The journey of Gold Coast Titans NRL cult figure Anthony Don
Anthony Don’s journey to becoming a cult figure at the Gold Coast Titans is one of the greatest success stories in the NRL. Re-live his stunning career right here.
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ANTHONY Don’s journey to becoming a cult figure at the Gold Coast Titans is one of the greatest success stories in the NRL. Re-live his stunning career as we details the biggest stories of the winger.
PLUS, VOTE FOR WHO BIGGEST CULT HERO IS IN TITANS HISTORY BELOW
November 17, 2011
ANTHONY KEEN TO DON THE TITANS JERSEY FULL-TIME
WHEN Anthony Don was running around in Grafton’s local league competition last year he could only dream of making it to the NRL.
But after dominating his opposition he caught the eye of Burleigh and was signed by the Bears this year.
The 24-year-old scored 13 tries in the Queensland Cup this season while playing fullback and wing. It was enough to earn him a training contract with the Gold Coast Titans this pre-season.
Don, a physical education teacher, admitted he gave up on the thought of a professional career many years ago.
``When I was 17 or 18 I trialled for Manly a few times,’’ he said.
``It was a dream then but when I went to uni I thought it wasn’t going to happen.
``I was playing rugby in Newcastle so when I went back to Grafton I needed to get a full league season to see if I could still play.
``My contract ends in March and they either ask you to keep training or you go back to Burleigh full-time.
``Hopefully I can keep the training contract going throughout the season so if there are injuries I can get a crack.’’
Working in Don’s favour is the position he plays. William Zillman is the front-runner for the No.1 jersey with Jordan Rankin another contender.
But the position is far from concrete and there’s an opportunity for Don to add to the club’s depth.
``There’s Zilly and Rankin and Javarn White. If you play solid at Queensland Cup level they might give you a shot,’’ Don said.
The Titans yesterday committed themselves to White Ribbon Day in support of stamping out violence against women.
July 21, 2012
TWO-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION
THE pain of impending groin surgery has been somewhat lightened for Anthony Don who has scored a two-year contract extension with the Gold Coast Titans.
Don has been plagued by injuries this season, playing only eight matches for Burleigh in the Queensland Cup.
But the Yamba product is a promising talent and the winger, along with Bears teammates Jamie Dowling and Matt Beddow, has earned himself another two years with the Titans. Tweed Heads backrower Cody Nelson has also inked a two-year extension.
The Titans plucked Don from the Grafton competition where he was scoring tries at will and he is hoping a full pre-season will help him prepare for a big 2013.
``I’m stoked. It’s good to have a few years here so I can get fit and have a crack,’’ he said.
``I’ve got osteitis pubis. It’s making my hips really tight and I can’t really run. I might have surgery the week after next if all goes to plan.
``Getting a pre-season under my belt will be good then I can hopefully play a trial to see what it’s like against NRL guys.
``I didn’t really expect to get a Titans deal with all the injuries.’’
Don won’t play again this season if his surgery goes ahead as planned.
He will miss tomorrow’s local derby against Tweed Heads at Pizzey Park and said it had been a ``horrible’’ season.
``It’s been a terrible season. I can’t get any continuity. It’s been frustrating,’’ he said.
``It’s been pretty horrible. We had a few key injuries early and then forgot how to win.
``I’ve only played in one win this season. It’s been a bit rough.’’
Injuries have also limited Nelson’s season, who was in line for a Titans berth before a quadriceps strain sidelined him.
Nelson is also battling osteitis pubis but will push through the remainder of the season with Tweed in line for a finals berth.
Don said Beddow and Dowling had been shining lights for the Bears this year.
``When they play with us they’ve been our best players from the ones that get dropped back. They’ve been awesome,’’ he said. Tweed will be without Dominique Peyroux and Ryan James after the duo earned starts for the Titans against the Broncos last night.
The Seagulls will be determined to claim victory and hold on to their top three spot as the run to the finals starts to heat up.
April 15, 2013
THE DEBUT
THEY have been heralded as two of the gutsiest performances in Gold Coast Titans history - a debutant playing with a broken heart and a makeshift centre pushing through a fractured jaw.
Titans winger Anthony Don last night took the field just days after the death of his best friend’s eight-week old baby, lining up alongside manufactured centre David Mead who battled through a shattered jaw to help his team to a memorable 28-22 win over Parramatta at Skilled Park.
