The 39-year-old footballer, who suffered a torn achilles heel whilst playing for Narwan in the recent Aboriginal Knockout, is a development officer for the CRL and based in Parkes where he also coached the Parkes Spacemen in the Group 11 competition last year.

Originally from Armidale where he grew up in some outstanding Duval High sides under the coaching of Pat Turley, he’s ever mindful of the role academies such as the GNA can play in developing talented and committed players not only to play in the NRL but to filter into the local country clubs.

He has had a wonderful career, which isn’t finished yet, he grinned despite being on crutches at the recent GNA induction day.

He had four years at Parramatta in the NRL and eight in England in the English Super League playing with the London Broncos, Widnes and Wigan.

“I wanted to come home when I first got there but stuck it out. Eight years later! 

“I didn’t win anything but had a great time,” he said.

He then turned up at Parkes, on the urgings of a friend.

“I’ve been there six years now. We’ve won three of the six premierships. 

“I just played the first five but coached this year and got beaten in the grand final by Dubbo CYMS.

“I love it there. I met my wife there. She’s from Canowindra.”

While determined to go around next year as captain-coach when he recovers from his achilles injury, he is also determined to see young men, such as the new GNA intake of 41 have as much help and guidance as they can receive.

As a CRL welfare officer, he knows many of the pitfalls and problems the teenagers will come up against.

“We want to prepare them early,” he said. “That’s the biggest thing. 

“To make sure they don’t get homesick like I did if they want to make a go of it.

“We want them to go onto bigger and better things.”