When I moved from Perth to Sydney in 1995 finding the right club was very important to me. I was already 25 years old and felt like I was running out of time. I needed a heavy workload and plenty of wickets if I had any hope of playing for NSW. To do that I needed as much help as possible to learn the different conditions and Blues playing style. I wanted to fast track my route to regular first-class cricket.
Peter Philpott was helping me out and when I told him what I was looking for he said that there was really only one man for the job – Steve Rixon. Unsurprisingly Stumpa signed me up for Sutherland, but it was a great move. I bowled heaps of overs, and we won the premiership against one of the greatest Bankstown teams to take the field, thanks to our new ball pairing of McGrath and Clark.
When I made my debut for NSW at the beginning of the 1996-97 season, Stumpa was already on his next big adventure, coaching NZ. I have no idea where in the world or what the time difference was, but I received a call from him in the SCG changing rooms before we walked on the field. Time is no obstacle when something or someone is important to him… like when he would hideout in a hotel lobby waiting for me to come in late during a Shield match.
“Just make sure you bowl well today Macgilla…”
NSW played a very aggressive form of cricket and spin bowlers were always encouraged to attack first, apologise later. Stumpa never let me forget that. The NSW Hall of Fame is filled with players with a similar philosophy, so he fits right in. One major difference to most however is the way that he has shared our approach with the world during his career as a coach.
I was delighted to be present the night of his induction and was not surprised to hear the most positive and constructive words of the night come from him as he reflected on a rare off season for NSW cricket.
We share the same birthday (February 25) and the same love of the game. Personally, I am most grateful for the fact that Steve Rixon helped make my move from the green grass of the WACA to dustier decks of the SCG a successful one.
Thank you, mate.
Steve Rixon - inducted into Cricket NSW Hall of Fame -
https://www.cricconnect.com/question/384/on-the-5-april-2023-at-cricket-nsw-steve-waugh-medal-awards-night-steve-rixon-was-inducted-into-the-cricket-nsw-hall-of-fame-a-terrific-and-richly-deserved-accoladesteve-rixon-was-the-driver-of
