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.
