There’s players that you just want to see debut and Mavrik Geyer is one of them.
His surname is synonymous with Penrith, and nothing would please long-time Panthers fans more than seeing the ‘Geyer’ name on the first grade team sheet.
While the 23-year-old got close to a debut a few times last year when he was announced on the extended bench, it appears 2024 will finally be the year we get to see MG Junior in the NRL.
“I think about making my debut every time I go to sleep at night,” Geyer told the Weekender.
“I think it will be a pretty special day and hopefully it happens in the future. It will be a big day for me and my family.”
Geyer played 23 games for the Panthers NSW Cup team last season, playing most of the year in the second-row.
He also appeared in Ivan Cleary’s extended NRL squad several times throughout year, which shows just how close he was to becoming Penrith’s next first grader.
“Being 18th and 19th man was a mad experience,” Geyer said.
“Just warming up with the boys and seeing how it works and how intense it is. It was definitely an eye-opening thing and makes you want to play even more.”
But while Penrith will be chasing four premierships in a row this season, Geyer will be out to get his first and he hopes a big pre-season will give him the best shot of living out his lifelong dream.
“Everything is process driven… doing what I can at training, and I believe the rest will take care of itself,” Geyer said.
“I can’t really be too focused on making my NRL debut, even though it’s always been a lifelong goal.
“I’m just enjoying the process and learning each day off the boys that are here. I think if I take care of that then everything will take care of itself. But it’s definitely a goal for me this year.”
If Geyer does manage to play in the NRL this season like most people expect, he’ll be the first member of the famous Geyer family since Mark and Matt to play first grade.
Matt Geyer’s son Cole Geyer got close to a first grade debut last year, named as a replacement player in Melbourne’s thrilling win over the Broncos in the final round of the season.
Now the cousins will be battling it out in 2024 to see who will make their NRL debuts first.
Nathan Taylor is the Weekender’s Deputy Editor and Senior Sports Writer. He also compiles the weekly Chatter on the Box TV column. Nathan is an award-winning journalist, who has worked at the Weekender for a decade.
