Paul Morimovski – Reflections on the future and the past

Paul Momirovski is a rugby league player currently signed to the West Tigers and in his second season as a first grader player. Fresh off his debut where he played three games in the premiership winning Sydney Roosters team, Momirovski goes into the new season optimistic that the experience he has gained with the Roosters will see him playing more consistent football in 2019. I had the pleasure of chatting with Paul where I got to discuss with him the roller coaster of a year he has had, as well as his future aspirations with his new club.

Going into the 2018 season, was it an expectation or more of a hope that you would play in first grade?

You can never expect anything in any job, so that wouldn’t be the right word. Like you can’t walk into any job on the first day and think you’re going to be the boss. The same applies in footy. For a few years I have harboured the desire to play first grade and it had been something I had been wanting to do, but it was never an expectation, just a goal for a long time.

In what was an injury ravaged few weeks for the Tigers in the latter of the season in 2018, Morimovski got the opportunity to debut in Round 21, away, against the Gold Coast Titans. While the public only found out on game day I asked Paul about the process leading up to him debuting. 

So what was the process of your debut week. Did you know long in advance that you would be debuting or was it hardly any notice?

I found out I was debuting a day before, which came as a surprise. Latrell Mitchell was out, but Mitchell Aubusson was going to replace him. So yeah, when it all happened it was definitely by surprise. Aubo (Mitchell Aubusson) got injured a day before, so yeah I only knew a day before, which was good and bad, much of my family wasn’t there but I also meant I had no time to get nervous.

The Sydney Roosters beat the favourites, the Melbourne Storm in the NRL Grand Final last year to cap off a fairy tale debut season for Morimovski.

What was it like winning the comp with the chooks (Sydney Roosters)?

It’s an experience you can’t really replicate. I can’t explain how good a feeling it was. In reality you have just won the final game of the season, but you’re the only side that has been able to do it. Words can’t really explain the feeling, you have been with the team the whole season and to go through it together it was yeah very good.

Following his successful debut season at the Roosters, Morimovski decided to take up a new path and join the up and coming team, the Wests Tigers. 

So now you’re at the Tigers, what are your new goals as a player?

My goals would be to continue improving as a player; playing first grade over the next few years cementing my spot and just onwards and upwards from there. Obviously also continued success at the club I’m at is also a goal of mine (and contributing to this).

You have been under 2 great coaches in Robbo (Trent Robinson) and Madge (Michael Maguire). Is there much of a difference in their coaching styles?

Obviously every coach is different. I felt I learnt a lot from Robbo and it helped me in my career, and it helped me greatly. Maguire is obviously different but I am definitely looking forward to learning off him and going forward in my career.