It all became very real for Cody Parry when he was enrolled at famed rugby league nursery, St Gregory's College, Campbelltown, last week. He will attend year 10 at the school in 2020 while beginning the first year of a four-year deal with Parramatta.
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"I'm starting to feel the nerves now," he said.
Cody does not have to look outside his own family for the blueprint to rugby league success. His elder brother, highly touted Eels flyer Ethan, is the embodiment of all that the teen wants to be.
Parry, 15 and in year nine at Farrer, will soon begin the same journey his 20-year-old brother took at the same age, when he was signed by the Eels and moved to Sydney to attend St Gregory's College.
Parry - a strapping centre/fullback like his brother - was signed by the Eels this year. He will play for Parramatta's Harold Matthews Cup side next season. Ethan was a standout in the Eels' 2015 Harold Matthews side.
In July, Ethan scored a sensational try on debut for Parramatta - showing great pace, determination and touch to chase down a Dylan Brown grubber in a loss to Manly at Brookvale. Also in July, Cody was picked on the wing in the Australian Schoolboys under-15 side. They did not play a match.
Ethan - who made the 2017 Australian Schoolboys side - was again picked on the wing in Parramatta's next match, a win over the Warriors in Auckland, and again scored. He was then dropped back to the Canterbury Cup when Michael Jennings returned from injury.
He will play centre for the Wentworthville Magpies against the Newtown Jets in the Canterbury Cup grand final at Bankwest Stadium, in Sydney, on Sunday.
He's a good role model ... [I'm] very lucky.
- Cody Parry on is brother, Ethan
Cody and his family will attend the match. They were at Brookvale when Ethan debuted. Cody said: "I just couldn't believe that he made it to the big leagues, from where he started ... It motivated me to get myself in that position." Cody added: "He's a good role model ... [I'm] very lucky."
When asked if Ethan gave him advice, he said: "Yeah, that's all does does."
Cody and Ethan's father, former Werris Creek Magpie Troy, has said he "couldn't be prouder" of his sons.
Both brothers were scouted by Anthony Field.
