Versatile athlete scores rep honours in four sports

Before trying out for the South Coast rugby union team, 12-year-old Stanwell Park super athlete Brett Doran had never played the game on the field.

His experience was limited to simulated games on his Sony Playstation and watching test matches.

Brett not only made the representative team but was named captain of the Open team and was the Players’ Player at a three-day tournament in Scone.

The representative honour was his fourth cap in as many sports: last year he represented the South Coast region - from Stanwell Park to the Victorian border and inland to Queanbeyan - in rugby league, touch football and AFL.

His all-round abilities earned the Stanwell Park Public School student the Helen Fuller/Mal Mow Award for Outstanding Contribution to Area School Sport last December.

Outside of school sport, Brett competes in surf lifesaving where he is the NSW Age Sprint Champion, recently representing the Illawarra at the NSW Interbranch Titles.

Father Col Doran, who is also Coalcliff Surf Life Saving Club president, said Brett attended his first carnival when he was only six years old.

“He grabbed someone’s cap and ran in the under-8 sprint,” Col said. “He came second!”

Brett also plays rugby league with the Helensburgh Tigers and his under-12 team last year won its fourth consecutive Grand Final. Brett was named Player of the Match.

“I’ve played since I was a baby,” he said. “I used to tackle my brothers when I was four years old.”

Brett also competed in Little Athletics last year and was a state finalist in the 200m and 100m.

He played with a touch football team in Wollongong and an Oztag team in Engadine with both teams going through undefeated.

Not suprisingly, Brett will be attending Endeavour Sports High School this year where he has enrolled in the targeted sports program for rugby league.

In his spare time, he plays tennis with his mum and cricket in the backyard with his brothers.

“I prefer team sport but tennis is my favourite individual sport,” he said.

The talented athlete intends to specialise in either tennis or rugby league and his credentials are great for either: father Col used to be a top tackler in his rugby league days and uncle Terry is a professional tennis player in the US.

During the holidays, Brett flew to Melbourne with his family to watch the Australian Open.