Story from
Bush Beat country column
MATT LOGUE, The Daily Telegraph
Pic: Brett Costello
June 26th, 2018
TY McCarthy, this yarn was supposed to be about you and your long-time friendship with Blues debutant Matt Prior.
But Ty, we couldn’t proceed because you thought calls from this reporter were a “gee up”.
Let’s paint a picture of what ended up becoming a comical chase.
Bush Beat phoned a few contacts at the Thirroul Butchers this week about writing a story on Prior – a proud junior product of the NSW South Coast club.
Matt Prior’s Thirroul mate Ty McCarthy wasn’t having anything of Telegraph reporter Matt Logue.
After a number of calls, we were put in touch with Mr McCarthy, who played a lot of his junior football at Thirroul alongside Prior.
Only problem, when we called Ty he thought it was one of his teammates playing a prank.
“Is that you Aaron?,” McCarthy said, referring to one of his mates.
“Surely this is a gee up.”
This reporter then interjects, saying: “No, it’s Matt Logue from the Sunday Telegraph and I’m doing a story.”
McCarthy, though, was having none of it.
“No, that’s you Aaron,” he says, laughing, before hanging up the phone.
Prior had a victorious debut in State of Origin.
This reporter then sent a text message to McCarthy, pleading with him to believe it was seriously a Sunday Telegraph scribe.
His reply: “This stinks of Aaron Beath.”
Bush Beat, still in shock, sent a text saying: “Check Aaron’s number. It’s seriously Matt Logue.”
We then followed up this message with a phone call, but McCarthy didn’t answer.
So Ty, we’re sorry, this story is now about our comical chase to praise Prior’s impressive rise to the NSW Origin ranks.
Thankfully, Thirroul treasurer Kevin Anderson answered his phone and was more than happy to talk about Prior’s success story.
“I’ve known Matty for a long time and the whole club is very proud of him,” Anderson said.
“It is always great to see your locals doing well.
“His mother raised him as a single mother for a long time, which isn’t easy, but he got to the NRL and everyone couldn’t be happier for him.”
Anderson said a large contingent from the Thirroul club will drive down the highway to watch Prior don Blue for the first time.
Fifita’s emotional speech to Prior
“I know a lot of people have tickets for the game,” he said.
“I’m not going though. I’ll just sit at home in front of the television with a couple of beers.”
We’re tipping Mr Anderson won’t be alone as the Thirroul community come together to celebrate Prior’s NSW Origin debut.
