Boom Tamworth export Ethan Parry looks set to make his highly anticipated NRL debut when his Parramatta Eels travel to Manly on Sunday.
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The 20-year-old speedster's "proud" Tamworth-based father, Troy, confirmed to the Leader that his son - one of rugby league's most highly touted prospects - would play on the wing against the Sea Eagles.
Troy will be at the game with his wife Aleshia and Parry's siblings, Cody, Ty, Jenarli and Lacey. The club gave them tickets.
"[I'm] pretty proud," Troy said. "It's what he's worked for. So he's finally got his chance ... They've [the Eels] got big expectations of him - and they have [had] for a long time."
Troy said Parry was "pretty excited" to be making his NRL debut. This is his fifth year at the Eels.
"He's nervous but excited," Troy added. "Still sinking in, I think."
In revealing on Friday that Parry was on the cusp of his NRL dream, The Daily Telegraph said "Parramatta fans could be about to get a glimpse of the future with the Eels considering giving a first NRL start to rising star Ethan Parry".
The newspaper said the 2017 Australian Schoolboy had been on the verge of first grade for weeks as part of the sixth-placed Eels' extended squad.
It said that although Eels coach Brad Arthur had named for the Manly clash the same 17 players who beat Wests Tigers 30-18 last weekend, "he is believed to be considering giving Parry a start".
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Parry underlined his star potential when he scored two tries in a trial against the Raiders this year.
Parramatta signed him as a 15-year-old, after he was scouted at the country championships at Port Macquarie in 2014.
The former Oxley High School student has been playing centre for the Eels' feeder club, the Wentworthville Magpies, in the Canterbury Cup.
He scored five tries in 15 appearances for Wentworthville this season - averaging more than 100 running metres a game.
He scored a try for NSW in their under-20 State of Origin win over Queensland last week.
Last month the Leader reported that Parramatta had signed his younger brother Cody to a four-year deal.
Cody, 15, is in year nine at Farrer. And like his big brother, he is a speedy centre. Cody is considered a future first grader, the Telegraph said.
Parry - previously listed at 101 kilograms and 195 centimetres - has passed every test with flying colours since linking with Parramatta - including scoring three tries in Parramatta's 2017 SG Ball Cup grand final win over Cronulla.
He also rebounded from what was described as an "horrific injury": dislocating his ankle and fracturing his tibia and fibula in 2016.
Parry attended famed league nursery St Gregory's College, Campbelltown.