QUEANBEYAN Whites head coach Adam Fahey admitted he "surprised" prop Les Makin by telling him he would be offered a full time contract with the ACT Brumbies' Super Rugby squad next season.
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But for Makin, it is a dream come true, and he plans to use the opportunity to reward those he believes watches over him.
The 22-year old announced his big news last Wednesday, with Brumbies' head coach Stephen Larkham confirming he would join the likes of fellow Queanbeyan White JP Smith, Ruan Smith, Alan Alaalatoa and Wallabies' prop Ben Alexander.
"Les has been under our system over the last couple of years, he's certainly been under some good coaches, he's got Dan Palmer to coach him in the scrums, and he's been coached by Laurie Fisher too," said Larkham.
"I'm pretty confident he's got a good background coming into this competition."
But Fahey said Makin's commitment to the Whites, his efforts for the Brumbies' runners, and now the Canberra Vikings in the National Rugby Championship, earned him his first full-time rugby call-up.
"I told him at team training one night the Brumbies were going to offer him a contract, and he looked at me and said 'what are you talking about coach'," said Fahey.
"But he thoroughly deserves it. He's played well for us [Whites] for a long time now, and he'll be coming off a grand final with us too."
Makin played most games for the Whites in this year's John I Dent Cup, helping lead them to the grand final, but since then he has played three games for the Vikings, and even scored their first try of the new competition.
"I'm just really thankful to god for this opportunity. He's blessed me from the start, and I'm thankful to all my family and friends as well," Makin said.
Makin has been playing rugby since five years of age, and progress through St Edmund's College's prestigious rugby program, before linking with the Whites.
He then made it into the Brumbies' academy, and said his time there boosted his rugby skills dramatically, but added the Whites had comforted him all of his career to date.
"I've had family members play for the club, but the mateship there has really boosted me as a player and person," he said.
Makin will continue playing for the Vikings before the Super Rugby preseason starts at the end of the year.