One run and former Parramatta recruitment officer Rod Reddy saw Daniel Tupou’s potential

ROD Reddy, the man who discovered Daniel Tupou, saw promise long before NSW Origin selectors or coaches in the bush town of Nyngan.

THE OLD bloke who discovered Daniel Tupou, who saw the promise long before NSW Origin selectors, coaches in the dusty, bush town of Nyngan.

Not five years ago, though.

No, back in 2009, the old bloke was working in recruitment with Parramatta when Eels prop Fuifui Moimoi knocked on his office door. Said he had a cousin for him to see.

And so, that afternoon, the old bloke took Tupou onto the top oval at Parramatta Stadium and watched him run, jump and generally move a frame that has since developed into more than six feet and 100kg of powerhouse Roosters winger.

Roosters winger Daniel Tupou makes a break.

Then ... well, he signed him on the spot. Still talking up the teenager’s praises when, three years later, both he and his young charge were shown the door.

“But Parramatta, they didn’t know what they were looking at with Daniel,’’ retired Kangaroos great Rod ‘Rocket’ Reddy concedes.

“Back then the club had poor administration and poor coaching. Didn’t think he was worth keeping. So with this kid they got their just desserts.”

Funny how life works out, isn’t it?

While Reddy, punted by an Eels administration who has since delivered nothing but mediocrity, was coaching Nyngan to a thrilling comeback over Narromine last weekend, 22-year-old Tupou was playing his way into a City jersey and onto the radar of Blues coach Laurie Daley.

Daniel Tupou ahead of the City v Country match.

“But without that day with Rocket?’’ Tupou shrugs. “I’d be driving a warehouse forklift.

“Back when he had a look at me, I’d dropped out of school and wasn’t really doing anything. I was playing with the Berala Bears but only mucking around.

“I hadn’t even made one junior rep team.”

So what did Reddy see that everyone else missed?

“With his shape and size, it was obvious Daniel was going to be a footballer,’’ he says. “But the kid just needed to believe it.

“He was quiet and shy back then. Needed more aggressive.

“But Daniel also had good skills and was obviously coachable. You could tell he was going to be an NRL footballer ... and he’s grown another leg since then.”

Daniel Tupou dives into the corner.

And as for Moimoi? Well, he decided to believe after watching Tupou light up yet another weekly game of touch footy the pair played in.

Suggesting maybe Berala Bears wasn’t the best his little cousin could do?

“Although, to be honest, we’re not actually related,’’ Tupou grins.

“Fui is a family friend, calls me little cousin and rings at least once a week to check up on me and annoy me.

“But it was him who believed in me. He and Rocket. That day on the top oval at Parramatta, it was the first time I took football seriously.”