It was the equal biggest comeback in the Gold Coast’s history as the depleted Titans rallied from 14 points down midway through the second half to score 20 unanswered points and record their fourth win of the year in front of 12,047 fans.
And while there were outstanding performances all over the park from a team missing six first-choice players, few showed the mental strength of the new-look right side pairing.
Don, the 25-year-old bush footy flyer who fought his way to an NRL debut and scored the first try of the game, will head to his home town Grafton this morning to provide support to his devastated childhood friend Codie Hearfield.
``I was stoked when I got it. I was trying to make a rocking the cradle symbol for my friend whose baby passed away during the week but I couldn’t even get that out,’’ he said.
``He’s one of my best mates. His little boy, Nash, died on Friday.
``His heart stopped working. He was in Brisbane in intensive care for five weeks after he was born. They moved back to Grafton thinking he was stable but he passed away.
``The funeral is in the morning (today). It was definitely sad.
``I couldn’t go back and be with him over the weekend because I had to prepare for the game. I would have gone back to Grafton (if I wasn’t playing NRL).’’
Mead was just as gallant in the win.
The 24-year-old speedster shifted to the centres as the Titans battled an injury crisis and performed admirably, shutting down 107kg wrecking ball Jacob Loko in a 17-tackle outing.
He suffered the injury with about 10 minutes to go in the game and had surgery at Pindarra Hospital last night. He is expected to miss at least a month of football.
April 6, 2016
50th NRL GAME FOR TITANS
From bush footballer to NRL first grader – Anthony Don’s rise has been remarkable.
The clash with Cronulla on Sunday marks Don’s 50th match in the top grade since debuting on the Coast in 2013 at age 25.
As a late bloomer, he admits to never imagining the possibility of playing a half-century of games.
“There’s no chance that I ever really expected I’d get 50 games,” Don said.
“I probably didn’t even think I’d get one or 10 so I’m pretty stoked to be able to get to 50.”
But the 28-year-old is not exactly getting carried away with the milestone, considering the vast experience of many of his teammates and ¬rivals.
Don, a Grafton Ghosts product, arrived at Queensland Cup club the Burleigh Bears five years ago weighing between 85 and 88kg.
He says bulking up to his current weight of 98kg was critical in being able to execute the duties of a modern-day winger, such as taking hit-ups early in the tackle count.
“I came from Grafton and probably didn’t do weights for the first 24 years of my life,” he admitted.
“I’m still pretty skinny compared to most NRL players so if I was what I used to be I would be no chance. I wouldn’t get a look in.”
Having already registered 30 tries for the Gold Coast, Don is off-contract at the end of 2016 and is hoping to let his performances do the talking in his bid to reach 100 games as a one-club player.
It is understood Don’s management has opened talks with the Titans on a possible two-year extension.
Don has had three different centres to work with on the right side of the Titans’ attacking structure in five outings this season and may get a fourth partner this weekend if William Zillman returns and causes another reshuffle in the backline.
“Any new combination is challenging but you’ve got to kind of look at the positives. Each different player brings a different positive attribute that we’ve got to try and bring out,” he said.
“Hopefully, we can do a good job on the weekend and moving forward we find a good combo and keep it.”
Personally, he gained confidence from a good outing against Brisbane last week that helped right the ship after his own “slow start to the season”.
“The Broncos game was probably the best one I’ve had for the year,” he said.
Don will mark up on the Sosaia Feke-Ricky Leutele pairing – far less lauded than the Sharks’ talented right edge duo of Jack Bird and Valentine Holmes.
However, the Titans’ winger described his opponents for this weekend as being “underrated”.
“In attack and defence they probably don’t get the credit that they deserve but they’d probably be one of the first picked in the whole team with how reliable they are,” he said.\
September 13, 2017
HISTORY-MAKING AWARD
ANTHONY Don has transcended his status as a Titans cult hero to become the first winger in club history to win the Paul Broughton Medal.
Don, who made his representative debut this season, playing for NSW Country, was named the Titans’ player of the season at a gala dinner at the QT Hotel last night.
He won the coveted award – named after inaugural Titans chairman Paul Broughton – on 49 votes, two ahead of NSW Origin hooker Nathan Peats (47), with Maroons forward Jarrod Wallace (45) another two votes back.
