He scored three tries in Dubbo CYMS juniors Group 11 grand final this year and the match winner in first grade, but now Dubbo teenager Max Ray has his sights set on studying medicine.
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Max, 17, finished his last day of school alongside 200 graduates at Dubbo College Senior Campus on Friday and now plans to study full-time in preparation for his HSC school exams which start later this month.
While many perceive football players today to be “meatheads”, Max has done more than enough to prove otherwise, with his sights now set on a UAI mark of more than 90.
“I have worked hard all year so I hope to get a mark somewhere in the 90s,” Max said.
“I’m interested in studying medical science or sport exercise and rehabilitation, it will depend on my marks,” he said.
To study medical science next year Max will need a UAI of 90 and above and a mark of about 93 to study sport exercise and rehabilitation.
He is yet to make a decision as to where he would like to go to university next year but says he is leaning towards Wollongong.
Education has always been a big part of Max’s life, but so has his footy and while he is currently contracted to the Penrith Panthers, he said he would be exploring his options over coming weeks as he looks to settle into a Toyota Cup under-20s squad for the 2010 season.
He said his plan is to take on a flexible university course in his first year out of school so he can also dedicate time to his football, and a part-time job.
While it sounds like a lot to handle for most, Max believes he can do it all.
“At the end of the day footy only takes up a small part of your life and I believe you need a career to fall back on,” he said.
“These days to play in the under-20s competition you either need to be working or studying and the clubs won’t train from 9-5 on Tuesdays to Fridays to allow for work.
“I have talked to a couple of people who have taken a similar path, one in particular is former Dubbo CYMS junior Blake Dunn who plays football in the Wollongong competition, but also works and studies at university,” he said
“It will be tough to find a balance, but I think I should be right.”
Max believes today’s junior football players may be the start to a shift in the behaviour of rugby league players, saying most clubs today will opt to sign an educated athlete that is low maintenance.
He said while many people may still consider football players to be ‘meatheads’, the stereotype is slowly changing for the better.
“There are meatheads in every profession,” he said.
“I definitely think football clubs today are opting to take on players who are less maintenance, they want educated players to get rid of that ‘meathead’ stereotype.”
anna.yeo@ruralpress.com
