Brisbane Heat’s new addition to ‘Bash Brothers’ has deep NRL roots

The Brisbane Heat are set to unveil the newest member of the “Bash Brothers’ – a rugby league prodigy they believe can dominate the Big Bash League this summer.

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The Brisbane Heat are set to unveil the “Baby Bash Brother” – a rugby league prodigy they believe can dominate the Big Bash League this summer.

Teen sensation Max Bryant will be unleashed as Brisbane’s latest six-hitting star when the Heat begin their BBL campaign against the Adelaide Strikers at the Gabba on Wednesday night.

The nephew of former rugby league star Matt Seers, Bryant is expected to open the batting with New Zealand superstar Brendon McCullum against the reigning BBL champions.

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At 19, Bryant will be one of the youngest players in the BBL this summer, but he has already earned a reputation for being a big hitter.

Dubbed the “Baby Bash Brother”, Bryant is hoping to make his mark on the BBL in the same fashion as Heat blasters Chris Lynn and McCullum.

“If I open they will be one and three so I can bat with them,” Bryant said.

“It’s pretty tight and there are a couple of pretty good players in the squad.

“It’s going to be hard to get in so I need a couple of good performances.”

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Bryant was born and raised just south of the Queensland border in the Tweed region, playing cricket in summer and rugby league in winter.

He was such a handy halfback that the Gold Coast Titans signed him to a contract at 15, Bryant eventually choosing to pursue cricket when Queensland offered him a long-term deal at 17.

Bryant’s mother Renee is the sister of former North Sydney and Wests Tigers star Seers, who was jailed in February this year following a highly-publicised cocaine trafficking case.

Bryant said his uncle was his idol as a young footy player.

Bryant is a six-hitting machine. Picture: Brisbane Heat

“I played a bit of footy back in the day, I loved sport in summer and winter,” he said.

“I’d probably say my uncle, Matt Seers (was my footy idol). I used to watch him play footy and all of his highlights. It was pretty cool.

“I got a good opportunity with cricket and took it. It’s all happened from there.”

Bryant scored his first century at 14 and has been playing for the Gold Coast Dolphins for the past five years.

He blasted the fastest ever half-century by a Queenslander in the JLT Cup in September, rocketing to 50 off 23 balls.

Bryant’s remarkable knock of 71 from 31 balls included 68 runs in boundaries – eight fours and six sixes – to prove he has the ability to fire in the BBL arena.

While Bryant’s first goal is to become a permanent fixture at the top of the Heat batting order, he also has aspirations to play for Australia and in T20 leagues around the world.

“I want to take it one game at a time and go as good as I can,” he said.

“Hopefully I can play for Australia along the track.

“It would be cool to play (in the Indian Premier League) but I need to get a game here and have a couple of good years then hopefully get a go over there.”

There’s a new Bash Brother in town. Picture: Liam Kidston.

Heat all-rounder Ben Cutting said Bryant was an excitement machine who could score all over the park and had little trouble clearing the ropes.

“He is exciting, I don’t know where to bowl to him,” he said.

“He has zones everywhere. He can hit some big balls.

“If he slots in the top – Bryant, McCullum, Lynn – it’s a pretty powerful top three.”

Despite still being in his teens, Bryant will not be the youngest player featuring for the Heat this summer.

That honour belongs to 17-year-old Afghan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who is shaping as Brisbane’s x-factor.

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