Gold Coast coach Josh Hannay vividly recalled the glaring spotlight that fell on him when he was just 16, which is why he resisted the temptation to rush match-winning half Zane Harrison into the NRL.
Harrison, 20, landed a composed 80th minute field goal after two second-half try assists in the home 19-18 win over Penrith on Saturday night in just his sixth match in the NRL after starting the season in Queensland Cup with Tweed Heads .
Hannay was 16 years and 185 days when chosen by North Queensland stand-in coach Graham Lowe to play against Western Suburbs in 1996.
The ARL blocked the move and ruled a player must be turning 17 in the year of their debut before playing in the competition.
Hannay made headlines, even appearing on prime-time TV on the Derryn Hinch Show, before eventually making his debut in 1998 at 18 and enjoying a stellar career.
"It gives me an awareness around the pressures of being a highly touted young player," Hannay told AAP.
"That was 30 years ago but I still vividly remember the moment it all happened for me.
"Football went from being this joyous thing I was doing and then all of a sudden there was this pressure of expectation.
"These boys like Zane are under more scrutiny externally today than ever, so internally it is important that they feel that support and care."
Hannay showed his care for Harrison by starting him in the Queensland Cup this year before picking him for his NRL debut in round 10 and sticking with him..
"It was never about Zane going back to the Q Cup and being a star," Hannay said.
"It was about navigating his way through certain scenarios he was going to get in the NRL, but without the pressure of the NRL. One of those scenarios we saw tonight. In a tight game how do you finish it? How do you close it out? He's got ice in his veins that kid."
Harrison was fully supportive of Hannay's pathway plan.
"I can't rate him high enough as a coach, so full credit to Josh," Harrison said
"He's been honest with me and I had conversations with him weekly. His communication is outstanding."
Harrison wins it! #NRL pic.twitter.com/BElEzDZN23
— NRL (@NRL) June 20, 2026
Harrison said his 80th minute field goal heroics came with the territory.
"It's funny because I actually wanted it at the left post, but we got to the right and it's actually a wrong side for a right-foot kicker, but you get put in those situations as a halfback and you need to step up in big moments and ice those things," he said.
"I was always thinking one-pointer when we got in that position. I've done the work in training and I back my skill to kind of ice that.
"If you nail your prep, then you fall back onto that in tough moments like that."
Harrison also threw a magnificent face ball to set up winger Phil Sami for a try in the second half.
"Flat and fast on the short side is the easiest way to a try and I saw (Paul) Alamoti hesitating, so I backed my skill in those big moments in the game, just like any good halfback would," he said.
