NSW Waratahs: Triston Reilly, Henry Robertson make debuts

Growing up he wanted to be Greg Inglis but now this former SG Ball speedster and Cowboys junior has made two appearances for the NSW Waratahs.

Triston Reilly facing off against a Western Force defender in his second game of rugby union.

As a kid growing up at South West Rocks, Triston Reilly lay on his bed and dreamt of playing rugby league like his idol Greg Inglis.

By 15 he had relocated to Queensland on a sport scholarship with the Cowboys but got homesick so returned home.

A year later he was playing Harold Matthews with the Newcastle Knights and when 17 and 18 was wearing a South Sydney jersey in the SG Ball competition.

Triston Reilly has been named on the bench by the Waratahs. Pic: Clay Cross.

It’s a strange background for a young footballer who made his debut for the NSW Waratahs off the bench against the ACT Brumbies in round two of Super Rugby then played again in round three against the Force.

“I grew up wanting to be a league player, wanting to be like Greg Inglis,’’ Reilly said.

“I was born in Kempsey and he was from up here, Bowraville, and played local footy. I idolised him’’

But after at stint at St Josephs at Hunters Hill, it was rugby which nabbed the young talent, with former Australian men’s seven coach Andy Friend spotting Reilly and bringing him into the sevens program.

From there he played World Cup sevens, made the Junior Wallabies team, played some more sevens, joined the Randwick club, played Shute Shield last year - scoring 11 tries in 11 matches - and was embraced by the Waratahs.

Young Five Dock player Tane Edmed made his debut in round one.

“It was just good being in the (Waratahs) program and learning,’’ said Reilly, whose grandfather is a Dungutti elder and who is studying to be a teacher at the University of NSW.

“Then to have a full Shute Shield season was a real confidence booster.’’

Now 22, Reilly has bulked up 15 kilos from his old sevens rugby weight and is ready to take the next stage of his career - Super Rugby.

Will Harrison in the match against the Queensland Reds last round.

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“It’s all rugby for me now. I love it,’’ he said.

“The dream is to make the Waratahs then Wallabies with my two mates, Ben (Donaldson) and Will (Harrison).’’

The trio played together in the Junior Wallabies and are teammates at Randwick.

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