Red dirt and rugby league: Plath made for Maroons moment

© QRL

Max Plath comes from rugby league royalty, but it his salt of the earth ethos that led to him being selected for a deserved Queensland debut.

The 24-year-old lock is the son of Brisbane four-time premiership winner Johnny Plath, but his Maroons selection is not based on having a famous surname. It is all about hard work, resilience and ability.

Plath won selection for the State of Origin series opener after playing just 40 NRL games for the Dolphins where he has been the “everywhere man” and shone as a ball-playing lock, hooker, second-rower, bench utility and by doing anything his coach Kristian Woolf has asked.

It is a testament to his abilities and ethics that Plath has played just one full season of NRL, in 2024 when he became a must-pick member of the Dolphins.

His background put him in good stead to become a professional rugby league player.

“Rugby league in general and Queensland State of Origin, it's everything for my family at least,” Plath said.

“We’re from country Queensland in Barcaldine. Out there it's red dirt and rugby league … and they just love it.

“I grew up in Wynnum as well and that’s such a proud rugby league suburb.

“Origin is everything in your childhood growing up. It's all the memories and you're just trying to make the next generation proud.”

The good will towards Plath’s selection from FOGS has been overwhelming.

“He was the type of bloke you wanted to play footy with because he was all heart and courage and would never take a backward step because of his size.

“Those traits are definitely what has got Max selected for Queensland. It has been an inspiration to see the way Max’s career has unfolded.

“As much as the Plath name is famous in rugby league, Max is making his own name. He cut his own path to get here. He has been wonderful for the Dolphins and won’t look out of place in a Maroons jersey. I’m sure he will play for Queensland for many years to come.”

Johnny Plath was a larrikin. Max is a knockabout character, but it is fair to say his attention to detail off the field is on another level to his father.

When Max first met former Maroons and Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett at Redcliffe there was a raised eyebrow from the coach.

Max had been signed by legendary recruiter Peter O’Sullivan mid-way through 2023 and met Bennett for the first time at training. Then Bennett found out he was the son of Johnny.

“I think he was worried a little bit. And then he met me, and I think he calmed down a bit. I'm a bit different than Dad,” Max grinned.

“I think he was happy, but a little bit concerned at the same time.”

That concern soon turned to appreciation as Plath did a wonderful job for Bennett.

Civoniceva was not surprised at the Bennett response.

“I do understand where Wayne was coming from,” Civoniceva chuckled.

“Johnny played tough on the field and he played hard off it too. Johnny would be so happy for Max and we are too. We have a group chat with all the old Broncos and it was wonderful the messages that came forward for Johnny and for Ben Walker, with his son Sam making his debut. It is something very special.”

Very special too was how Plath came back this year from a ruptured ACL a fortnight earlier than expected for the Dolphins. It showcased his team-first and working class attitude.

“I was ready to play,” Plath said.

“I didn't want to let any of the boys down and I wanted to get them to a good start of the season.

“In hindsight, it was a great decision to really try and bite down on the mouthguard and rehab hard.”

Plath was initially a halfback. He was at the Broncos and had a train and trial deal while playing for Wynnum Manly. With Ezra Mam and Adam Reynolds ahead of him he decided to switch positions.

“It was a wake-up call when I went to the Broncos,” he said.

“I was playing five-eighth at the time, and I was like, ‘you know what, maybe move to the middle, might help me a fair bit’.

“I got that opportunity and as soon as I played there Redcliffe saw me playing for Wynnum at lock in my first game and scooped me up. I was a lock from then.”

True to form, Plath was not dirty on the Broncos for not giving him an NRL deal. His humility stands out.

“You have to figure out another way to get there and if it wasn't for them being such good players, I probably would have kept trying to play five-eighth,” he said.

“I figured it out. It was an awakening moment, I guess.

“You learn from your mistakes and what happens.

“To be honest with you, I was probably not up to standard there as well.

“It just played out like every other train and trial, I guess. You just go back to your feeder club and you’re kind of grateful for the opportunity.”

While he still thinks like a halfback, which has helped him be such a creative forward, Plath has made a name for his toughness.

“Growing up, I've always just been told it's all about competing hard and tackling hard and running hard. That's your fundamental baseline of the game,” he said.

“Getting pushed into the middle, all of a sudden you don't have to think about defensive structures, how they're going to attack you, where you're kicking, all that sort of stuff.

“You just have to worry about your job and I felt like this just came a lot easier to me.”

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When Plath got the call from Maroons coach Billy Slater on the Sunday night of Magic Round he was “lost for words”.

“He's a very articulate bloke and I know how much work he puts into his video and how well he knows his players,” Plath said

“So to get acknowledged for my game by him is such a great compliment and I just want to do him proud.

“I got the call when I was playing cards with my brother, checking my phone every two minutes.

“I finally felt a vibrate and picked it up, and there he was, so it was pretty cool.

“He just gave me a wrap about how I'm playing, and he was just really stoked with everything I do in my game and how hard I've worked to get back to where I am today.

Johnny’s response was priceless.

“It was funny.  I couldn't get him off the phone. He was ecstatic,” Max grinned.

“He was so keen, he kept trying to ask me what if I made the team or if I was hiding it from him so he could book some tickets.

“The plane tickets were getting more expensive every minute that went past, so he was stressing about that, but it was great. We were so stoked.”

Plath has absorbed himself in Maroons history which is why he is so honoured to be in the position he is.

“Growing up, I was a massive fan of Jonathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, Darren Lockyer and Cameron Smith,” he said.

“They were some of my heroes growing up, but there has been so many great locks that have played for Queensland so it's just such an honour to fill that jersey as well.”