DAVID Hollis is more at home rounding up cattle than catching buses.
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Over the last six months he has had just as much practice doing the latter as the former after he linked with the Parramatta Eels.
Hollis’ move to Sydney has paid dividends after he was selected in the New South Wales under-16 side for the Origin clash with Queensland on July 2.
The boy from the bush will never forget his Wauchope roots, but he is also realistic enough to know the move to Sydney’s west at the start of the year was one he had to make.
“If I didn’t move I wouldn’t be where I am now,” he said.
“You don’t realise how far behind bush footy is at home until you get down to a program like this.
“The main challenge for me would have been the move itself and just adapting to the city life.
“I’ve come off a farm and been really close to my family and then had to leave all that behind to chase my dream.”
He admitted his selection in the Blues side for the clash at Suncorp Stadium was his biggest achievement.
“I’ve played New South Wales Schoolboys before, but this is the first (appearance) for the Blues,” he said.
You walk into Parramatta Westfield and look around and there are more people in a shopping centre than there is in your home town.
- David Hollis
“It’s a huge achievement to not only represent my state, but also my home town.”
Hollis was looking forward to being coached by former Blues greats Brad Fittler, Anthony Minichiello, Danny Buderus and Mark O’Meley in the lead-up to the match.
The former Wauchope High School student said revenge would be high on the list of priorities after Queensland defeated NSW Schoolboys 12 months ago.
“I didn’t like losing to them last year,” he said.
Hollis said it had always been a goal to represent the Blues, but he never really expected it to happen so quickly.
“There has been players from other clubs that have been in similar programs since they were 13,” he said.
“It’s a bit of a cherry on top for me especially being my first year down here.”
You walk into Parramatta Westfield and look around and there are more people in a shopping centre than there is in your own town.
- David Hollis
It has taken a while for Hollis to find his feet in the big smoke, but he is now more comfortable with his western Sydney surrounds.
“You have to learn how to catch buses and trains and what Opal cards were by yourself so it was all pretty daunting,” he said.
“You walk into Parramatta Westfield and look around and there are more people in a shopping centre than there is in your home town.
“I love the country and I love doing farm work and running cattle so it’s been a big change.”
