The likes of Sydney Roosters halfback Sam Walker, Warriors playmaker Reece Walsh and Wests Tigers winger Zac Cini have made stellar NRL debuts already this season, while this weekendโs Magic Round is set to see Jakob Arthur blooded at five-eighth for Parramatta.
Getting that initial call-up is an unforgettable career highlight for any player โ the stuff of rugby league dreams. But not every debut follows the fairytale script.
Will Evans fromย This Warriors Lifeย relives some of the most unfortunate maiden first-grade forays from over the years.
Check out This Warriors Lifeโsย websiteย andย podcast, and follow them onย Facebookย andย Twitter.
7. Adrian Toole (North Sydney Bears)
Blooded by North Sydney as a replacement in three first-grade games in 1985-86, Tooleโs run-on debut against Canterbury in the opening round of โ87 was one to forget โ although the front-row tyro probably couldnโt have remembered it if he wanted to.
The 21-year-old was concussed by a swinging arm from Bulldogs enforcer Peter Kelly after 20 minutes. Remaining on the paddock, he was crunched in another tackle involving Kelly and had to be assisted from the field, sick and bloodied.
โI looked like the Elephant Man,โ Toole said of his appearance the following day. The no-frills prop became a cult hero in 130 games for the Bears.
