The Cumberland Throw

Kaysa Pritchard – Courage Personified

Every player who pulls on a rugby league jersey knows that the time will come when they’ll do that for the last time. The fortunate ones will do that on their own terms. For others, the decisions are made for them.

One of the toughest blokes to don the Blue and Gold, Kaysa Pritchard, has unfortunately been forced into premature retirement due to serious injury.

Samoan international

When future supporters of the game look back at the record books, they’ll read that Kaysa Pritchard played 47 NRL games for the Parramatta Eels. His career wrapped up at 25 years of age. Playing a single game of first grade is something that many talented footballers have never achieved, but to summarise Pritchard the player with a number like that is a cruel injustice.

Many Eels supporters know the gallant number 9 as a fierce competitor who’s had an injury disrupted career. Whilst this is undisputed, there is more to acknowledge about this man.

After debuting in Round 8 of 2013, those six seasons of NRL for the Cabramatta junior have yielded less than 50 games for Parramatta. This has not been due to loss of form, nor has it been due to niggling injuries. Each hurdle has been substantial. Saying he bled for the Parramatta Eels does not come close to describing the punishment his body has endured.

For every setback that Pritchard has endured in his career, there’s been that extended period of rehabilitation. Those were the times that questions were asked not just of his body, but of his mind. Consider for a moment his resilience and tenacity to fight his way back from each significant injury.

A popular team mate.

I’ve lost count of the weeks of training when I’ve watched him battle away in the rehab group, or on his own. The respect that he’s earned from Brad Arthur, the coaches and players has been obvious, but he’s earned every shred of it. At peak fitness he’d be among the leading players in the drills, one of the fastest over 40 metres, his voice urging his mates on.

And every time that Kaysa returned to the field, that trademark “kamikaze” style of play for which he’s been renowned would not change. When he wore the Parra jersey, every opposition player felt his involvement in the contest, even if it was to the detriment of his own body.

For this bloke, there was no other way to play the game. There was no let up on the accelerator, no easing into corners. Everything about the dynamic dummy half was full throttle.

If you were to pick a single clash to honour Kaysa Pritchard the footballer, you’d go no further than the Round 8 clash against the Tigers from 2018. Awarded the Anzac Medal as best on the field, he produced the match clinching moment with an inspired defensive play.

With only two minutes left on the clock, and Parra clinging on to a two point lead, the Tigers were threatening to break open a tiring Eels defence. As 110kg Tigers forward and former Eel Josh Aloiai belted the ball up the middle, a dynamic Pritchard shot forced the ball loose and returned possession to the Eels to wrap up the game.

But you don’t earn best on field for one play. Look back at the footage and you’ll witness that same attitude leaving its mark on the opposition throughout the match. It epitomised Kaysa the footballer.

As an Eels supporter, I know I’ll always hear “what could have been” when Pritchard’s name is discussed. He played Under 20s Origin in 2014, and there was a genuine belief in the Parramatta camp that he had the potential to wear the sky blue at senior level.

Kaysa isn’t the first player to have to retire early. He won’t be the last.

Kaysa and Frank Pritchard

But for me personally, I’m grateful that this tough bloke played for the team that I support. I know that he gave everything that he had to win every contest for Parra.

I’m also pleased for him that he was given the opportunity to play alongside his older brother Frank, and that he represented Samoa in three tests. He deserved such highlights.

Thank you for being a Parramatta Eel, Kaysa Pritchard. Have no regrets mate, because you honoured the jersey that you wore. May your future be filled with great joys and successes.

Eels forever!

Sixties

If you liked this article, you might consider supporting The Cumberland Throw.

22 thoughts on “Kaysa Pritchard – Courage Personified

  1. Michael Formosa

    What a champion guy he is! Tough as they come as a player! I wish him all the best.

    When Mannah leaves does this mean we have 3 spots in our top 30 we need to fill before June 30? Very interesting 🤔

  2. Shelley

    Kaysa is a Parra kid. You could see it when he played. He hated defeat, especially in our jumper. Good luck young man, take that same attitude forward and you will be both happy and successful in the future.

  3. Colin Hussey

    This is a post I put on the other site, and sums up my thoughts of a young man that deserved better,
    Rugby league is a great game, the eels are my team and they have been for all our family over the years, I have seen many great players at the eels, I have seen a lot of poor players, seen more losses than I care to think about, grand final wins which were great as well.
    To many Kaysa Pritchard has been the butte of jokes, cant do this and cant do that, should not be in the NRL, not first grade quality, too injury prone amongst other name calls. Racing often talks about Phar Laps heart and its size, and for me I always liked Kaysa, even when others put him down, I saw in him a player that tried hard every match, and didn’t matter how many minutes he played for he played at top speed, just when he was showing all how good he really was and most of the critics started to believe in him he was crushed in a tackle that put hin out for the year. He was Kamikazi and ready to put his body on the line, Kamkiaze meant a person prepared to die for the cause, well maybe Kaysa did not go that far thankfully, but for me, this is a sad story and sadder end to a players career, also for his paternal hopes of being a dad, I hope as medical treatment improves that at least being a dad will happen for him as his dream of being a NRL player is no out of the equation.
    Kaysa, I hope you push forward in what you do, make your wife and family proud, thanks for your contribution to which you gave 110% all the time, maybe a lot more when others did much less.
    Look to your new future and your family. You are champion and God bless you and family.

    1. Anonymous

      Thanks Colin, I agree with you. While he didn’t play a lot of games those games he did play he put his body on the line every time. Imagine we had a team full of these guys during certain games during the year, we would have more closer losses even some wins. All the best Kaysa thanks mate

  4. Graz

    Kaysa wears his Eels number 747 on his leg. A proud Eel who gave his all every game, never taking a backward step. Well played Kaysa.

  5. Milo

    Great read sixties – i cannot add much besides he was tough, played above his weight and played 47 more nrl games than 99.9% of us. Good player. Thank you KP.

  6. Penny

    wishing Kaysa all the best. A champion young man. Always played his heart out for us. Always so pleasant. Always have a laugh and a selfie with you. Miss seeing his family too. 💙💛

  7. pete

    He tried his heart out. He had more guts than most of his team mates, if only they all played with that much guts. All the best Kaysa, go get an apprenticeship and make a good living. Well played!

  8. Anonymous

    What a disgusting way the telegraph described kaysa,s retirement in the morning paper , that journo should never be seen again , total disrespect for kaysa and family !!!!!!!

  9. Clive

    It’s such a shame he couldn’t stay healthy because he was an incredibly tough player that always gave 110%.

    1. sixties

      Very true. As he came through the Eels system, plenty saw him as a potential Origin player. Unfortunately, he never got the chance to develop through all of those injuries.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

%d bloggers like this: