Once labelled ‘too small’, Reed Mahoney now in NRL grand final

Only one of Reed Mahoney’s parents could afford to travel from the Sunshine Coast to watch him play in Friday’s night’s blockbuster Cowboys v Eels preliminary final.

He helped break the North Queensland Cowboys’ hearts. But Queensland rugby league sensation Reed Mahoney made his mum’s heart burst with pride and joy in Townsville on Friday night.

Playing his 100th NRL game, the Sunshine Coast-bred pocket dynamo – who was once told he was too small to ever make the big league – was one of the stars for the Parramatta Eels as they upset the Cowboys on home soil to surge into their first grand final since 2009.

Cheering him on in the stands of Queensland Country Bank Stadium was his beaming mother Leanne.

It’s understood she won out over her husband Glenn for the chance to see their son’s epic preliminary final victory live.

With flights and accommodation for the sold-out blockbuster at a premium, only one of his parents could afford to make the trip and it was Leanne who got the golden chance.

An emotional Mahoney, 24, revealed after the thrilling 24-20 win that he didn’t think either of his parents would be there.

Sunshine Coast’s Reed Mahoney with his parents Leanne and Glenn after his NRL debut in June 2018.

He said he was having breakfast on Friday morning with a mate who had driven up from Mackay for the big game when his mum walked into the cafe and surprised him.

“It’s awesome … it doesn’t get any better,” the tough-as-teak hooker told The Sunday Mail as Leanne and other supporters yelled and cheered his name.

“I got surprised by having a few family members rock up today. They told me they couldn’t (all) afford to come.

“It just makes it even better winning and having them there on the sidelines.”

Mahoney embraced Leanne and his girlfriend Vanessa Mammoliti in the stands but not before two male jubilant Eels fans managed to dodge security and invade the field to mob him, one even planting a kiss on his forehead.

It was a celebration he could only have dreamt of when he started playing junior footy for the Kawana Dolphins and Beerwah Bulldogs.

Reed Mahoney is cheered by mum Leanne and other Eels fans in Townsville on Friday night. Picture: NRL Photos

Fighting back tears, an emotional Mahoney said: “I’ve had some really special people call me and send me messages, and I’ve had a really good time to reflect on where I’ve come from … from a young boy in Queensland and the Sunny Coast (to NRL grand finalist).

“I’m very big on believing and respecting where you come from and being proud of who you are and where you’re from.

“Some of my best mates are at home on the Sunny Coast.

“My mate’s dad was my coach for a few years.

“My old boss that I keep in touch with regularly who took me in when I was 16 and working as an apprentice butcher.

“Nan and Pop I don’t get to see much. They’re getting older now.

“It was good to see everyone back home is really proud of me and I still have that connection with them.”

After playing his junior footy on the Sunshine Coast, Mahoney was signed as a teen by the

Reed Mahoney as a youngster. Picture: NRL Photos

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs but they punted him, declaring he would never pay first grade – refusing to pay a paltry $1500 to keep him on their books.

In 2017, Parramatta signed him on a $6000 contract and he led the Eels’ under-20s team to the grand final, winning the Steve Ella Medal for player of the year.

He made his NRL debut for the Eels in June 2018, ironically against the Cowboys.

The match was played in Darwin and both his proud parents were there to watch him.

After the game, Leanne revealed she was worried for her son going up against the likes of North Queensland wrecking ball Jason Taumalolo, who had a 30kg weight advantage over Mahoney.

“I told him ‘dodge Taumalolo’,” she said at the time

“I was so proud, but terrified at the same time. Those Cowboys have some bloody big blokes.

“But he has always been told he has a big heart, but (is) too small.

“I remember him getting out the tackle bags and driving them into the ground. He was only three.”

In 2019, dyed-in-the-wool Parramatta fans Glenn Mahoney told The Courier-Mail how he’d done everything in his power to persuade his son to support the Eels as a youngster, to no avail.

One of the first family photos of Reed was him as a baby decked out in a Parramatta jersey.

Mr Mahoney even did his best to brainwash Reed with countless items of “Parra-phernalia” on display in the family’s Landsborough home, including merchandise and photos of club legends such as Peter Sterling and Ray Price.

Reed Mahoney as a baby decked out in a Parramatta jersey.

“Reed actually went for the Wests Tigers,” Leanne revealed at the time.

“He idolised Robbie Farah. I mean idolised. He’d do school projects on him, posters on his wall.”

Mrs Mahoney said her husband’s obsession with the Eels used to “drive us nuts”.

“We’d shop around for bits and bobs from op shops or markets, anything with the Eels,” she said.

“But we’d all refuse to barrack for Parra – he (Glenn) was unbearable at times.”

Mrs Mahoney said when Reed joined Parramatta, her husband “could have died happy that day”.

“He was completely lost for words. It’s only made his love for the club stronger,” she said.

“Glenn goes into every tackle with him. I try and sit there, but I’m bursting with pride.”

In a bittersweet irony for blue-and-gold fanatic Mr Mahoney, Reed’s first grand final with the Eels is also set to be his last.

He has signed a $2.6m, four-year deal to play for the Bulldogs – the club that once spurned him – from next season.

For now though, Mahoney is laser-focused on helping the Eels break the longest premiership drought in NRL history and raise the Provans-Summons Trophy for the first time since 1986.

“I’ve shed a few tears this week and obviously I want to leave on a high,” Mahoney said.

“I’m just going to really soak up and enjoy the week.”