Sonny Mellor makes league history when playing with son for Norway

Better known as Sonny, Mellor and Jymaal will become what is the believed to be the first father-son duo to play alongside each other in an international rugby league game when they take the field against the Netherlands in Amsterdam,

It is a moment Mellor has waited for.

“I turned 40 in August, but I’ve been hanging in there with a bit of pressure from my wife,” Mellor said with a laugh.

“I’m not as good as I was when I was 30, I’ve been hanging in there to hopefully get the opportunity to play an international with my son.

“I’ve got it now … What can beat this?

“I don’t think I’ll be in there much longer, but I’ll be there as long as needed.”

Mellor spent much of his time in the Far North playing rugby union for Barron and Aussie rules football with North Cairns before breaking into the 13-man code.

He played for Kangaroos in Cairns, but left for Norway in 2007 with wife Heidi Fjellheim, while Jymaal played his junior footy for the Edmonton Storm, with whom he played in an under-18s premiership in 2018.

Jymaal was a talent to watch as a youngster, having caught the attention of Brisbane and the Cowboys as a junior.

He was part of the same Queensland Academy of Sport under-15 development camp as Broncos grand final fullback Reece Walsh and fellow Cairns junior turned Raiders flyer Xavier Savage back in 2017, but opted to make footy a hobby rather than a fulltime commitment.

“He’s a natural talent. After he finished high school, we talked about it because he was still in systems,” Mellor said.

“He didn’t want the pressure of having it as a fulltime job so footy has become a recreational thing for him now.

“I’d love to see him continue it and do something with it, but it’s on the backburner as he enjoys life and just plays in the local competition.”

He lived between Norway and Cairns, but has spent the bulk of his time in the Scandinavian country for the past few years and will now get the opportunity to make history with his father.

Mellor helped establish rugby league in Norway, playing a key role in establishing Lillestrøm as a club then a formal competition.

“I was told I couldn’t play because of my arm, and I said I’d prove them wrong,” Mellor said.

“I played, represented Cairns and played a decent level.

“When I left, I said I was done with footy, but I found it again.

“I’m passionate about it, and here I am, still going and I’m 40 years old.”  

matthew.mcinerney1@news.com.au

Originally published as Sonny Mellor makes league history when playing with son for Norway