The best stories always have a little salt and pepper added to them but in the case of Matt Rodwell winning the 1993 Cleo Bachelor of the Year, throw in the herbs and spices too.
Do a quick Google Search and you’ll see Rodwell’s name alongside the award winners.
The then 21-year-old is listed as the winner but in a stunning admission, the former Newcastle Knights half has revealed he never won it at all.
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In a confession on the Our Town Our Team podcast, Rodwell said it was actually former Manly winger Jack Elsegood who claimed the honour.
“I could perhaps reveal a little story here,” Rodwell said.
“In 93 I was branded with the second-year syndrome.
“There were high expectations on the team. 93 was a bit of an up and down year for the Knights. I’ll give up my secret. They got it wrong. It was Jack Elsegood. They keep mentioning that I won Cleo Bachelor of the year but I didn’t. I’m going to claim it anyway.”
“… people would remember (Elsegood) as a blonde haired, big strapping young winger from Manly in 93. I think it was his gong not mine but when people raise it, I’ll claim it.”
While the Cleo Bachelor story was a fable, Rodwell did feature in the infamous ‘Simply The Best’ ad campaign.
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Rodwell had a scripted line which gained airtime as part of the advertisement.
“it was a bit of funny actually,” Rodwell said
“The marketing campaign at that time was aimed at the fresh faces coming through.
“It was the likes of myself, Luke Ricketson, Aaron Raper… we got a note saying we had to be in Sydney.
“They recorded this live because they wanted to get the reaction of Luke Ricketson as Tina Turner appeared and surprised him and his reaction was used as part of the advertisement.
“We got to meet Tina Turner. She was a tiny little thing. She spent 10 minutes chatting to us.
“It seems surreal no when we talk about it. It was a whirl wind and excitement generated.
“It brings back fond memories.”
Click on the podcast at the top of the story to hear more stories from Matt Rodwell.
