Tough-as-teak Brisbane prop Ben Talty is the fragrance king of the NRL and fast asserting himself as a late bloomer rookie with a long career ahead of him.
The 26-year-old former North Sydney Bears captain has been a barnstormer off the bench for the Broncos in their late season surge and off the field he is kicking goals galore.
Talty has a Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
In cahoots with best mate and fellow Broncos prop Fletcher Baker, he is co-founder of Nefertum, a luxury fragrance brand that blends pure Egyptian oils with Australian craftsmanship. The name pays homage to Nefertiti, the famous queen of ancient Egypt.
"Fletcher and I decided we wanted to go to Egypt one year but we didn't have the idea of going and setting up a fragrance business," Talty grinned.
"My mother told me to go and try out an oil shop, and we did that at a couple of shops over there.
"We kept in touch with a good friend of ours over there, an awesome fella, and he's our supplier. He sends it over here and we just check it and sell it."
What former Broncos hardmen like Peter Ryan, Tonie Carroll and Shane Webcke would make of it is anyone's guess, but you can bet your bottom dollar they would be in admiration of Talty's displays after getting his late shot at the NRL and vindicating coach Michael Maguire's faith in him.
Talty, a Muswellbrook Rams junior, has scored three tries in his five NRL games this year after signing with Brisbane mid-season and brings punch and thrust every time he comes on.
"It's something I thought that would never come true," Talty said.
"I was working away at North Sydney. You play footy for so long and you get to a certain age and you start to question whether it's all going to work out.
"I'm just fortunate enough that Madge (Maguire) and the rest of the staff and recruitment put a little bit of faith in me.
"I grew up on a horse stud just out of Muswellbrook in the Hunter (Valley), so my parents had to always take me to training Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
It was a four-hour round trip, so being able to repay them for this and be in this position and make them proud, it's just such an honour to do that."
Talty is on a train-and-trial deal until the end of 2026. The Broncos could upgrade that at any stage. Perth Bears fans are already clamouring for Talty to be a foundation player in 2027 when they enter the NRL.
"All I ever wanted to do was play first grade, and the Broncos made that come true so I'm quite content with where I am at currently," he said.
"The Bears will always have a deep place in my heart because they helped build the foundation of where I am now.
"I'm still a long way from where I want to be as well. It's a great start, but I'm looking further ahead."
Talty was a Newcastle junior from the age of 15 so can't wait to take on the Knights away on Sunday.
"They helped pave the way. It should be an unreal experience," he said.
