3 minute read

Rod Wishart was one of Illawarra's greatest players before their merger with St George but will happily support Melbourne and his son Tyran over the Dragons.

Some 23 years after his NRL career ended in a grand-final loss to Melbourne, former Illawarra flyer Rod Wishart now wears a Storm cap around the golf course.

And in a scenario that would have seemed almost impossible two decades ago, the ex-NSW State of Origin winger lists his proudest moment in football as one from deep within Storm camp.

Come Sunday, Wishart won't even think twice about supporting the Storm over St George Illawarra, watching his son Tyran play against his old Dragons club for the first time.

Down in Melbourne for a parents' function before the AAMI Park clash, the 53-year-old is not afraid to now associate his family as part of the Storm.

"It's not bittersweet at all," Wishart Snr told AAP.

"It's been a while since I've had the boots on, but you just want the best thing for your kid.

"You'll always support your kids.

"Melbourne have always been a team I admired. And when Tyran got the opportunity it was nearly an automatic thing to support them."

Tyran could easily have been running out for the Dragons this weekend as the maiden second-generational player in the joint-venture's history.

It would have been a dream for the half-turned-hooker, who was born just two months after his dad's last game and grew up around the Dragons club.

But when set to be offered a full-time deal with the Red V, Bellamy called early last year.

It took minimal decision-making to take up the offer.

"It was a bit unreal to be honest," Tyran said.

"When I first heard they were interested I wasn't even sure if it was real.

"But it's been great coming here. People are good, staff are good. I've learned a lot, learned new positions and got fresh eyes on me."

Wishart Jnr has since moved in with Harry Grant and Cooper Johns, with the trio all hailing from the beaches and regularly visiting the city's wave pool.

He has played with few members of the Dragons' current side, having never entered their top squad, while also being an age group above the current young crop through juniors.

But still, the Wishart name is synonymous with the Steelers side of the club.

No player scored more tries for Illawarra than Rod Wishart, while he was one of eight Steelers to feature in that 1999 NRL decider.

It's why the 23-year-old thought he would have to fight to change his father's allegiances, sending Storm merchandise back including his new golf cap back to NSW to win him over.

In truth, though, it didn't take much convincing.

Rod never harboured grudges from the 1999 grand final loss, which spelled the end of his career just before Tyran's birth.

"Not one bit," Rod said.

"That grand final was there to be won by the Dragons, and I think all of us at the Dragons can probably say we could have won that game.

"But they deserved it as much as anyone else would."

And ever since, he has seen the Storm as the Harvard of the NRL.

A view that has only been enhanced since his son's arrival, wowed over by the way Melbourne have welcomed him into the club since Tyran's arrival.

So much so that he considers an invitation from Melbourne to present his son his debut jersey in round one against Wests Tigers as his most treasured moment in rugby league.

Above his own debut back in 1989, above playing in a grand final, above his 22 Origins and even above his 18 Tests for Australia.

"Without a doubt," the ex-flyer said.

"I was so emotional I couldn't talk to my wife.

"Particularly when you're talking about your own kids, they are the kind of things you cherish so much.

"They are the little things that make a big difference, not just to us as parents but to Tyran.

"You go down there and you meet the players, every one of them came up and introduced themselves and made us feel at home as well."