Meet Tex Hoy.
He’s the son of a famous surfer and grew up with the Johns brothers, Andrew and Matthew, regularly frequenting his home.
But unlike his father, former world No.6 surfer Matt Hoy, Tex doesn’t live and breathe surfing.
His passion is rugby league.
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A local junior, Hoy has progressed his way through the lower grades.
While surfing wasn’t for him, Hoy says he’s inherited his father’s competitive nature.
“The long car trips home from games, he tells me what I do well and what I need to do to improve on,” Hoy said.
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“… dad’s good mates with Matty and Joey Johns. I’ve learned a lot off them. I know the two brothers, Cooper and Jack, as a young kid there’s a bit of a competitive side there.
“We always played backyard footy. That’s where I get all my skill and knowledge from.”
Able to play in the halves or at fullback, the young gun is completing his first pre-season with the NRL squad.
With versatility in his game, Hoy has spent the best part of the pre-season training at fullback and being a sponge to the likes of Connor Watson, Mitchell Pearce and Kalyn Ponga.
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“I’m learning as a bloke and footy player,” he said.
“Learning off Connor, Kalyn and Mitch Pearce. I’m taking everything I can learn from them and building into my own game.
“… Kalyn has a step I like and I try and use that, Connor’s got attitude about him and speed. I like that too and Pearcey has that experience and game management that he teaches. It’s been good learning off them.
“Hopefully I can build my game off them throughout the year.”
The talented teen is still eligible for the 20s competition but has aspirations of spending the bulk of 2019 playing in the Intrust Super Premiership NSW.
“I played two Cup games last year,” he said.
“I’ve got another year of 20s. Hopefully I can start the season in Cup and hold my spot up there.
“… last year I played halves and fullback. My preferred position is fullback but if I have to play halves, it doesn’t really bother me.”
