By Jonathan B Geddes

MATT Burke enjoyed a distinguished rugby career which saw him become a Wallabies and Waratahs legend – but one of his proudest moments will come at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday.

His daughter Edie is set to make her debut for the Waratahs – in the same fullback position where he became one of the game’s greats – during Saturday’s first-round Super W clash against the Fijian Drua.

When the 22-year-old starts on the NSW bench wearing the No.22 jumper, her parents Matt and Kate will be in the crowd waiting with anticipation for their daughter to get into the action.

“I’m super excited, but a bit nervous and so keen to just go out there,” Edie told Rugby News.

“I love the aggression of it. I’m quite a small little player, and you wouldn’t expect it from me, but I love the physicality.”

Edie said having her famous rugby surname had been no advantage as she set out on her own rugby journey.

“I think it is the opposite to be honest,” she said. “It is having to prove myself, and you get to this age where just because of your last name doesn’t mean they are going to pick you in a team.”

MAKING HER OWN MARK

EDIE has put in all the hard work herself to make the Waratahs squad this season after starting her career playing sevens at the great rugby nursery, Barker College.

She has been in the Waratahs sevens for the last four years and also captained the team. This season she earned a call-up to the 15s squad.

While taking it one step at a time, Edie also has some longer-term rugby ambitions.

“I think the goal for me has always been to play for Australia,” she said. “I thought it was going to be sevens, but I think 15s is my route now. I am just focusing on this at the moment.”

Matt never pushed Edie to play, far from it, but she has been able to draw on his vast knowledge and experience to help her game.

“He has done so much with me – with things like passing and all through Covid we did our fitness running,” she said.

“He has helped me with my kicking, especially my drop kicks because that is a big part of sevens. We have just started doing some goalkicking, not so much, we are still getting there.”

FATHER KNOWS BEST

MATT and Kate have taken delight in watching Edie progress in a sport she is passionate about.

“She has grafted away at Gordon and just loves it and loves playing footy,” said Matt, who continues making his own mark as a presenter on Stan Sport and Channel Nine.

“From our perspective, there is no pressure, it is about her forging her own path and enjoying it.

“We see all the hard work that goes into it. Everyone works hard, but you always ride the emotion of your kids, what they do, the injuries and all that stuff.”

A group of family and friends will join the Burkes to support Edie on the weekend.   

“We are very proud, forget my history, it is an incredible achievement what she has done and done by herself,” Matt said. 

“If she gets on, great, if she doesn’t, we’ll just have to wait another week.”

FAMILY TIES

WARATAHS coach Michael Ruthven recognised Burke was ready for her call-up.

“Edie is a talented kid, she is good with the footy in her hands, good in space – a bit of that is probably from her experience in and around the sevens program,” Ruthven said.

He can also see similarities between father and daughter.

“I reckon Matt Burke was a real competitor as a footballer and that is one of Edie’s biggest strengths – she is also a real competitor,” Ruthven said.

He reiterated she won a spot in the squad very much on her own merits.

“Edie has been in our Next Gen sevens group for the last couple of years,” Ruthven said. “She came into our 15s group with no guarantees and trained well and definitely earned the opportunity to be here.”      

 RUGBY’S SILENT WITNESS

EDIE’S parents also reinforced an important message to her as she started playing rugby that she has taken on board.

“We have always said to her ‘this won’t be your livelihood’,” Matt said.

She is now close to finishing her degree in forensic science at UTS.

“It is tough, but I love it,” Edie said. “I’m trying to get an internship somewhere with the police force.”

In the meantime, her rugby career is very much alive and kicking.