Jesse Marschke makes NRL debut with St George Illawarra | Video

He has been chasing his dream for 15 years, and last weekend one of Bundaberg’s favourite sons ran on the field for St George Illawarra. Nobody was prouder than his dad who shared a special moment before the game that was captured on video:

Bundaberg son Jesse Marschke officially began his NRL career at the weekend, making his debut in the iconic red and white of the St George Illawarra Dragons against the North Queensland Cowboys.

The young gun graduated to the club after an impressive season with the North Sydney Bears’ playing in all 27 matches in 2023, scoring 11 tries in the process and assisting on 16.

Marschke came from humble origins, playing for several junior clubs in his hometown of Bundaberg including Across The Waves Tigers, and the East Magpies.

He is humble about the journey that has taken him across the country, and said this week he had spent years watching mates and even his own brother make the premier league ahead of him.

“I’ve obviously had a lot of friends that have been making their debut and been playing in the NRL for years,” he said.

“My brother played two years ago for the Sydney roosters and, you know, I can’t help but be happy and I’m stoked for him but at the back in mind, you still want to do it for yourself.”

Marschke said this determination to get there kept him driven to succeed after almost 15 years of chasing the dream.

He recalled the moment he got the phone call that he had officially made the team list.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 23: Jesse Marschke of the Dragons looks to pass during the round three NRL match between St George Illawarra Dragons and North Queensland Cowboys at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on March 23, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

“I got the phone call from (coach) Shane and he said ‘mate, just before the list comes out, you’ll be making your NRL this Saturday. How do you feel about that?’” he said.

“Obviously, I was over the moon. I was bit speechless.”

He recalls the week leading up to that first NRL game as a whirlwind, which culminated when his dad Rick Marschke passed him the jersey.

Mr Marschke said the family has “sacrificed a lot” to help their son reach his potential.

“We can’t be more proud of him, the resilience through all of the road blocks,” he said at the jersey handover.

“He’s come from a small place, and had big dreams.”

Marschke said the handover was a special moment, and a credit to the unwavering support his family had given him over the years.

“You finally realise the sacrifices that they made for us kids to get to where we are now,” he said.

St George coach Shane Flanagan spoke on the moment when Marschke officially pulled on the uniform for the first time and the years long journey to get there.

“This has been a long time coming for Jesse,” he said.

“He came down from Bundaberg during the Rooster SG Ball in 2015 at the start of his journey.”

“His perseverance and his attitude and his passion and his desire to train and keep his dream alive has got him here.”

Originally published as Jesse Marschke makes NRL debut with St George Illawarra | Video