Matt the stable side of both Mark and Melbourne
September 29th 2008 10:15
Former Penrith Panthers forward Mark Geyer was a hothead. He was a tough Rugby League player but has been embroiled in more controversies than area 51. Not that his brother Matt has had anything to do with it.
As Mark was nearing the end of a successful albeit tumultuous career, little brother Matt was making his rugby League debut in 1997 for the Western Reds - a club that had become a casualty of the Super League War peace deal and were consequently shutdown.
While the Reds died, a new NRL club was thrust into the Rugby League limelight in the form of the Melbourne Storm.
Matt signed a deal with the Storm in 1998, thus, at the time, becoming a foundation member of the new Victorian team.
Now, after a ten year, 112 try association with Melbourne, Geyer will retire from Rugby League after this Sunday's NRL Grand Final.
He will leave the game he loves without any misdemeanours next to his name. Unlike his brother Mark, Matt never really got involved with the displeasures of a Rugby League career.
Indeed Matt took his time at Melbourne day by day, session by session, playing in a city where the AFL is the norm in Victorian society.
And as the NRL continually endevours to find ways to broaden League's horizon down south, Geyer was happy.
For once, he must have thought being a profile NRL player and a normal human being outside of the footy pitch was possible.
Maybe the stable lifestyle that is Rugby League in Melbourne allowed Matt the ability to garner some of the NRL's best honours in his time at the Storm.
The man they call 'Boofa' has the distinction of having played the most premiership games for the Storm. He has scored the most four pointers as well.
During his 266 game tenure, Matt has won two Premierships with Melbourne, including the infamous 1999 Grand Final where he kicked the winning goal after team-mate Craig Smith was awarded a penalty try right on the siren against the Dragons.
The utility player also found himself playing in the NRL's pinnacle event in 1999, making his debut for NSW in Origin football, taking part in all three games.
Matt would find himself lifting the Premiership trophy seven years later after Melbourne prevailed over this week's Grand Final combatants Manly in 2007.
Now, the 33 year old father of the Storm nears the end of a brilliant career. One that did not have to undergo any discipline along the way.
Instead of having to cope with suspensions and drug tests, Matt was too busy raising the Storm crop that now calls itself the strongest team in the competition.
He was busy overseeing the development of present superstars Greg Inglis, Cameron Smith, Israel Folau and Billy Slater.
And even though they have stolen the limelight from Geyer, Matty would not have it any other way.
As the likes of Inglis and Folau go about preserving their names in NRL history, Matt will now prepare for his last league game in the biggest match of all.
Even if Matt's name is not upheld as one of greatness, at least it will be remembered for all the right reasons.
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