Living the dream Down Under

THERE’S an air about Pearce Hanley that’s hard not to like.

His foreseeable future is far away from his native Mayo but the brash and bold Australian way of life hasn’t taken hold of him just yet.

Evidence?

His self-depreciation. Recalling his superb performance on Friday which was only upset by some wayward boots of the ball, he joked: “I was kicking like the Australians but it was a very good win in the end.”

His humour when he talks about life in Queensland. “If Ireland had Australia’s weather it would be the best country in the world.”

His honesty. A few weeks ago, Hanley was sanctioned by the Brisbane Lions along with club-mate Sam Sheldon after they were charged by police with public nuisance for failing to take a direction from an officer.

His reaction to being asked about it is precise and contrite. “I took it in my stride. I’m disappointed it happened. I’ve moved on and put it behind me.”

Clearly a bit of media management there too but Hanley offers few bland quotes. He gives the impression of an assured 22-year-old who knows what he’s doing.

“The homesick is gone,” he insisted. “All my friends are leaving to come to Australia so I’d be silly to go back. I love it out here now. I had an injury-free year so I’m happy.”

Now three years with the Lions and coming off a season where he played 22 times, the Ballaghaderreen man has well and truly bedded himself into his new life.

It took time, though. “At first it was the skill and the ball but once that came and you got into games it was about trying to use it properly under pressure and getting used to knowing where to run, how to use your body properly, how to tackle — just a different mindset.

“After a few games, it comes naturally.”

Hanley was massive for Ireland on Friday in putting in tackles and making interceptions to clear the defensive lines. He was disappointed none of his Lions team-mates were picked for the series but then again his is a team trying to rediscover their former glories of the early ‘90s when they won consecutive Premiership titles.

“We finished down at the bottom of the table this year but we have a very young side and I think we’re one of the best bottom teams around — we lost a lot of games by only a goal or two.

“We were unlucky in a few. We have a very young side so there’s a good future ahead of us.”

The same can be said for Mayo who surprised plenty with their All-Ireland quarter-final win over Cork this summer. It was the one big championship game involving Mayo Hanley didn’t get to see on TV because he had training.

As he explained: “Whenever championship comes around, I wish I was home.

“I’m pretty much a back now — I wonder if I would have adjusted to midfield. I always check in on Mayo’s results and to see how they’re going.

“I missed the Cork-Mayo game. I make sure I went to see the others but I missed that one. It was on at 1 o’clock in the morning and I had training at eight.”

The pang to pull on the green and red has never left him but he knows he has plenty of time to appease it.

“I’m still only 22 so there’s a lot of years left so it’s definitely on the agenda. I don’t know if I’m going to be going back to a team like Tadhg [Kennelly] was but definitely down the line I’d like to go back.

“James Horan’s doing a very good job and some day hopefully there’d be a spot for me on the team and we can push on and win an All-Ireland.”