Legendary footy hard man Mark Geyer admits breaking down in tears after getting a life-changing phone call from his son
- Mark Geyer broke down when he was told his son would be making his NRL debut
- Mavrik Geyer will play for the Panthers against the Roosters
- Mark is an icon at Penrith, having made his debut for the club in 1986
Footy hard man Mark Geyer has revealed he cried after receiving the news his son Mavrik will play his debut NRL match for the Panthers against the Roosters on Thursday evening.
The 23-year-old second rower, who is also the cousin of Penrith legend Greg Alexander, will wear jersey 17 during the match at Allianz Stadium.
The youngster has been knocking on the door of a first division debut since joining the club last year – and after an excellent pre-season and an injury to Scott Sorenson, coach Ivan Cleary has decided to bleed him.
“He called on Sunday while he was recovering after playing in the NSW Cup on Saturday,” Mark told the newspaper Sydney Morning Herald.
“He said, ‘Daddy.’ I said, “Yeah buddy?” He said, “Dad, I’m playing on Thursday.”
Mark Geyer (second from right) broke down in tears after receiving the news that his son Mavrik (right) will make his NRL debut for the Panthers on Thursday evening
The 23-year-old second-rower will wear jersey 17 in the clash with the Roosters
“I said, ‘What the fuck.’ His mother was also on speakerphone in the living room. My mother happened to be with us from the Central Coast when he called. When she heard it, she just started crying.
‘At first I didn’t cry, but when I started telling other members of the family, it hit me. I got emotional hearing their reactions and how proud they were of him.
‘I got very emotional because I know how hard he worked for it. Not many people outside of his teammates and family have seen what he has done to get to this place.”
Mark made his debut for the Panthers in 1986, playing 135 games and playing in the club’s 1991 premiership triumph.
The Penrith icon said his hard-working son never relied on the family name to succeed in the sport.
“It’s very difficult to have the surname he has, especially in Penrith,” Mark said.
“One thing he always wanted to be is his own man, not my son.
‘I know how difficult it is to see former teammates and their young boys passing by. They are always someone’s son, it is never their own name.
Mark made his debut for the Panthers in 1986, making 135 appearances for the club and playing in the team’s grand final in 1991 (pictured)
‘I have always been aware that it would never be about me. It’s about him. We rarely talk about football when he is home. We just pay his food bill and off he goes.
‘He’s a very positive kid. He always has a smile on his face. He loves training. I’ve never seen a guy who likes to work hard as much as he does.
‘He is a real professional in that regard. I’m proud of him.’
Geyer also shed a tear on Wednesday morning at the debut in his Triple M radio program with comedian Mick Molloy.
Nearly 100 of Mark’s friends and family gather for drinks in Penrith before the match.