It’s been quite the week in PARRAdise.

Admittedly we’ve had nothing in the way of new NRL signings, but that doesn’t mean it’s been all quiet on the Blue and Gold front.

We’ve thanked a loyal servant for decades of dedication, seen the images from a tough preseason session on the Wanda Sandhills, received words of wisdom from past and current Eels about men’s health, and finally had a group of former Eels enjoy a get together for Christmas drinks at a favourite watering hole.

The details on all of that can be found here, in Bumpers Up. I’ve even gone the early tip on a 2024 team selection.

A Tribute To An Amazing Parra Juniors Servant

Last Thursday I was honoured to be asked to interview a true legend of the Parramatta Junior Rugby League, Barry Guy.

Barry is stepping down from the PJRL after an incredible 43 years of continuous service. His resume of committees served on and roles filled makes you wonder how you replace that level of knowledge and dedication. It includes serving as the PJRL assistant secretary and secretary during the 1990s, being elected to the board of management from 1993 to 2015, and then elected to the advisory committee from 2016 to 2023.

As an aside, Barry served as an Eels junior rep selector from 1986 to 1990, a period which delivered three Harold Matthews and two SG Ball titles. That’s a fair strike rate!

To paint a picture regarding the esteem in which he is held, Barry Guy is the recipient of not one, but two Life Memberships. He received Life Membership of the PJRL in 1996, and then the PNRL in 2007.

For a number of recent years Barry has been travelling down from close to Swansea to fulfil his duties. That’s quite the commitment. Finally his car can get a rest!

Barry Guy, thank you for your dedicated service to the Parramatta Junior Rugby League. We hope you and your wife enjoy the extra time now available to you.

The video tribute will be shown at the Juniors AGM and we look forward to sharing it on TCT’s YouTube channel.

BGA Christmas Drinks

The annual Blue and Gold Alliance (BGA) Christmas gathering at the Royal Oak Hotel was held on Saturday and it might just have been the best one yet.

Although the original Royal Oak was demolished to make way for the light rail (don’t get me started on that), the memories remain of many good times at the pub after matches or training.

Players and officials from the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 00s were in attendance, but the big inclusion this year was the large group from the Brad Arthur era.

At times it was difficult to hear the person next to you, such was the noise of the stories and the accompanying laughs. I recorded the thoughts of Gowie (see below) about the enjoyment of the day. Just quietly, a few of the fellas looked like kicking on even after the bar tab closed.

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Billy Richards and his hard working committee are doing a terrific job of growing the BGA, with the goal of keeping every former graded player and official connected. They are the official organisation of former Parra players, and as such are supported by both the Eels and Parra Leagues.

The more connected this group can be, the better they can take care of those who might be doing it tough, or to help prevent times from getting so tough.

As an invitee to these events, and not someone who has the same shared experiences as these “old boys”, I can’t help but notice the bonds between these former players. As the day progressed, every time someone stepped through the pub door, they’d be greeted by a welcoming cheer.

These fellas certainly enjoyed catching up

I’ve used the term “old boys”, but the BGA isn’t exclusively for men. There have been female officials for the Eels throughout their history, with a number on the BGA committee. And with an NRLW team, there will be women attending BGA events as former players.

The next big event will be the annual reunion, which looks like being held early in the 2024 NRL season – probably round 6. That’s your chance to say g’day or cheer for those who’ve worn the Blue and Gold when they do their lap of honour before the first grade game.

Billy Richards and the BGA Committee are trying to get every graded player or official together on that weekend in a huge “Back to Parra” celebration. If you or your friends or family know of someone who spent time as a graded player or official at the Eels, please tell them to get in touch with the BGA.

Movember

Parra Leagues concluded their Movember fundraising with a special event in Sterlos Sports Lounge on Friday.

Hosted by Simone De Mario-Henry from the Be Unstoppable Foundation, the featured speakers were Shaun Lane, Tim Mannah and David Gower.

Each of these intelligent men spoke candidly and articulately about their own experiences with mental health, positive and negative, and the strategies or support networks that they’ve been supplied with throughout their life and career.

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There were a couple of things that were mentioned from their own education around mental health that resonated with me.

The first was a reference to the success formula: “E + R = O” (event plus response equals outcome).

We can’t control the event, but we can do something about our response. In that way the outcome isn’t completely out of our control. In fact, negative events can be turned into positive outcomes, depending on the response. It’s all about the mindset.

The other note I made was when Shaun Lane spoke about the 85 year Harvard study into happiness, which pinpointed the importance of meaningful connections. Positive relationships keep us happier, healthier, and help us to live longer. Do we put in the energy and resources into those relationships? Not a few platitudes on social media but real time, real respect, real kindness and genuine attention.

Gowie, Tim, Shaun and Simone

Of course, an important aspect of Movember is the fundraising. To that end, the Parramatta Leagues Club “Mo-Growers” raised $5800. When PLC CEO, Chris Dimou, announced that the club would match these donations, the total became an impressive $11,600.

My congratulations to everyone involved.

Training Update

This preseason has certainly been changed up this year. The schedule around the end of the last couple of weeks has involved the unexpected, with last Friday seeing the squad put through their paces at the Wanda Sandhills.

An even more interesting experience was undertaken by the players the week before that.

Official Eels media this Wednesday will document what the players were put through. Called Project PARRAdise, the footage will capture more of this preseason with a difference, and you will enjoy watching the different questions asked of the squad and the bonding that no doubt came as a result.

But for now, did you note the leadership from RCG in the sandhills footage?

Last week I had reported on Reg stepping up at training in the absence of Junior and Gutho, and it was terrific to have that captured on film.

Reg “tackling” the dunes.

The cameras also captured Eels staff running in the dunes alongside the players, and it was no surprise to see BA in amongst it. Perhaps you might recall Bailey Simonsson describing his early arrival at Kellyville when he first joined the club, seeing Arthur training on his own before the squad arrived.

Kudos also to Shaun Lane who completed the Sandhills in the morning, then fronted up that afternoon for the Movember event at Parra Leagues Club.

I’ve had some feedback about the Sandhills session, and needless to say the squad felt it. That said, I’ve heard nothing but praise for the group as a whole for how they responded to the challenges thrown their way. It augers well that there were also many positives said about the pathways players.

Please note, the players were given a well deserved day of rest this Monday. As such there will be no training report available.

Early Selection Tip

I would normally leave this sort of stuff to a training report, but similar to a couple of years ago with Papali’i, I’m prepared to make an early call on a player.

Provided injury doesn’t become a factor, I’m expecting Kelma Tuilagi to feature in the top grade from round one in 2024.

Tuilagi

At this stage, I’m going to hold off on where he will be best suited, but I’m seeing enough to think that the former Tiger and Sea Eagle is the real deal.

He’s big, mobile and fit. Furthermore he has a passing game. Tuilagi arrived ready to make a mark in this preseason, and hasn’t disappointed.

Eels forever!

Sixties

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