The saying goes that if you want something done, ask a busy person to do it, and Aaron Booth may be the busiest man in the NRL next season, even if he doesn't make it back to the field.
Working hard on his rehab following a sickening multi-ligament knee injury suffered in Round 21, the Titans hooker also has plenty of balls in the air, including training, studying human biology and a number of new roles with the club assisting with events and most excitingly for Booth, some coaching.
“I am just going to help out with some of the juniors, dive into a little bit of coaching, so I have jumped on board with the Burleigh Bears Auswide Bank Mal Meninga team and am going to follow them for the season which starts up in a few weeks which is exciting; exciting for me diving into a different area of the game,” Booth said.
“I feel like it will help my footy as well when I am coming back, looking at the game from a different point of view.
“I am also just helping organise a few events around our team and get everyone together outside of footy and getting families involved… I will be busier than ever … and then I have some study as well, so I have plenty going on so it’s good.
“Everyone has said ‘I’ll give you things to do, I’ll give you things to do’, but then I have taken on a whole heap, and I think I am going to be busier than I was before, thinking I would have more time without footy.
“But it’s good because obviously, I won’t be playing on weekends, so I want to fill my time, there’s good things coming.”
While Booth has been on the NRL scene for a few seasons now, having made his debut with Melbourne Storm in 2020, fans have not seen as much of the hard-working rake as he would have liked, with his career punctuated by various long-term injuries.
Unfortunately, Booth knows all about patience and process, having worked his way back to the top from season-ending injuries in the past. However, his many setbacks have made him the player and person he is today, described as the dictionary definition of resilient.
Last year, the former Brisbane Tigers forward played four games of NRL, making an instant impact in the dummy half role after forcing his way into the side following good form with the Burleigh Bears.
An off-season signing, Booth was gearing to go in Round 1, before not one, but two, ill-timed injuries ensured a stop-start season. But in Round 18 against Brisbane Broncos, the Mullumbimby Giants junior made his club debut for the Titans, but was then forced back to square one yet again after his knee injury that garnered both shock and well wishes from fans across the game.
The Titans have made sure Booth has been looked after but he knows not all other players are always as lucky and would like to see the financial security net widened.
“It’s just an unknown for a lot of players,” Booth said. “Everyone thinks that every footy player is secure and in a good position, financially secure and all of that, but that’s not always the case, especially with this situation.
“I was off contract and if the club didn’t look after me, then I am out on my own really, given what’s in place at the moment …
“The RLPA is there, they reached out straight away which is amazing, obviously, the support I had from everyone, and the club gave me security pretty early; but I am definitely one of the lucky ones.
“And I can understand the situation if that didn’t happen, I have got medical costs, I was unable to work, I wouldn’t have been able to find work given I couldn’t even walk for the last 12 weeks, so if someone’s in that position and weren’t lucky enough to get the contract, it would be an unbelievable stress.
“People mightn’t have the same family support … I have said it before, but the more support we give each other, from player to player, coaches to players, clubs to players, NRL to players as well; everyone supports each other within the game, something that definitely shows in the footy community is that it is all about supporting each other, which is amazing to see as well.
“The more security there is, the more something like this that happens, the better off for sure.”
Outside of his partner, family and the club, one of his biggest supporters during this latest tough time was good friend Nicho Hynes, who dedicated the remainder of his record-breaking Dally M Medal winning season to his former Mackay Cutters and Storm team-mate.
Hynes has spoken about the help and guidance given to him by Booth during some of the hardest moments in his life.
“It was incredible, it’s a credit to him because I know behind the scenes what went into the year that he has had,” Booth said of his friend’s breakout season with Cronulla.
“He hired a mindset coach, did things away from footy that others don’t and just his leadership going to a new club and taking them to where they went. I am super proud.
“And it’s a credit to him because he made that happen himself, and he created that. It’s pretty crazy."
Hynes' acceptance speech on Dally M night also received plenty of praise as he took time to thank all those who helped him on his way, including past clubs. It also served as inspiration to players on the cusp of turning their NRL vision into reality.
Hynes takes to the stage to collect Dally M Medal
“That’s exactly what he said, work hard; the boys that are still in Cup and working hard and playing part-time footy, that was us three years ago, when we were at the Cutters,” Booth said.
“Then we both went separate ways for a year and then were back together [at Storm], and to see where he has gone in that space of time. I think with myself, I have been full-time for three-four years and played a bit of first grade … at one stage it didn’t look like it was going to happen so, it definitely gives a lot of those players that are doing that grind at the moment a lot of motivation.
"It’s definitely achievable, it’s never as far as you think.
“And I have learnt that along the way as well for sure, it’s never as far away as you think. Even last year when I was playing for Burleigh [in Queensland’s Hostplus Cup] and I was full-time, and I was thinking it’s going to be pretty hard to crack the team, and then a few weeks later I was playing first grade.
“Makes it easier now that I know that I got back there and played good footy, and I know within that I can do it again and it definitely makes that drive and that fire a little bit brighter burning.”
