THE Brisbane Broncos loss could prove to be the Newcastle Knights gain after the Novocastrians signed Wauchope teenager Tylee Donovan.
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The 15-year-old trialled with the Broncos Academy in August and December last year before he was spotted by the Knights and then put pen to paper on a three-year deal.
Donovan will be part of their junior setup and his family, led by mother Paige Chatfield are extremely proud.
“All his brothers look up to him,” she said.
The fullback or centre is the eldest of five children whose only taste of watching the National Rugby League live was attending a South Sydney Rabbitohs match a season or two ago.
“He went down there for one of his brothers’ birthday’s.”
So it comes as little surprise that Rabbitohs superstar Greg Inglis is a player Donovan quickly nominated as one of his favourite players.
Then there’s Cowboys halfback Johnathan Thurston.
The talented youngster starting playing football with the Wauchope Blues when he was six.
The game is in the family. We all love it.
- Tylee Donovan
“It was always easy for me and even when I played up in higher grades, it got easier,” he said.
“I enjoy it a lot. The game is in the family. We all love it,” he said.
Donovan had the option of moving to Newcastle once he signed with the Knights, but he’s chosen to live at home.
Wauchope High School were more than happy to help him balance studies and sport.
He will train two days a week with the Knights, leaving at lunchtime on Tuesday and Thursday and then playing at the weekend.
Mrs Chatfield says her eldest son is passionate about football.
“Last year, he made it to the Group 3 rep team and trained with them for a while,” she said.
He played in the Country Championships in Forster last year and the Knights asked him to play and train with them down in Newcastle.
He’s already had trial games against the Cronulla Sharks and Manly.
Last year, he made it to the Group 3 rep team and trained with them for a while.
- Tylee's mum, Paige Chatfield
Last Thursday, the teenager trialled for the North Coast and made it into the Greater Northern Rugby League Exchange, so he goes to Coffs Harbour in early May to trial for the NSW Combined High Schools.
That day was the same day he signed a three-year contract with the red-and-blues.
He trains twice a week with the Wauchope Blues, and was training twice a week in the off-season with the Newcastle Knights.
The family were looking forward to watching his progression.
“All of his cousins love playing football too, and they love hearing about him, and seeing him on television,” Mrs Chatfield said.
Tylee Donovan is definitely one to watch.
