This week our junior journo is Lachlan Scott who plays for the Northern United under 11 team. Lachlan went with his parents to Skilled Park to see the Titans v Tigers game and to interview the Titan team mascots.
To be a mascot for the Titans you don’t have to have a special background, you have to have good stamina and be fit.
One of the mascots I interviewed was Dennis Mulherin, he is the mascot Blade (the big guy). The worst part of being a mascot is that it gets really hot, up to 50°C in the suit and it weighs 30kg. Also when the Titans are losing he has to try and reenergise the crowd.
Dennis wanted to become a mascot because he was a rugby league fan all his life and his father used to take him to football games. It was always a thrill to see the mascots for him.
The best thing is giving back to the kids, the same as he got when he was a child, making them smile.
Dennis has been a mascot for the Titans since 2007 when they started. His full-time job is a water-proofer. He only mascots home games and doesn’t travel with the team – he goes to the Brisbane games as a spectator.
The second mascot I interviewed was Turbo, his name is Michael Lapout. He is a massive fan of the Titans and he had to audition to become a mascot.
The best bit is running out with the team and putting smiles on the kids’ faces. The worst bit is the heat and all the running around he has to do.
Michael’s full-time job is a Qantas aircraft engineer and he does tap dancing as well. Michael will be on Australia’s Got Talent, so keep an eye out for him.
The Mascots welcomed me like I had been there before. It was great watching the Titans v Tigers game, Turbo’s run in the mascot race and Blade doing his thing putting smiles on kids’ faces.
It was a wonderful experience to speak to the mascots and meeting them up close. Thank you Dennis, Michael, the Titans and Echonetdaily for a great opportunity of being Junior Reporter.
Lachlan West
Under 11s Northern United JRLFC
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