Sunshine Coast sports stars reveal purchases with first ever professional contract
From sports cars to a classic Walkman our Sunshine Coast sporting stars and legends have revealed what they went out and bought with their first professional contracts.
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Being a professional athlete usually pays well, but not always at the start.
Regardless, many athletes can’t wait to spend their first big pay cheque when they hit the top.
Some go splurging on cars, homes, and other fancy items, others do nothing more than pay off their mortgage.
See what our Sunshine Coast sporting stars did with their first ever professional contracts.
Chris Flannery- Rugby League
“I went to The Good Guys and I bought a big-screen TV for my room where I was staying with a family in Sydney,” The former Roosters and Maroons star said.
“I remember it was way too big for the room and I had to sit right at the back of it to watch it properly.
“It wasn’t anything compared to what’s going around these days but it would‘ve been around 46 inches which back then was a decent size.”
Moses Mbye- Rugby League
“I probably spent it on a week’s rent but I do remember I bought my house in Tewantin,” he said.
“It was my first place and was $390,000 which was gold and I wish it was still that cheap now.
“Other than that I definitely would’ve spent a fair bit of it in Kings Cross too.”
Ash Noffke- Cricket
“It was definitely fuel to be able to drive to Brisbane,” he said.
“I do also remember buying a Walkman which some people wouldn’t even know what they are but back in the day that was one of my proud purchases.”
Ryan Williams- Extreme Sports
“Nothing comes to mind and I probably saved it to be honest but I remember when I won my first X-Games I poured concrete at my house which is now what I’ve done every time I’ve won,” he said.
“I just poured more and more concrete at my house and on my land for my training and little action sports paradise.
“I also bought my car later down the track, it’s a Subaru BRZ so nothing too crazy but it’s the only car I’ve ever bought.”
Billy Moore- Rugby League
“I’ll be honest with you and there’s a bit of a story to my one but I got it in 1989 when I was with the North Sydney Bears,” he said.
“In my whole 11 years with the Bears we got paid twice a year on the 1st of July and the 1st of November.
“With my first July payment they said I wasn’t going to get paid enough and that they were going to roll it onto my next one in November.
“I was that keen, I had just turned 18 and had played 30-odd games between under-21s, reserve grade and three games for first grade before they dropped me back to reserve grade and we won the club’s first grand final in 30 years.
“So how it went was everyone at the club would turn up at 9am on November 1st to be paid and it was my first payment that was going to make me professional, I couldn’t wait.
“How it was done was on status at the club so everyone lined up in order of Australian representatives, State of Origin players, first graders, reserve graders and 21s so because I was the youngest I was last in line.
“I’d been in line all morning and remember getting to the front, shaking the CEO’s hand who said ‘Billy you’ve been great, thanks so much for what you’ve done for the club this season’.
“My season’s contract was $1500 so I walked out the front, opened it up and it was actually a bill because you had to pay for strapping and bus travel which no one told me about.
“I ended up owing the club $200 which they did eventually waive but I remember thinking ‘f---, being professional isn’t what it’s supposed to be’.”
Chris Vermeulen- MotoGP
“Being a professional motorbike rider, things weren’t cheap racing so when I started earning professional prize money it just went back into buying stuff for my bikes so I could be more competitive,” he said.
“When I first got my real deal overseas I bought an old 1954 Ford F100.
“I got it in a wreck as in it wasn’t running, was all rusted but spent two years with my old man restoring it.
“I’ve still got that car today, so I’ve had it 23 years and now that I’ve got kids they love being taken to school in it.”
Reed Mahoney- Rugby League
“I‘m not too sure but I do remember getting a really good feed at a nice restaurant,” he said.
“It was in the city somewhere, just me and a couple of friends so that was pretty nice.”
Kerrod Walters- Rugby League
“My first purchase was a Datsun 240z sports car when I signed for the Ipswich Jets,” he said.
“It was a second hand one and I remember I paid $6000 for it.
“After a while I sold it off to my older brother Steve too.”
Ben Laughlin- Cricket
“I’m a bit of a tighta--e so I just paid the mortgage as per usual,” he said.
“There were no new Ferraris or anything like that.
“Nothing for the worst buy either, I’m not your cliche sportsperson and probably a little bit more sensible than most.”
Ben Ross- Rugby League
“My first purchase with my professional contract was a house, I was always taught to save my money and I knew my old man would’ve killed me if I didn’t make a proper purchase,” he said.
“But my worst purchase was when I thought I‘d buy myself a brand-new car for once, so I bought a Toyota HiLux and it got stolen two weeks later.”
Taylah Robertson- Boxing
“Plane tickets were mine after my first professional fight,” she said.
“Just to travel really and it’s been similar ever since.
“Generally I go to America but I don’t have anything too substantial that I’ve bought.”
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