Penrith’s Pat Hollis part of NRL development list talent pool
Not long ago, Pat Hollis was pouring bitumen in the summer sun. Now the Penrith junior joins a host of fringe talent — including rising stars — getting a second chance. CHECK OUT THE FULL LIST OF PLAYERS
Panthers
Don't miss out on the headlines from Panthers. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Slaving away pouring bitumen on a Penrith road in the summer sun back in 2018, Pat Hollis thought his NRL dream was over.
Repeated injury setbacks had prompted this promising Panthers junior to leave rugby league, so he wasn’t counting on another shot at the big time.
Hollis quit to join the real world as a road worker for a year.
“The thought of playing in the NRL was non-existent at that point,” Hollis recalls.
“I wasn’t going back to footy – I was done. In my head being a road worker was going to be the next 40 years of my life.”
Relive classic NRL matches from the 60s to today on KAYO SPORTS. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
Flash forward two years and Hollis has received a career reprieve after being upgraded to Penrith’s NRL development list.
The backrower has been on a train-and-trial contract since November, but the promotion allows him to train with the Panthers’ 32-man NRL squad in accordance with the current protocols.
Hollis is one of almost 50 development players across all 16 clubs included the first-grade isolation bubbles.
It’s a gifted list primarily consisting the game’s best emerging talent, including a younger Trbojevic brother, Ben, at Manly and the Matthew Johns’ son, Jack, at South Sydney.
Then there is Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, the 18-year-old North Queensland fullback who dominated at the Perth Nines as the joint leading try-scorer.
But at 27, Hollis’ journey from Penrith via the Sunshine Coast and a stint St Marys is the standout story.
MORE NEWS
Coronavirus: All Blacks could play Wallabies four times this year; Anzac concept could be revived
Only now after repeated mistakes and injuries does he realise that he let hype as a gifted junior get in the way of the hard work required to succeed.
“I thought I was better than I actually was,” he said.
“I was nowhere near putting in the effort that had to. The little things that make a first grader, I never had as a young kid.
“It has taken me a good seven years to realise that hard work is what gets you to the top.
“I has relied too much on my talent, but hard work beats talent every day of the week.
“The talent is probably 10 per cent of what you need to be a first grader, so my message is to work hard and when you think you are done put in a bit more effort because it will be worth it.”
DEVELOPMENT PLAYERS IN THE 32-MAN BUBBLES
BRISBANE BRONCOS
Ethan Bullemore and Tesi Niu
CANBERRA RAIDERS
Darby Medlyn, Andre Niko, Kai O'Donnell, Jarrett Subloo and Matt Timoko
CANTERBURY BULLDOGS
Matthew Doorey and Tuipulotu Katoa
CRONULLA SHARKS
Jackson Ferris, Daniel Vasquez, Jack A. Williams
GOLD COAST TITANS
Jaimin Jolliffe, Jamal Fogarty, Toby Sexton, Young Tonumaipea and Kea Pere
MANLY SEA EAGLES
Zac Saddler, Ben Trbojevic and Sione Fainu
MELBOURNE STORM
Dean Ieremia, Kelma Tuilagi
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Matt Croker, Luke Huth, Chris Randall, Nathanael Sasagi and Chris Lewis
NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Tom Ale, Rocco Berry, Selesitino Ravutaumada, Paul Turner
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Ben Condon, Wiremu Greig and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
PARRAMATTA EELS
Squad to be finalised
PENRITH PANTHERS
Pat Hollis and Charlie Staines
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Mathew Feagai, Max Feagai and Jayden Sullivan
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Edene Gebbie, Jack Johns, Jaxson Paulo
SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Luca Morretti
WESTS TIGERS
Reece Hoffman, Jock Madden and Jake Simpkin