Chip off the old axe, Roosters legend inspired Beau to tackle life

Australian Swimming Team member Beau Matthews is proud to be called a ‘Dolphin,’ but the emotion that shines in his eyes while explaining the reason his family call him  ‘Tomahawk’ is next level . . . and the story will strike a chord with diehard supporters of the NRL’s Sydney Roosters.

Matthews, a Para athlete who is in Glasgow to make his Commonwealth Games debut, is the grandson of the club’s late, great Barry ‘Bunny’ Reilly, a tough as teak forward who won premierships in 1974 and 75 when the Roosters were called Eastern Suburbs.

Despite Reilly’s diminutive stature – the backrower’s fighting weight was 79 kilos while standing only 164cm (5ft 4) – his devastatingly low tackling technique was so ferocious teammates nicknamed him ‘The Axe’ because he appeared to split opponents in half.

A veteran of 195 first grade games in the famous red, white and blue playing strip, Reilly was named in the Roosters Team of the Century in 2020, enshrining his legend alongside such giants as Dally Messenger, Dave Brown, Arthur Beetson, Ron Coote and Kevin Hastings.

While The Axe passed away five years ago aged 73, Matthews – a New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holder who enters Glasgow as the highest-ranked Commonwealth athlete in the Men’s 100m Breaststroke SB9 event – described the memory of his grandfather’s love and support as a ‘strength.’

“He was an absolute legend of a guy, very much so inspirational in my life,” says Matthews with unmistakable pride. “He was one of the very first people who supported me throughout my swimming career.

“He was a Roosters legend, an Eastern Suburbs legend. He was an incredible football player and is in the Roosters Team of the Century . . . just so inspirational throughout my entire life . . . a great person.”

And that is why being dubbed ‘Tomahawk’- as in the little axe – means the world to Matthews (who is also known as the ‘Running Man’ because as a youngster he’d run behind the blocks before a race), especially as he casts his eye towards competing for Australia at the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.

“Pop used to call my mum [Michelle] the ‘Tomahawk’ when she played female rugby league, and now mum’s calling me ‘’the Tomahawk’,” he said. “To have that passed on throughout the family of being the Little Axe is absolutely incredible and means a lot to me.

“Every time I’m on the blocks I know he’s behind me; watching from above and wanting me to do the best I possibly can. I really want to do well for him, for myself, my family and for everyone who has supported me.

“[His shadow] was very, very big. But he always supported how I wanted to do things. He wanted me to do the best things to what my ability is. So, I may not be able to do things the way other people can, but I want to do things the best way I can. That’s one thing him and my parents always used to say to me.

“And I really want to be able to, one live up to [his] shadow and create my own shadow if possible. You know, I may not be doing it as [a Rooster or] a Wallaby, but I’m doing it as a Dolphin, – which is what I want to do –  but it means the world to carry on the family legacy.”

Matthews, who will also compete in next month’s  Pan Pacific Championships in California, paid tribute to everyone who has helped him to fulfill his childhood dream to represent Australia.

“I’m very grateful to all my support crew,” he said. “My coach Gavin Stewart has been absolutely influential in my life while the support crew from NSWIS and Swimming Australia has been absolutely incredible. I wouldn’t be able to be here without them.

Daniel Lane, NSWIS