He's become a bit of a 'Mr Fix-it' for them, but if not for a chance meeting at a coffee shop and being conned by his mates Jono Madden might not be suiting up for the Red Devils.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Having moved to town from Newcastle for work, the podiatrist was getting a caffeine fix when then-Red Devils manager, now coach, Dan Martin noticed the footy shorts he was wearing and inquired, did he play footy?.
When he replied yes, he tried to get him to come out to training.
Madden had played league back in Newcastle but wasn't really at that stage intending to play anything.
Then his mates got in his ear - the group making a pact to play rugby.
When the time came to pull on the boots however, Madden was the only one that did, the others preferring the vantage point of the sideline.
"They stitched me up," the 30-year old said.
That said, he has enjoyed it.
"It [Last season] was the first time I'd played rugby since I was 11," he said.
He played league all through school at Farrer where he was part of the 1st XIII in 2005 and 2006, and then at Newcastle.
READ ALSO:
Predominantly a backrower in his league days, he has played all over for the Red Devils - wherever they need him really.
So far this season he has started at outside centre, inside centre and last Saturday against Pirates at six.
The pack were immense for the Red Devils as they rolled the premiers 36-29. As well as providing a great foundation in attack they defensively really muscled up to thwart the threat of Pirates' forwards.
Madden quipped that "they were carrying me today" but he played an integral role. He had some strong runs and was busy in defence..
"We knew their forwards really set a platform," he said.
They knew if they could "disrupt them" and "not let them get clean ball" it would go a long way towards winning the game.
"Our defence we all covered well, everyone stuck in," Madden said.
"Everyone did the dirty work."
It was a nice change to be celebrating a win after a couple of tough losses to start the season.
"It was a good win, we know how good a side Pirates are," he said.
The first time they have beaten them since the first game of the 2015 season, he said they will take a lot of confidence out of it - the result itself and the performance.
It's a matter now of building on that, Madden identifying their discipline as one area where they need to improve.
On Saturday they tackle Quirindi on what will be Ladies Day for the Lions.
