Highway to hope: Rabbitohs recruit on fast track to NRL debut

Quieter than an empty church on a Tuesday afternoon and signed with zero fanfare, this South Sydney recruit is looking to make some serious noise in the NRL.

Edene Gebbie lit up the Queensland Cup with Wynnum Manly Seagulls last year. Picture: AAP Image/Richard Walker

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Some players like to scribble the name of loved ones on to their strapped wrists. Others, Christian scripture.

But as for anonymous South Sydney rookie Edene Gebbie, well, he carries the number 501.

A tribute, this PNG native said, to the hometown highway where he’s spent the better part of his life catching buses to training, games and everything else required to make it here.

“So it’s like my home,” he said of Highway 501, the number of which was inked on his right wrist throughout the NRL Nines.

“And now being here … this is my dream.”

Quieter than an empty church on a Tuesday afternoon, Gebbie is the promising NRL wannabe who, arriving in Australia 18 months ago, is now looking to make it somewhere, anywhere, with South Sydney.

After starring in Queensland Cup last year and having also represented Papua New Guinea at Test level, the powerhouse winger was signed with zero fanfare over summer, given everyone was instead watching Roosters megastar Latrell Mitchell.

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South Sydney Rabbitohs recruit Edene Gebbie. Picture: Grant Trouville/NRL Photos

Hailing from the mountain town of Sogeri, which sits east of Port Moresby, Gebbie spent the past two seasons in Queensland Cup.

First year, he was named Rookie of the Year with PNG Hunters.

Then last season, after shifting to Australia, another strong year with Wynnum-Manly got him hand-picked by coach Wayne Bennett.

Asked by The Sunday Telegraph about the 501 written in black texta on his wrist, Gebbie smiled: “That’s my route number.

“Back in PNG, the highway where I would catch the bus into town for shopping, training, you’d go for 48 minutes each way.”

Given his ability to find the try line in Queensland last year, Gebbie was chased by several NRL clubs before eventually agreeing to join the Bunnies on a two-year deal.

“Growing up, my childhood dream was to be in the NRL,” he said.

“But it’s hard. Coming from back home, we love football but that’s it.

“So I knew just to come here, I would have to be very lucky.”

Edene Gebbie lit up the Queensland Cup with Wynnum Manly Seagulls last year. Picture: AAP Image/Richard Walker

And now that you are with Souths?

“It’s still going to be tough,” he said, of breaking into a Bunnies backline boasting Mitchell, James Roberts, Dane Gagai, Braidon Burns and Campbell Graham

“I’m not sure what will happen.

“Even playing Nines is surprising.”

Quizzed recently on the PNG flyer, Souths general manager of Football Shane Richardson said Gebbie’s strongest assets were his “speed and hard running”.

“And, with some refinement of his game as well as surrounding him in a full-time professional environment, we’re certain he has what it takes to move towards an NRL debut,” Richardson said.

And as for how you’ve found those first few games in the famed South Sydney jersey?

“Ah, amazing,” he said, with a big grin.

Originally published as Highway to hope: Rabbitohs recruit on fast track to NRL debut