers last year, Geyer made his first appearance in the Panthers’ first grade team in a pre-season clash against the Cronulla Sharks.
Watch every NRL Pre-Season Trials game Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now.
The reigning premiers were dominant against the Sharks, claiming a 34-6 win to signal they will be one of the teams to beat once again in 2022.
Geyer, the son of Panthers legend Mark Geyer, came on to the field with five minutes to go in the first half and he couldn’t have made a better start.
The 21-year-old received the ball 20 metres out and stormed through Cronulla’s defence to score a try with his very first touch.
“We have a new MG,” Fox League commentator Andrew Voss declared.
“That is amazing. Mavrik Geyer, had he touched the ball before? Where is MG. Mavrik Geyer scores a try for Penrith. What a moment.”
NRL great Brain Anasta exclaimed: “Dreams do come true.”
Geyer’s dream outing continued in the second half when he found space and passed to Niwhai Puru, who crossed over to score. He finished with a try, a try assist and 104 run metres.
Geyer is yet to make his NRL debut and it might take some time to crack into Penrith’s star-studded side, but he believes he is ready to take next step up after plying his trade in Jersey Flegg (second grade).
“It was mad,” he said of spending time with the Panthers first grade squad during the off-season.
“Pre-season was really good with the boys.
“It was good to put the points on, that was what we were working for all game. A good little taste of what hopefully the future is.
“The first day of pre-season I was in awe being around them boys, the way they’ve treated me, it was a good start.
“I’ve learned stuff I didn’t even know about football and thought I’d go home and tell mum and dad about it. They were like — what is going on here?”.
In a post-match interview with Fox League, the good-natured youngster discussed when he realised what it would take to realise his NRL dream and even dropped an accidental F-bomb.
“I think it was Jersey Flegg,” Geyer said.
“Just in that pre-season I came off the drink for six weeks and just realised when I did, I was like: ‘F***, sorry (laughing), footy is what I want to do’ and if you put in the work, good things will come.”
Mavrik said his dad was more nervous than him ahead of the game and offered him some fatherly advice.
“He was trying to keep calm at home,” he said, revealing his dad told him before the trial game: ‘Do what you’ve got to do, if you think you belong here just trust yourself and all pre-season, if you’ve trained as hard as you have, it will show, just do your thing’.
Expert commentators were equally impressed by Geyer’s performance and his positive attitude.
“What a breath of fresh air,” Anasta said.
“He’s a character, he loves a chat. I could interview him all day.”
Panthers legend Greg Alexander added: “I was so happy for him because I know how hard he’s worked.
“And the penny did drop last year when he was playing Flegg and he turned 21 in January.
“Just listening to how much he loved the off-season, training with the first-graders.”
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7r7HWrGWcp51jrrZ70qmmq6xfo7%2Bte9KopWanlmKubrPUp2Smmaantqx5xp6wnqpdoq6ssdJmm6udkaJ6tMDAq6tmrJ9iu7O4jJyYq52Vp3qlvs6pqmaekqS6o3nIp2SipqSav7e1xLBmp52nqHq0wM6rsGhsY2qDdoWSm21sb2Zlg3aEwptubJ2Sm4NxfZaca3CaaA%3D%3D