Don turns 30 next week but only made his first grade debut at 25 after graduating from the Grafton Ghosts and Burleigh Bears.
He has become one of the club’s most popular players – and has gained cult hero status over the past couple of years with his own Facebook appreciation page and rave reviews from commentators for his aerial antics.
But Don’s efforts this season have made him more than just a fan favourite.
Despite a shoulder injury keeping him to just 20 appearances this season, Don won the support of Titans coaching staff and players under the 3-2-1 vote system employed after each game.
With 12 tries, including some of the best aerial takes in the game, Don edged past Peats, who played just 15 games due to a shoulder injury that required surgery.
While Ashley Taylor finished the regular season as the league leader for try ¬assists, he was a surprising omission from the top five in the medal count, with Kevin Proctor (42) and last year’s winner Ryan James (41) also finishing ahead of him.
Other award winners on the night included Peats, who took out the coaches’ award, after a strong year where he emerged as a leader and also made his Origin debut.
Centre Konrad Hurrell took home the members’ most valuable player and “The Preston” community award – named in honour of foundation player Preston Campbell – for his tireless ¬efforts in the community.
Forward Morgan Boyle, recently re-signed until the end of 2020, was named rookie of the year after his strong debut season.
At NYC level, halfback ¬Alexander Brimson and young prop forward Moeaki Fotuaika shared player of the year honours in the final year of the competition.
Back-rower Rory Lillis won the “True Titan’’ award as a player who shows tremendous work ethic and consistency.
June 15, 2018
100th NRL GAME
IT’S something Anthony Don never thought he would be ¬discussing.
The Titans cult hero will line up in his 100th NRL game tomorrow, a mark he never thought he’d achieve.
The Grafton product, who didn’t believe he would even be good enough to play in the state league for Burleigh, was amazed to have made his NRL debut, let alone be on the cusp of celebrating 100 games for the one club.
Don’s is a story of perseverance as much as talent.
It’s about hard work and dedication and enjoying the ride along the way.
And it’s a reminder in an era in which schoolboys are contracted to clubs in their teens and have never had a job or life experience outside of football, that rugby league is only a game – and that playing in the NRL is a privilege and treasure to be enjoyed.
“I guess that’s just part of my personality – I don’t really rate myself that much, at footy or anything,” Don said.
Asked if he ever thought he’d be talking about playing 100 NRL games, Don was almost embarrassed.
“Of course not. I didn’t think I was good enough for Burleigh,” he said.
“Obviously it’s an honour and something I’ll look back on when I’m finished as a great achievement.
“I’m happy to play 100 for the Titans, it’s a great milestone that I’m proud of.”
It came about fortuitously really. Don’s breakout 2010 season for the Grafton Ghosts attracted the attention of Queensland Cup clubs as he scored a record 40 tries in the Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League competition, along with 71 goals in a 302-point season haul.
“There were a couple of Queensland Cup teams that were making contact through coaching staff at Grafton but they were teams like Redcliffe and Norths and I didn’t really want to move to Redcliffe,” he said. “I thought the easiest option would be to go to the Gold Coast.
“My brother was living here and I had a lot of friends here from Grafton, so I contacted Burleigh and had a meeting.
“And I think my mum may have sent some newspaper clippings behind my back.”
Others may have believed in Don but his own conviction took a bit longer.
“I remember my train of thought was: ‘There’s only two teams on the Gold Coast, I can’t be in the best two teams’ worth of players on the Coast’,” he said.
July 31, 2018
ANOTHER DEAL
GOLD Coast winger Anthony Don says the promise of future growth with the ¬Titans ensured he sacrificed more than $100,000 to ¬ remain a one-club man.
The popular Don confirmed he will finish his career on the Gold Coast after yesterday signing a new two-year deal in the lead-up to Saturday’s clash against ¬Parramatta in Sydney.
There were fears the Paul Broughton medallist could be lost to the Titans after the off-contract Don recently fielded offers from the Cronulla Sharks and Wests Tigers.
Don stood to pocket more money by moving to Sydney, but the 30-year-old always harboured hopes of remaining at the Gold Coast club with whom he launched his NRL career in 2013.
The unfashionable Don has become a cult figure at the Titans, scoring 63 tries from 105 games, and is proof that loyalty still exists in an age where the code’s elite bask in $1 million contracts.
