The Cumberland Throw and all of our friends are today grieving the loss of a dear, dear mate – Joe Briffa.
We got to know Joe via his passion for the Parramatta Eels. This was before The Cumberland Throw existed.
Joe was a bit older than me. He was much older than the others. What first linked us all was his lifetime of support for the Parramatta Eels.
To be fair, even describing him as a lifetime supporter undersells what the Eels meant to him. Joe truly loved Parra.
Just quietly, that meant that he wasn’t too fond of certain rivals. I’m looking at you Melbourne Storm.
Over the years, Joe became friends with a club legend or two. That’s a measure of how close he was to the club and players that he loved. However, one of my treasured memories is a moment at a junior reps match a number of years ago.
Before the game, one of the young players saw Joe and charged over to hug him. There was genuine joy on the young bloke’s face when he saw him. Joe’s support was special and appreciated.
It’s near impossible to describe the passion that Joe had for the Eels. If you had the privilege of meeting him, you’d well remember his emotion whenever he spoke about Parra.
I reckon that the phrase “he wore his heart on his sleeve” was created to describe him.
The Bear’s #13 jersey held up by Joe
Joe would go on road trips to watch his beloved Blue and Gold teams – whether it be junior reps, lower grades or first grade.
It didn’t matter whether it was a trial match or a finals series. It could be an awards night or other special events. He’d be there.
At one such occasion, the alter-ego of “Borgie” was born. From then on, whenever he’d fire up or tell a story, we’d suggest to him that Borgie was with us.
Over the last couple of years it became more difficult for Joe to get to night games, and eventually any match became challenging to attend.
But when we started our live podcasts at Parra Leagues last year, Joe made sure he was there to support us.
Above all else, Joe became family. He told us many times what we meant to him and I’m forever grateful that we could tell him that we loved him.
We extend our love and sympathies to Joe’s family and friends. All of us are thinking of you at this difficult time.
On Saturday night, as John and I recorded our instant reaction podcast following the Eels victory over the Storm, I received a text message from Joe as he lay in his hospital bed.
It read – “We beat the bastards mate”
That we did Joe.
That we did.
Eels forever!
Craig (on behalf of all at TCT)
I posted this as Craig because Joe never referred to me as Sixties.
The club lost one of its finest fans today. Joe’s passion and love for the mighty Eels was unmatched and was damn infectious. He was there for any and every team that donned the Blue & Gold for the club and I count myself truly blessed to have been able to share the grandstand with him across so many venues and in so many grades.
Joe was a wonderful friend. That probably undersells it. Joe was wonderful family. Brother, cousin or uncle – however you want to badge it. His friendship quickly became so much more as he became part of the footy family and part of the TCT family. His unbridled and unfettered love for the game helped me push through the grind that live-updating can sometimes be. I looked forward every weekend to sitting down with Joe and just shooting the shit about all things Parramatta.
He was one of the great constants of Parramatta footy and the club and TCT are far poorer for his passing. I have already shed a bucketload of tears and I am not ashamed to admit it.
Thank you for everything my dear friend.
So true John!
From Kerry Pratt. When is the funeral. I used to sit alongside Joe at the football.
Kerry, we are still waiting on details.
Had the pleasure to meet Joe on a few occasions , primarily at junior reps where his face would light up with tales of how and when he followed his beloved Eels. Never heard him swear although think he used the term Bulldogs and Storm as his personal terms of that.
Last time I met Joe, he was struggling but he didn’t let that dull his enthusiasm for why he made the effort to attend an Eels game. He was typical of so many that has made the game reach into the depths of so many people. Diehard, loyal and someone who would defend and support his team to the end, which he did .
Vale. Joe, RIP and keep waving the flag and yelling up there , your aren’t forgotten.
Well said Derek. Thank you
I had the pleasure of meeting Joe at an away game at Homebush one night.
We began talking and he introduced me to Forty and Hamish. I spent a part of that night annoying Forty while he was trying to live blog the NYC.
After meeting that night he always remembered me and we always spoke when we ran into each other. I can only endorse what has already been said about his love and knowledge of the Eels.
Rest In Peace Joe, a true lover and supporter of all things Blue and Gold.
Thank you adding this John.
RIP Borgie
👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍
Hi Guys,
I would like to thank all the guys from The Cumberland Throw for all the love & support you showed for my brother Joe. I can certainly attest to the fact that the Parramatta Eels flowed through my brothers veins for if you cut him he would bleed Blue & Gold. As we grew from kids to teenagers then into adulthood that passion for Parramatta only got stronger. Apart from the odd lovable black sheep in a family of 13 we all loved The Mighty Parramatta Eels. There’s about 1,000 stories that my family could say about Joe, but maybe that’s for another time. I join you in saying ‘bye for now Bro, we’ll see each other soon & I’ll bring the 2022 premiership flag with me.
yours with love
Michael Briffa
Michael, I truly appreciate you taking the time to add this to our post. All of our sympathies and love to you and the family, and yes Joe will love seeing that flag!
When is the funeral Michael. Regards Kerry Pratt
Hi Kerry, at this stage the funeral details, as you can appreciate, are still being worked out by the family. I’ll certainly let you know date, time & place when it’s decided.
