By MARK CASHMAN

In these days of academies and wider training groups, the story of the journey of Eastwood flanker Michael Icely to Super Rugby is both refreshing and educational.

The 24-year-old, who has picked a one-year deal with the Melbourne Rebels for next season, freely admits that “the rugby thing” wasn’t something that he thought would become a full time gig.

At that great rugby nursery, St Joseph’s College, Icely inhabited teams like the Under 15 Cs and Under 16 Es and only managed to force his way into the Fourth XV and the Third XV in his final year in the opens.

Tom Wright, now a four-Test Wallaby, Tom Horton, James Ramm, Tim Clements, Nick Duffy and Connor O’Shea were all further up the totem pole at Hunters Hill. 

But ‘Ice’, as he is known at TG Millner was nothing if not determined and he fell into a training group at Eastwood that included Jed Gillespie, Tom Murphy, Rob Lagudi and James Sarks.

“They were a bit older than me and part of the senior group in the first grade side and I just thought that the best way to get their trust and respect was to train hard and see what happens,” Icely told Rugby News.

“I never really thought that rugby could be a pathway for me because I was a long way from being one of the superstars at school.”

But he kept training hard with a lot of good mates and worked his way through Thirds Colts, Seconds Colts and eventually Firsts Colts.

That was 2017 and he moved into the grade ranks in 2018 and was lucky enough to be involved in the Woodies’ Colin Caird Shield side that made its way to the grand final that year against Eastern Suburbs.

The result didn’t go the way of the Woodies but it was a “road to Damascus moment” in Icely’s footy career.

“After that I felt that I wanted to give the rugby a good crack and see where I landed,” Icely added.

“So I kept training hard with the boys and from there I was lucky enough to play first grade in 2019 and have been fortunate enough to be in the top team most of the time since then.”

Last year was a different story though and a broken arm midway through the year put his season on hold and saw him miss out on that amazing Woodies run to the grand final against Gordon at Leichhardt Oval.

“But it was amazing to watch the guys do so well and win all those close game through the playoffs,” Icely said.

This year has been (touch wood) injury free and Icely’s form (underlined by his 10 tries in the five game he has played) attracted the attention of the Melbourne Rebels for the Super Rugby Trans Tasman series.

Iceley made his debut off the bench against the Blues and is looking forward to heading south in October.

His economics and finance degree at Sydney Uni will be finished by then and he’s looking forward to giving it a go in what many people say is the sporting capital of the world.

Woods coach Ben Batger says Icely is made for the next level.

“That’s simply because he wants it more than most and is willing to put in the work,” he said.

“Every week he will do everything possible to make himself a better player. Whether that be individual video analysis with me, extra skills before and after training, extra gym work, extra speed/fitness – whatever it takes. 

“I think ‘Ice’ could be what Eddie Jones (former Wallabies and current England coach) mentioned recently about hybrid forwards / backs. Players that have both a back and forward skill set . 

“That makes him ideal for next level because the way the game is going you need to be able to do every facet of the game and ‘Ice’ is one of those players with ability to that .

“It’s been great watching him rise from second grader to first grader to Super Rugby player over past three years.”

Icely has the green light from the Rebels to finish the Shute Shield season before heading south and he will combine that coaching the Under 16 Cs at Joeys.

“I keep telling them that if you work hard things happen,” Icely observed. “Not sure if they believe me or not but it’s a good line.”

IMAGE: SERGE GOZALEZ / EASTWOOD RUGBY