‘Special moment’: Rosemeyer brothers go from backyard footy to first grade

Round one might have been a game to forget for Terrigal, however for two Sharks players it’ll be a day they’ll always remember.

Brothers Caydn Rosemeyer and Brooklyn Rosemeyer lined up together for Terrigal in round one. Picture: supplied

Some of Brooklyn Rosemeyer’s earliest memories are of playing footy with his older brother Caydn.

Whether running around in makeshift footy fields in the backyard or watching his brother – five years his senior – play for the Terrigal Sharks down at Brendan Franklin Oval, the 17-year-old spent much of his childhood with a football in his hands.

But on Saturday the brothers finally got to take to the field together in a proper game, with Brooklyn making his first grade debut for Terrigal at halfback alongside Caydn, who played in the centres.

“Playing first grade is always something I’ve wanted to do. I’ve been at the club my whole life and always looked up to those boys,” said the 17-year-old.

“It was great. I was stoked when I got the call-up and it was even better that I got to do it alongside my brother, playing on the same edge.”

Brooklyn Rosemeyer in action during his debut against Erina. Picture: Sue Graham

And while it was a game to forget for the Sharks, who went down to Erina 38-8, the day will be one the Rosemeyers will always remember.

“It was really good,” said 22-year-old Caydn. “We sort of saw it coming earlier this year, he had a really good pre-season with the rep boys. He’s a great player and it was a pretty special moment getting to run out with him.”

In fact, given the hours and hours of backyard footy over the years, Caydn joked that he deserved some credit for preparing his younger brother for the rigours of first grade football so early.

“We’ve had our fair share of wrestling bouts here and there, so he’s used to tackling someone a bit older than him, which is good,” he laughed.

“He went well. A few people had doubts over whether he’d manage the physicality of the top grade but he didn’t take a backward step and really showed his presence out there.”

It also brought up some interesting brotherly dynamics, with the younger brother barking orders to his older sibling throughout the game.

“It was a little bit weird,” Caydn laughed. “He’s an organising half, he’s the floor general, that’s what he’s good at, so I’ve just got to take it as it goes. He knows what he’s doing and I’ve got full faith in him.”

Caydn Rosemeyer played alongside his brother on the left edge. Picture: Sue Graham

Saturday’s game was the culmination of a rollercoaster week of emotions in the Rosemeyer household, where both brothers live with their parents.

“I was nervous from Tuesday arvo when I got told, but I was just controlling my nerves and was just looking forward to it,” said Brooklyn.

“But then the night before, that’s when it was all starting to hit me and I was a bit sleepless. But I woke up feeling really good, prepared well for the game.

“I was actually OK for the majority of the day but it was just before kick-off when it all started to hit me, like ‘Oh god, here we go.’ But once I made my first tackle and took my first run it was just like any other game.”

Brooklyn Rosemeyer has come off a strong season for the Central Coast Roosters in the regional representative competitions. Picture: Sue Graham

It was a positive start for the brothers and team alike, who matched it with the Eagles early on before falling away in the second half.

“In the first half we were going good,” said Brooklyn. “We were stringing together some combinations on that left edge and we were looking good. It was just a matter of field position and giving over cheap ball in the second half that really killed us.”

And while big brother Caydn has been given plenty of credit for toughening Brooklyn up and preparing him for senior football, he said now it is the younger sibling’s turn to pay him back by putting him through a few holes.

“He almost put me through for one on the weekend, he did a little chip, I regathered it but it didn’t lead to a try unfortunately. But you can tell the connection is there,” said Caydn. “I definitely feel his presence out there with me, and it’s only going to get better as the season goes on,” he added.

“There are good things coming.”