Take care
Michael
I also had the pleasure of meeting Joe a few times and what struck me was not only his passion but his overall positivity in difficult times, I remember during the cap scandal when we were all feeling down, dazed and confused by The Whole saga, Joe put his arm on my shoulder and said ‘don’t worry’ we’ll be back….and he was right.
he was a beautiful soul and will be sorely missed by all the Parramatta family
RIP mate.
Thanks for sharing Muzz.
Feel privileged to have known joe , he was a true supporter but more importantly a genuinely decent human being , was respected by all .
Thank you so much for adding this on behalf of the Arthur family.
I used to sit alongside Joe In The Cronin stand and again when we had to play at ANZ for 3 years. I visited him at Sutherland Hospital on Tuesday. He was in a lot of pain He has finally come to rest peacefully. A staunch Eels supporter.Will miss you Joe
Thank you so much for visiting Joe. He was in a lot of pain. We can selfishly want him to still be with us, but as you say, he can now rest.
Thank you Craig for the beautiful tribute to my brother, Joe. Everything you said was true. He loved his Eels above all else. I remember him telling me that he went to one night game and slept in his car that night. He was living in Bundeena at the time so it was difficult for him to drive all that way.
Thank you so much for replying Emily. Joe was so passionate in his support. The photo I used was taken at at junior rep trial game over in the Canterbury district in the middle of summer some years back. He had brought that jersey along to give to me. It was Bob The Bear’s jersey. I told him he didn’t need to give me anything, but he insisted that the jersey went to someone that loved Parra. All of our thoughts and love to you and the family Emily.
Thank you, Craig. We are all in shock at the moment 🌻
Absolutely understandable.
Thanks Sixties and Team,
Sad times.
Joe seemed like a champion man with a champion heart – and also for Parra.
Rest In Peace Joe and thank you for being the human you are. My thoughts are there to all who knew him – go well Joe and Parra Forever
Thank you for this reply Milo.
What a great final game the boys put on for him. Vale Joe.
That they did Pou. And he loved it. Thanks for replying.
Such sad news.
I first met Joe back in the 1990’s and while I consider myself to be a staunch, rusted on unwavering eels supporter, I thought Joe had me covered when he spoke of the juniors.
He was a quite a character. I recall speaking with him about the signing of the Canterbury 4 in the late 1990’s and while I was excited with that news, as was Joe, he was particularly excited about Jason Smith joining the eels, a level of excitement he said it gave him that is associated with the name of the main character in Toy Story. Funny man and again he had me covered.
R.I.P Joe Briffa.
Brilliant story Trapped. Not only does it exemplify Joe’s wit and passion, but you are also another person that Joe connected with via that love of the Eels.
Thank you for sharing.
Hey Craig, I’d like to offer up this anecdote about my brother Joe. Those of you who were alive can remember the old Cumberland Oval grandstand. It was a small rickety & dusty old thing with wooden seats which were genuinely uncomfortable. When you were a kid comfort wasn’t a priority, it was being at the game, eating up the atmosphere & waiting for our Gods to run onto the field to battle out another game against our hated foe. Our routine at home games went like this. Dad would make breakfast, usually one sausage & one egg each. We’d go to church & then hurry home to get changed so we could go to the game. We’d pile into Joe’s car & off we’d go to Mecca, Cumberland Oval. We’d all line up outside gate 2, all but Joe because he’d be off talking to someone or other.
Our main job was to sprint from the gate to the grandstand & save our usual seats. Of course we we’re pretty speedy & getting there first was never an issue. Joe would rock up about 30 mins later & sit down in the middle of us. This day we were playing Canterbury & giving them a good old seeing to. Joe loved a smoke in those days & he always had a fag hanging out of his mouth.
Parra raced in to score another try & the grandstand was shaking, Parra, stomp, stomp, stomp. Joe was puffing away on a cigarette when the try was being scored. We all leapt up hands in the air cheering our heads off. My younger brother Peter in his excitement hit Joe fair & square in his gob. The cigarette that Joe was puffing on went down Joe’s throat. Joe’s eyes turned red, there was smoke pouring out of his nose, ears & eyes. He was jumping around coughing & spluttering trying to bring that damn cigarette up from his throat. Eventually the cheering stopped & we all settled down. Through watering eyes, sore throat and what ever goes with coughing up lighted cigarette, Joe asked ‘Who scored the f…..g try? Which went to prove that Joe was a Parramatta Eel through thick & thin. Great memory, great times.
Thanks mate
Michael
Brilliant anecdote!!!
I can picture Joe in that moment. That’s a cracker of a story.
My cousin, my brother Grant and I were probably in those foot races with your family for spots back then too. Your anecdote brought back some memories.
Thanks Michael.
Joe was a passionate fan like many of us,and he was also a great bloke.He would always make the effort to say hi and have a chat and shake your hand.The last time I saw him was last year at a game where he was struggling to make it up into the stand so I helped him get a seat in lower section.He will be missed RIP Joe.
Rest in peace. I offer my condolences to his family.
Craig, I just came across this. Awful. Joe was such a wonderful guy and this is a terrible shock. My very best to this family.
My heart goes out to you and your family Craig . It’s always sad to lose the patriarch of your family but you sound like you had an amazing life and childhood with him and have those memories to think back on for the rest of your life. Make sure you look after your mum now too and you’ll all get through this tough time as a family unit. Condolences and best wishes to you and your family