A decade after being ball boy for Matt Geyer’s NRL swansong, sons Nash and Cole win premierships

FOR Matt, Nash and Cole Geyer, few memories rank higher than the time they shared a football field together.

Former Melbourne Storm NRL veteran Matt Geyer with sons Cole (left) and Nash at Currumbin Eagles. Picture: Glenn Hampson

FOR Matt, Nash and Cole Geyer, few memories rank higher than the time they shared a football field together.

As Matt, a Melbourne Storm stalwart for more than a decade, neared retirement at the pointy end of the 2008 NRL season, his two sons scored ball boy duties.

“I loved the day when they were on the sideline,” Matt said.

“I remember interacting with them and roughing their heads up or throwing the ball at them, whatever it might have been. They are great memories for me.”

Nash and Cole, too, spoke highly of that opportunity.

“We took it for granted back then,” Nash said. “We were just little kids wanting to run around and throw the footy in the sheds after the games but now you watch it back on TV and see some of his old games and it’s like gee, yeah he was at the top level doing his thing.”

The day after Matt’s swansong game – a 40-0 grand final defeat to Manly – they moved north to the Gold Coast, where they have played rugby league for Currumbin ever since.

Geyer’s last match did not go to plan but it could not take the shine off a glittering career highlighted by two NRL premierships and three NSW State of Origin appearances.

Matt has become a regular junior coach at the Eagles and even pulled on the boots for a few A-grade games at one point.

“The boys love the club and they have probably got that from me,” Matt said.

Nash and Cole both won premierships in 2018, at under-19 and under-17 level respectively.

Nash is relatively laidback about his footy, though he has joined Tweed Heads for their 2019 statewide under-20 pre-season to push himself.

“For me it’s just more fun. I love playing with my mates … there’s nothing better than coming down and training Tuesday and Thursday with them and throwing the footy around,” he said.

Cole, Matt and Nash Geyer. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“Winning a comp with them was really special as well. I don’t plan on making it any further but I always like a challenge so I think that’s why I’m doing this Tweed pre-season.”

Cole is a different kettle of fish by his own admission and is part of Burleigh’s statewide under-18 squad: “Yeah, I’m a bit more serious than him … but yeah just see where it takes me I guess.”

And the talent doesn’t stop there; the duo lined up with their little sister Halle – also a keen netballer – in a mixed under-20 team at the Oztag Australian Championships at the weekend. Not to be outdone, Matt was in action too in the over-40 division.

Looking back, Matt revealed the family’s footy love all comes back to him and brother Mark – a Penrith premiership winner – playing league and cricket all year round as kids to stay out of trouble in the rough Western Sydney suburb of Whalan.

Matt Geyer held the record for most games played in Melbourne Storm colours until Cameron Smith surpassed him in 2014. Picture: Colleen Petch.

THE FAMILY

Matt Geyer

268 NRL games (six for Western Reds 1997, 262 for Melbourne 1998-2008 including two premierships)

Three State of Origin games for NSW

Age: 43

Position: Wing/five-eighth

Married to Belinda

Nash Geyer

Age: 18

Position: Centre/halves

Cole Geyer

Age: 17

Position: Hooker

Halle Geyer

Age: 15

Sports: Netball, Oztag