The Eye of the Storm Magazine - vol 9 (July 2015)

the

In the of the

EYE Eye of the

Vol 9: July 2015

Interview wit h

Rhys

Pritchard

Tracing our

Gosford Graduates

ALL THE MID SEASON

ACTION !!!

A PDF-MAG for Gosford Kariong Storm Footy Fans

To guarantee you receive all future edition’s of

the Eye of the Storm, simply join the mailing list by sending an email (blank or otherwise) to eyemailinglist@inbox.com

Contents Vol 9: July 2015

4

- Editorial

5

- Under 15s

9

- Under 14s

17

44

Page

13 - In The Press

9

24

14 - Under 6,7,8 & 9s

5

17 – The Gosford Graduates 23 – Buy a Photo

14

24 – Under 13s

28 – The Eye chats with Rhys Pritchard 35 – In the Press 36 – Under 12s 40 – Under 11s

52

44 – Under 10s 51 – Competition Ladders 52 – The Back Page

36

28

Whilst the proverbial pointy end of the season is still a month or so away, it’s safe to say we are currently chowing down on the meat & three veg portion of our footballing calendar.

For any team that doesn’t satisfactorily empty its dinner plate at this time of year, can’t possibly expect any September pudding.

Apparently a referee’s whistle can be quite a dangerous implement when placed near the mouth of an untrained blower. During the recent U12s game at St Eddies, our opponents Erina couldn’t scrape together enough lads to constitute a game and a scratch match was organized to keep those boys who had turned up, happy. Our very own Under 15s coach Nathan Malcolm went above and beyond, to fill in as a most capable, plain clothes referee. During the game’s half time break, The Eye was chatting to the friendly Bears ground manager and innocently suggested that perhaps Nathan’s job would be made a little easier if he were afforded the use of a whistle. Through gritted teeth, the official response returned via a wistful whisper; “we can’ can’t, for insurance reasons” reasons”.

Given the eternal, boggy marshland that does consume the eastern touchline of our otherwise, magnificent Carrington Street Stadium. Perhaps the club’s bean counters might consider hitting up one or two gum boot manufacturers as prospective sponsors for next season.

This fulsome edition, hot off the Storm Media presses, sees The Eye undertake the bold task of tracing all those Gosford juniors who have managed to kick on to play in Sydney’s big league throughout our club’s long and proud history.

Whilst trying to ascertain whether former Manly premiership winning second rower and radio guru, Peter ‘Zorba’ Peters should be added to our list, I tracked down his brother; the former Channel Ten sports reporter, Tony Peters. Well Tony kindly passed on the good oil and it turns out that whilst elder brother Harry Peters had played in the Gosford Townies D-Grade winning side of 1958, that Zorba remained very much a Townie in waiting; earning rave reviews whilst playing for the Gosford High School’s 7 stone 7 team. Sadly for our list, the Peters family relocated south to Wollongong early in 1959 and Zorba never got the chance to represent our club (two of his best mates at school, Trevor Andrews & Garry Wilkinson did however … and how!).

Whilst Zorba narrowly missed our list, an unexpected gem to arise from the chat with his brother, and the subsequent interview with Rhys Pritchard, was the revelation that both Rhys & Tony had held the proud and privileged position of ball boy for the mighty Gosford Townies. Tony with the premiership winning 1958 team and Rhys during the late 1990s.

- Andrew Stark

All opinions expressed throughout this publication are derived solely from the scattered & random thoughts of the author; none of which are necessarily shared by the GKS club … nor anyone else on the planet really.

Under Fifteens U17(2)s

Recent Results Rd 9 … washed out vs. Woy Woy Rd 8 … 24 – 22 vs. Terrigal Rd 10 … 0 - 50 vs. Erina (Blue)

UNDER Fifteen (1)s

UNDER Fifteen (1)s

UNDER Fifteen (1)s

Under Fourteens

Recent Results Rd 9 …0 – 50 vs. Kincumber, Rd 8 …0 -50 vs. Woy Woy, Rd 10 …bye

UNDER Fourteen (1)s

UNDER Fourteen (1)s

UNDER Fourteen (1)s

In The Press …

Patched Up Gosford Tens Pipped By Erina

by Andrew Stark.

Coast Community News - 1st July, 2015 A courageous performance from an undermanned Gosford Kariong U10(1)s team fell just two minutes shy of producing a memorable victory during round nine action of the Central Coast junior rugby league.

