Mitch Inman passes to rising star Sefanaia Naivalu on Sunday – Photo: Keith McInnes Photography

by Brendan Bradford –

Mitch Inman admits he’s far more proficient on the footy field than on a drum kit or strapped to a guitar, but the Melbourne back’s wide and varying musical tastes, and membership in the Rising’s leadership group, means he’s helped pen the new lyrics to the side’s victory song.

The squad of professional and part-time footballers have belted out the tune twice in as many matches in a perfect start to the inaugural NRC season with wins over the Rays and Stars.

Set to the melody of Bruce Springsteen’s anthemic  track ‘Born in the USA,’ Inman says the song-writing process was a group effort.

“Sammy Jeffries is a big Bruce Springsteen fan, so he thought it would be a good idea and everyone agreed to it,” he told Rugby News.

Inman in action for the Melbourne Rebels.

“He suggested ‘Born in the USA’ and I thought it was a good idea because it has a good melody, so I played around with the lyrics a little bit and wrote it in conjunction with a few of the other guys. Over the past couple of weeks we’ve just had the instrumental in the background and sung our own lyrics over the top and so far we’re two from two.”

It’s been an impressive couple of wins for the Rising too, having piled on 100 points and conceding 47 to sit at the top of the table as a host of unheralded Melbourne club players join Rebels professionals to take the competition by storm.

“We tried to combine the community players and local Victorian players in the song and bought them into the loop,” explains Inman, who can say he’s shared the same pitch as The Boss – sort of.

“Me and a couple of boys went to the concert at AAMI Park, they played at our home ground which is pretty cool. They ripped up the deck actually. Usually it’s really good, but this season it’s a bit patchy and they reckon it’s because of that concert and the ground-keepers have had to patch a few areas up.”

With over 50 Super Rugbys caps to his name, Inman will travel north this weekend as the Rising take on third-placed Brisbane City. While he’ll be fully focused on the game, the self-confessed sports-nut could be forgiven for being a bit distracted. The nephew of South Sydney legend Bob McCarthy, Inman will have an eye on the TV on Thursday as his beloved Rabbitohs play the Roosters with the minor premiership still very much up for grabs. Then, later in the weekend, the NFL season kicks off in the US.

“Myself and Jordy Reid were fortunate enough to go to a Patriots game last year in October in Boston,” said Inman.

“We drove up from New York and did the whole tailgating experience then watched the game. It was the best sporting spectacle I’ve ever been to – nothing even rates anywhere near it. I’m a big Rabbitohs fan and my uncle, Bob McCarthy, won the last three premierships with the Bunnies. I don’t like talking them up at this time of year though, because – how would you put it – well, they’ve let me down the last few years. But if they’re going to win, it needs to be this year with Sam Burgess.”