Rugby, sevens, touch, league teen talent Tylan Berryman one of our most versatile football rising stars

He’s in a national touch footy squad, aligned with both an NRL and Super Rugby club and has an Olympic goal. This youngster could well be our most versatile - and connected - footballer.

Tylan Berryman is a man on the move in various football codes

Teenager Tylan Berryman could well be the most versatile footballer in the country - and potentially one of our best in the future in up to four different codes.

The youngster, currently playing in the national U16 rugby championships, could also be one of the most connected.

His late uncle Norm Berryman played for the All Blacks, his uncle Stevie was a former junior Kiwi and his father Harry played Rugby Sevens for the Cook Islands team.

Top-line sporting stars in his extended family are too numerous to mention but cousins Faith Nathan and Sariah Paki are Australian sevens stars and the latter’s sister Aaliyah is a touch football gun.

Berryman, whose cousin Lachoneus Paki is also on the rise at the South Sydney Rabbitohs, is currently playing with the NSW Waratah’s Gen Blue under 16 side in the national rugby championships, and is in the NSWRU Emerging Sevens squad alongside Waratahs teammates including Zach Fittler, Charlie Poynton and Joe Walsh.

Tylan Berryman on the job for the Gen Blue U16 team. Pic: Julian Andrews

“I’ve played touch for a long time for the northern beaches Renegades, I played rugby league with the Narraweena Hawkes and my Rugby Sevens with Manly Marlins,” said the young football talent.

“I’m also with South Sydney for the Harold Matts.’’

The young speedster also a handy 100m and 200, events but quit to concentrate more on his football.

Tylan Berryman comes form a large extended family of athletes.

Raijieli Daveua of Team Fiji and Sariah Paki in Birmingham.

“Berryman said he loves all forms of the sport and has one simple goal for the future.

“I just want to be a professional football player,’’ he said. “I don’t have a preference. I enjoy it all.

“Right now I’m very grateful for this opportunity with a great Academy and the coaches and players.

“ I think I have improved already.’’

But there might just be one downside to being a talent across multiple codes, however, according to Berryman who attends Narrabeen sports high.

“There can be times I forget the rules but I just go along with it to be honest,’’ he said.

Berryman has been inspired by his young female cousins who have made their way to the top of Australian sevens and his rugby league playing cousin Lachoneus Paki.

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“I get a lot of inspiration from them,” he said of Rugby Sevens guns Sariah Paki and Faith Nathan.

“They are at the top. They are doing so well.

“There are a lot of girls in our family. I think we need some more boys.”

Berryman said he was born to play footy with has father playing a major role in his love of sport and early success.

“Football is in our blood and right now I’m just going with everything, going with the flow,’’ said the 16-year-old northern beaches star who attends Narrabeen High School..

“I have to thank my dad because he puts a lot of training and everything into me.

“He played at a high-level as well. He played Cook Islands sevens in the Commonwealth Games.’’

The Waratah U16 and U19 teams play Western Force in Perth this weekend and will both feature in the grand final of the national rugby championships on Sunday week.

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