Watch: Raiders rookie Owen Pattie’s emotional jersey presentation ahead of NRL debut in Las Vegas

Canberra coach Ricky Stuart will unleash Queensland’s ‘next Harry Grant’ in Las Vegas when the final signing of one of the game’s greatest talent-spotters Peter Mulholland makes his NRL debut. WATCH THE VIDEO

Ricky Stuart will unleash Queensland’s next Harry Grant in Las Vegas when the final signing of one of the game’s greatest talent spotters makes his NRL debut.

Owen Pattie will realise a dream first grade initiation in Sunday’s US season-opener extravaganza against the Warriors at Allegiant Stadium.

The pint-sized hooker from country Queensland is a product of the same school – St Brendan’s College in Yeppoon – as Maroons and Storm star Grant.

WATCH PATTIE’S EMOTIONAL JERSEY PRESENTATION IN THE PLAYER ABOVE

Pattie, 21, said he modelled his game on Grant and had dreams to play State of Origin.

“If there was anyone I aspired to be like it was Harry Grant,” he said following an emotional jersey presentation in Vegas.

“He comes from the same area, went to the same school and is someone I’ve always looked up to and followed through his whole career.

Raiders’ rookie Owen Pattie aspires to be like the Storm’s Harry Grant. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“I love the way Harry plays. I try to do what he does on the footy field.

“I’ve never missed a single minute of Origin.

“I never thought making my NRL debut was possible but you set your sights on the next step and I’d love to play for my state one day.

“It would be the epitome of any career to play Origin.”

Pattie was the last signing delivered to the Raiders by former recruitment guru Peter Mulholland before his death in 2021.

Mulholland was renowned for having a great eye for talent, having spotted current Raiders players Joe Tapine, Hudson Young and Xavier Savage among many others.

Young Pattie (middle) with Broncos stars Jack Reed and Mitchell Dodds. Picture: George Smith/Central & North Burnett Times

Born in Monto, west of Bundaberg, Pattie was repeatedly overlooked for junior representative teams in favour of players like Brisbane’s Blake Mozer.

But he continued to chase his NRL dream before the Raiders offered him a shot just before he graduated school.

“I played football, cricket, AFL and any sport I could get my hands on and at about 15 I dropped every other sport to pursue rugby league,” Pattie said.

“I was definitely overshadowed by a lot of hookers when I was coming through. I never made Queensland or anything like that.

“I was disheartened not making teams but being in Queensland, people say not making rep teams isn’t the end of the world.

“I didn’t know what I was going to do but in term four of grade 12 Canberra approached me.

“Peter found me, arranged everything, got my contract sorted and unfortunately passed away about two months later.

“I never actually got the chance to meet him but he always treated me really well and made the transition to Canberra smooth. All the boys at the club say he is greatly missed and was a really good person.”

Pattie completed the auto-electrical apprenticeship he started at school after moving to Canberra, juggling footy and full-time work.

He was crowned the Jersey Fleggs player of the year in 2024 and impressed Stuart enough in the pre-season to earn a Vegas debut off the bench ahead of Kiwis representative Danny Levi.

Pattie is talented at many sports.

His parents Matthew and Tracey, brother Jack and partner Kirby Richardson travelled to the US and presented Pattie with his maiden NRL jersey, a moment where he struggled to contain his emotions.

“It definitely hasn’t sunk in yet and I don’t think it will until I run out there,” Pattie said.

“It means so much to me, you dream of this as a kid and never think it’s possible when you’re watching the players on TV.

“Where I come from you don’t see the players unless you go to a Broncos game once a year.

“It means so much to my family and myself.”