It is Paul "Poey" Raveneau Day at Moree, named in honour of a Boars legend and a life member of the club. He passed away on March 5 at age 47.

Schmiedel played against Poey 17 years ago.

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Now aged 34, Schmiedel scored three tries and picked up three best and fairest points in Norths' 68-16 defeat of Boggabri at at Jubilee Oval.

However, he was a rookie when he first encountered Ravenuea on a footy field.

"When I first came through [into first grade] I played against Poey. I was 70kg, played halfback to hooker.

"I remember it well. He was a big man, 110kg or more and could move. Then I got to know him on a personal level too. He was a lovely bloke, tough footballer and so respected.

"They [Moree] are playing in a special jumper too, I heard, playing in a Parramatta style for Poey. He was a mad Parra fan.

"So it's going to mean a lot to the Moree boys."

It means a lot to Schmiedel too.

Not just for celebrating the life of such a good bloke but also celebrating his return to the footy field, physically and mentally.

He lasted just a few minutes in the opening game of the season when he suffered an ankle injury.

He reinjured the ankle when he "tried to come back too quick" and spent more time on the sideline.

At one stage he was thinking he might have played his last game

What a career Schmiedel has had.

Three successive premierships with Norths from 2005 and then a season at Gunnedah and a losing grand final to West Lions in 2009, before heading to Newcastle and a premiership win with the Macquarie Scorpions.

He then moved to Aberdeen and helped the Tigers to a Group 21 premiership in 2017, before rejoining the Bears in 2019 and helping them win a record sixth straight premiership that year.

It's been a remarkable journey and he feels as if he has been handed a bonus by overcoming the ankle injury and returning to the paddock.

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