“I’m really glad to stay on the Coast for the next couple of seasons,” said Don, now secured to the Titans until the end of 2020. “The club is really moving forward, so it’s a good time to be around.
“There were some very generous offers in Sydney but my wife has a permanent job here and I love living on the Gold Coast.
“In the end I want to retire on the Gold Coast when I finish my footy and I wanted to be a one-club player.
“I’ve got two more solid seasons. I’m not shutting the door on another year (in 2021) but we’ll see what -happens.”
Don has been one of the Titans’ most consistent players in recent years, having reached double figures on the NRL’s tryscoring charts for four consecutive seasons.
The winger has 11 tries from 19 games this season and can surpass his season-best tally of 12 (achieved in the past three campaigns) with a double against the Eels at Homebush.
Titans coach Garth Brennan praised Don’s commitment to the club. “I’m rapt,” he said. “I said from day one I didn’t want Anthony going anywhere, so I’m really glad they got the deal done.
‘‘Everyone loves ‘The Don’. ‘It’s the fact that he is a really good story, he made his debut later in life (at age 25) and wasn’t some superstar kid – Aussies can relate to that.”
Brennan yesterday named an unchanged line-up for an Eels showdown that will pit Jarryd Hayne against his former Titans teammates.
August 6, 2020
ONE-YEAR EXTENSION
The Gold Coast Titans and winger Anthony Don have agreed to a one-year contract extension that will keep the team’s all-time leading try¬scorer in Titans colours for a ninth season.
The 32-year-old is expected to put pen to paper this afternoon ahead of his 139th NRL match against the North Queensland Cowboys on Sunday.
The extension will keep Don a one-club man.
Don has scored 83 career tries for the Titans, including eight through 11 games to lead the team in scoring again in 2020.
He told News Corp last month his body was ready to go around again next year.
“I’m feeling really well, the body is great which is why I’m excited about playing on next year,” Don said.
“The new coaching team led by Justin (Holbrook) and the whole club in general is on the way up and I just want to continue to be part of it.
“I am happy with my form and being a local who has a lot of experience I feel it’s my role to keep leading the way.”
With another season, playing behind the most talented forward pack of his career, the 100-try milestone unthinkable before this season could swing into reach.
With a 33 regular season games to go, Don needs 17 tries at a strike rate of 52 per cent to reach the milestone.
Since his 30th birthday in September 2017, Don has scored 31 sin 52 games at 60 per cent and graduated with an MBA from the University of New England.
The Titans confirmed the contract news on Thursday night, with Don sending a video to club members.
Don has been one of the most popular figures at the ¬Titans since his arrival in 2013 after forging a path to the NRL via Gold Coast’s feeder club Burleigh Bears.
The man who began his ¬career with the Grafton Ghosts club in northern NSW now has another year to excel even more on rugby league’s biggest stage.
CAREER TIMELINE:
START OF 2011 – Earns chance with Titans via Queensland Cup affiliate Burleigh Bears after spending 2010 playing for Grafton Ghosts. Named Burleigh’s Queensland Cup player of the year and trials with Titans.
2012 – Marred by debilitating groin condition osteitis pubis but signs a two-year extension with Titans.
APRIL, 2013 – Makes his NRL debut against Parramatta, the Titans rallying from 14 points down to win.
JUNE, 2014 – Signs two-year deal with Gold Coast.
APRIL, 2016 – Plays 50th NRL game for the Titans.
END OF 2016 – Finishes the season as the Titans’ equal-highest try scorer with Ryan James after featuring in 22 matches.
JUNE, 2017 – Named on the bench in the Titans’ team of the decade.
JUNE, 2018 – Plays his 100th NRL game for the Titans.
JULY, 2018 – Signs two-year extension with the club, rejecting offers from Cronulla and Wests Tigers.
SEPTEMBER, 2018 – First winger in Titans history to win the club’s Paul Broughton Medal.
MARCH, 2019 – Don scores his 68th try for Gold Coast, breaking a club record previously held by David Mead.
AUGUST, 2020 – Signs a one-year extension with Gold Coast.
MAY, 2021 – Plays his 150th NRL game for Gold Coast.
AUGUST 10, 2021 – Announces that he will retire at the end of the 2021 NRL season.
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