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ASK Matt Minto about the inspirations behind his desire to make it in the NRL and he'll tell you they are almost 1300 kms away in Rockhampton.
His little three year old daughter Lila and partner Carolyn have stayed behind in his north Queensland hometown while Minto chases his dream at the Newcastle Knights.
"It's been tough being away from them but it's the sacrifice we've had to make," the rookie Knights fullback says.
"Carolyn's studying fashion design at TAFE and I'm down here trying to make a go of footy.
"I'm on a minimal contract and only signed for one year and with all of Carolyn's family in Rockhampton, we just thought this was the best way.
"Put my head down for six months, give it everything and see where it takes us.
"Hopefully, if things get a bit more secure, I'll be able to bring them down here."
Matt Minto on debut. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia
In the meantime, Minto has to settle for monthly visits and plenty of phone calls.
But even he couldn't have envisaged his sacrifice beginning to pay off so quickly.
Signed as a back-up half or five-eighth from Queensland Cup premiership-winning side Mackay Cutters by Knights recruitment guru Peter Mulholland, Minto debuted as a fullback against the Canberra Raiders last Sunday after Darius Boyd tore his hamstring in the opening round.
He did well enough for coach Wayne Bennett to want to give him another shot.
Tonight, he will go head to head with Melbourne Storm's Kangaroo fullback Billy Slater in Melbourne as the injury-hit Knights chase their first win of the season.
"I can't wait to be honest," he says.
"You never want to waste opportunities like this so I'll just go out and do my best.
"Melbourne in Melbourne is still the yardstick I reckon and knocking them over down there would be massive for us."
Matt Minto at training. Picture: Peter Lorimer Source: News Corp Australia
Under different circumstances, the 23 year old may well have already left his mark in the NRL.
He was signed to a scholarship at Penrith when he was 15 but when he finally came down to Sydney after finishing high school, he got home-sick and returned north.
A year later, he was back in Sydney playing Under 20's with the Bulldogs but in his second year, he found out Carolyn was pregnant.
"Two days after she told me, I packed up and went back home," he said.
"I probably went off the rails a bit there for a time after that.
"It was my old school coach from St Brendan's College in Yeppoon, Terry Hansen, who told me it was not too late to give footy a real go and to have another crack.
"So far, it's worked out pretty good."
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