‘Choked up’: Legendary NRL hardman Mark Geyer brought to tears

NRL hardman Mark Geyer has opened up on the phone call from his son that brought him to tears this week.

Legendary NRL hardman Mark Geyer was brought to tears after opening up about a phone call with his son.

On his radio show, Geyer detailed the eye-watering moment his son Mavrik told him he’d be making his NRL debut.

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Having been knocking on the door for a first grade call up for some time, the 23-year-old second-rower will take to the field for the Penrith Panthers when they go up against the Sydney Roosters on Thursday night.

“It was last Sunday, they were at a recovery session because he played on the Saturday in the NSW Cup,” Mark said on Triple M’s Mick & MG in the Morning.

“He got replaced early that game which was strange as he normally played 80 minutes. My wife Meagan said that they might be bringing him off the play first grade.

“So on Sunday I was laying in the lounge room with my Meagan, and my Mum and Mav rang.

“1000 things went through my mind, but one of the things was that this could be Mav and they (Penrith) could be recording (the phone call) so I kind of sat up and went, ‘Hello mate!’, and he goes, ‘Dad they aren’t recording, you can talk normally’.

“So I said ‘thank F.’”

Mav will debut this week. MUST CREDIT PENRITH PANTHERS

Mark Geyer was brought to tears.

“This year he hasn’t missed one training session in the off-season, he’s done every session. He went to England for the World Cup Challenge,” Geyer added.

“We’re immensely proud of him, he’s a beautiful kid.”

But it wasn’t until a video of Mavrik talking about his upcoming debut and following in his father’s footsteps that the emotion of the moment got to the hardman.

“I saw something online last night that the Penrith Panthers put up and it was basically Mav being interviewed,” Mark said.

“He spoke about me playing for Penrith, as well as his uncles Ben and Greg playing for Penrith. We don’t often talk about Ben as it was a really sad part of our life.

“As soon as he started talking about Ben I sort of choked up. The synergy that he brought as a kid when he would wear that family jersey every time he runs out, it meant so much to us.”

Carrying on the legacy 🐾#pantherpridepic.twitter.com/PnWGh8d6zo

— Penrith Panthers 🏆🏆🏆 (@PenrithPanthers) March 26, 2024

Panthers coach Ivan Cleary also spoke on Mavrik’s selection, calling it “pretty cool”.

“It’s an exciting time for him and his family. He’s been very patient,” Cleary said.

“He’s really knuckled down over the last couple of years, he’s worked very hard for this, and I think he’s ready.”

The club have been rocked by injury news with star player Nathan Cleary set to miss up to a month after suffering a hamstring issue.

Cleary came from the field in the closing stages of the Panthers victory over Brisbane in round three with scans confirming a hamstring injury.

The three-time premiers have also been dealt another injury blow with backrower Scott Sorensen also out for a month with a knee injury.

Originally published as ‘Choked up’: Legendary NRL hardman Mark Geyer brought to tears