Friday Interview: Larne Patrick

Indeed, the bustling prop making giant strides with Huddersfield admits feared his career may have been over before it had even really begun.

A revitalising period in Australia, however, when he combined playing park football with a job collecting garden waste, helped catapult him the other way just when he was at his lowest ebb.

Now, at 22, the man who started out as a raw centre in Bradford’s Academy has been transformed into one of the top flight’s most highly-rated front-rows – another unusual career path itself – and will be a pivotal figure as Huddersfield head to champions Wigan tomorrow evening.

It is a refreshing reminder of how important it is to never accept defeat in your pursuit of any goal.

“It was a life-changing experience in Australia,” Patrick told the Yorkshire Post about his bold decision three years ago.

“I was low in confidence when I finished at Bradford.

“I’d just had a badly broken jaw that had kept me out of the game for 13 months and they’d offered me a part-time contract.

“I was hoping for more but I knew other clubs wouldn’t sign me on the back of that injury either and just wanted to go somewhere else and try something to get going again.

“I was down in the dumps and wanted to start afresh. Playing in Sydney got me enjoying things again.”

Patrick joined Narabeen Sharks, a little club just outside Manly, and proceeded to rediscover his love of the sport, operating there as a strong-running second-row after bulking up considerably.

“It was great and definitely turned me into a better player and person,” he said.

“The passion for the sport is amazing and rugby’s so big.

“Narabeen were only a small club but they’d have a thousand supporters turning up to watch what was realistically just a local side.

“It made me enjoy my rugby again and the lifestyle was great.

“I worked as a ‘garbo’ collecting all sorts of vegetation – I think Matt King had the same job – starting at 6.30 but being done by 12.30.

“I was fortunate enough to live on the beach so me and my mate would then be straight out body-boarding.”

After spending 10 months in Sydney and knowing he would be too old for the NRL’s reserve competition – the Toyota Cup – the following season, Castleford-raised Patrick returned to England aiming to find a club with whom he could have a second chance at forging a professional career.

It was Huddersfield who decided to take a gamble and give the former England Academy international that opportunity.

Patrick signed a two-year deal at the end of 2008 and impressed enough to make his first-team debut at home-town Castleford early in the next campaign.

He made six more league appearances that season but it was last year when the powerful forward really made his mark, offering a genuine impact off the bench for Nathan Brown’s side.

That was the first time he was tried at prop when Keith Mason was suffering with a chest injury

Such obvious promise has only been enhanced further this term, where his improved frame has seen him grow more accustomed to the role of prop, and he has been touted for potential England honours in the Four Nations.

“I’m just focused on getting in this Huddersfield Giants squad,” he said, no mean feat given the calibre of front-rows at the Galpharm. “Then, if anything else comes, I’d be delighted.

“I’m so grateful Huddersfield gave me the chance here and Nathan Brown believed in me. It’s been a great season personally, we’re joint top of the league and getting some consistency and now I’m getting ready for my first match at Wigan.”

The encounter at DW Stadium has all the hallmarks of being a classic given the form of both sides. Wigan may be third in the table, a point behind Huddersfield and Warrington, but they have a game in hand and no side has lost fewer fixtures this term.

Michael Maguire’s side have only suffered three defeats while their clinical destruction of derby rivals St Helens a week ago was one of the most formidable displays from anyone this year.

Huddersfield are in good fettle, though, themselves, despite the loss of the talismanic Danny Brough, and will be heartened by last season’s win at the same venue.

The battle between two sets of imposing forwards should be intriguing and Patrick admitted: “Wigan showed how good they are against Saints.

“If you are slightly off they will hurt you but we know if we turn up and play to our best we can beat them. It’s all about the attitude on the night.”

Someone who has had an enforced break from Super League is Wigan’s England second-row Gareth Hock, who is expected to make his comeback tomorrow after a two-year ban for taking cocaine.

“I’ve never played against him but those who have tell me he’s real dangerous,” said Patrick.

“He’ll be wanting to make a big impact on his return so we have to be aware but we’re going well at the moment.”

Meanwhile, Patrick’s team-mate, Lee Gilmour, has signed a two-year deal at Huddersfield.

The former Great Britain star, who started his career at Wigan, will be 35 when his new contract expires, a sign of the faith Brown has in him following some consistently excellent displays since joining at the end of 2009.