Ballina boy Oliver Regan living out his dream playing alongside former Manly captain Jamie Lyon

For a bloke who grew up as an avid Manly Sea Eagles fan, the opportunity to play alongside Jamie Lyon every week is a dream come true.

FOR a bloke who grew up as an avid Manly Sea Eagles fan, the opportunity to play alongside Jamie Lyon every week is a dream come true.

Oliver Regan loved Lyon’s laid back yet hugely successful style during his decade long stint at the Sea Eagles.

Now Regan has joined forces with the legendary Manly back at the Ballina Seagulls in the Northern Rivers competition.

Lyon is in his first season with the Seagulls as captain-coach and five-eighth.

As Ballina’s fullback, Regan is relishing the chance to play off one of the finest footballers in Sea Eagles’ history.

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“I pretty much just follow Jamie around,” Regan told Bushbeat.

“It is cool how it has all worked out.

“Dad was a Manly fan back in the day, so I decided to follow suit.

Oliver Regan for Ballina Seagulls.

“Now to play alongside Jamie is great. I’ve always liked his causal style of play and his ability to score a try from anywhere.”

Lyon’s matchwinning ability has been on show in the opening rounds of the season.

Led by the two-time premiership hero, Ballina sit equal first on the ladder with Tweed Coast locked on eight points.

As dominant as Lyon has been, Regan admits he can be even better.

“He played in a dinner suit for the first few games and was just pulling the strings without tackling or being tackled,” he joked.

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“But he has been tackled in the last few games, which has been good.”

According to Regan, Lyon has been equally influential off the field.

The former Origin and Test star may be unassuming but he lets his actions do all the talking.

“Jamie has been good as a captain-coach,” Regan said.

“He is still getting used to the role, so he is relaxed around the players and he is great to chat to.

“I’ve learnt a fair bit from Jamie.

Jamie Lyon in action for Manly in a 2016 NRL match against Brisbane. Picture: Getty Images

“He has brought a whole new edge to the club, plus a lot of interest.”

This attention is expected to reach fever pitch in a fortnight’s time when Lyon’s Ballina outfit take on a Bryon Bay team featuring former Dally M medal winner, Todd Carney.

Regan can’t wait to take on Carney and his fellow Red Devils.

“Todd has been having blinders and Bryon has a few ex Ballina boys up there, so it should be a good game,” he said.

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“It is good that NRL players come back to country footy.

“It helps the juniors and the community and just adds more interest with people coming through the gates.

“It also gets a few more people talking about Ballina and country footy, which is awesome.

“I know a few other country footy comps are struggling with numbers and teams, so it is huge for NRL players to come back and play.”

Regan is also quality player in his own right.

The 26-year-old started his career with Ballina in the under 18s ranks before relocating to Queensland.

Oliver Regan during his Intrust Super Cup days at Burleigh. Picture: David Clark

Regan played with Redcliffe and Burleigh during a four-year stint in the Sunshine State.

Now he is back home and keen to help Ballina continue the club’s success from recent seasons.

The Seagulls claimed their first premiership in 20 years in 2013 before going on to achieve a three-peat in 2014 and 2015.

Ballina collected another title in 2017 while they were runners-up in 2018.

Regan hopes the Seagulls can add another championship to the trophy cabinet this season.

“It has been a pretty good period for the club,” said Regan, who runs his own carpentry business called OJR Constructions.

“We’ve won four from five this season. We had our first loss a few weeks ago.

“But we are going all right.

“We’ve lost a few players to Byron and had a few new guys come in as well but I’m confident we’ll go well this year.”