The Storm boys took on the well credentialed Erina Eagles at EDSACC Oval and with a number of regulars missing, were forced to elevate talented U9s players; Benji Keene-O’Keefe, Lorenzo Godoy and TJ Ghilardi, into making their competition grade debuts twelve months ahead of schedule.

Despite the overly fresh faced appearance of their lineup, the patched up Gosford side didn’t take a backward step at any stage during the contest and it was only a late Erina try that enabled the tricolours to snatch a last gasp, 22-18 victory. The opening half had seen the young Stormers rip hardily into their work, taking a deserved 18-12 lead into the huddle following tries to; rookie dummy half TJ Ghilardi and two slashing, 30 metre darts from impressive centre three-quarter Jackson Pennell. After the break, a swag of unfriendly penalties thwarted Gosford’s momentum and despite working tirelessly in defence, the relentless attack of the Karalta Road boys ultimately prevailed in what was a tremendous game of junior footy.

Later in the afternoon, Gosford’s fledgling trio backed up to play starring roles in the U9(1)s, 34-16 victory over Erina, with Benji Keene-O’Keefe crossing for five tries.

In other round nine results; the Storm U13(2)s have pushed their recent winning streak out to five, following a comprehensive 30-10 win over Terrigal. The Greg Eather coached U11(2)s have built upon their last up victory at Kincumber by escaping Blue Haven with a valuable competition point after a thrilling 12 all draw. The Gosford Kariong U12(3)s played out a 24-22 nail biter against the Bulldogs of Budgewoi. The U15(1)s were washed out at Berkeley Vale while the U14(1)s and U10(2)s ran into stiff opposition at Kincumber.

Please note: this is the submitted piece in it’s entirety. The editor of the Coast Community News is responsible for the changes that ultimately appear in the newspaper.

SIXES, SEVENS, EIGHTS & NINES …

SIXES, SEVENS, EIGHTS & NINES …

the Our Heritage

Graduates

by Andrew Stark

by Andrew Stark

…from Gosford to the Big Time Photo courtesy of the book -“Through Blue Eyes” by Terry Williams

Gosford has a long and proud tradition of developing champion rugby league players.

Whilst delving into the districts rich footballing history, The Eye of the Storm has begun compiling a list of the Gosford players, who over the years have progressed to the big league of Sydney First Grade footy.

- Our Sydney 1st Graders Charlie ‘Mad Otter’ Staunton (Norths 1923) Lester Hough (Norths 1940) Above: Gosford’s own Ron Hansen wraps up the great Johnny

Walter ‘Finny’ Worrad (Norths 1940)

Raper whilst playing for Newtown during the early 1960s.

Edward ‘Ted’ McHugh (St George 1942-44) Les Bell (Souths 1943-46, Parramatta 1947-49) Alan Staunton (St George 1952-54) Barry Willis (Balmain 1953-54, 1956) Ron Thornton (Canterbury 1955-61) Col ‘Bubbles’ Purcell (Easts 1957) Bev Smith (Balmain 1959) Ron Hansen (Newtown 1960 – 65) John Floyd (Norths 1965) Rod Urquhart (Cronulla 1970–71, Souths 1973–74) Max Wilkie (Norths 1981-83) Daryl Turner (Wests 1984)

The list is very much a work in progress and will doubtlessly be updated as further star juniors are revealed. An initial list of twenty one is a tremendous start however and the players nominated range from Charlie ‘mad otter’ Staunton in the early 1920s, right through to our most recent inductees; John Carlaw, Matt Orford and Rhys Pritchard.

Paul Kent (Parramatta 1989) Left: Matt Orford was

Adam McEwen (Souths 1995-97) Anthony Brann (Balmain 1996, Hunter 1997, Canberra 1998-2000) John Carlaw (Hunter 1997, Melbourne 1998, Balmain 1999, Wests Tigers 2000-01, NZ Warriors 2002-03, St George 2004) Matt Orford (Northern Eagles 2000, Melbourne 2001- 05, Manly 2006-09, Canberra 2011) Rhys Pritchard (Sydney Roosters 2011)

anointed, Gosford’s premier Senior Player of 1993 before forging a brilliant career in the NRL.

If you think you know of a Gosford Junior who went on to play 1st Grade rugby league in the Sydney competition (NSWRL or NRL), who isn’t already on the list … please drop me a line at 10dollarjpegs@gmx.com

the Graduates by Andrew Stark

Below: Paul Kent was a talented halfback who played in the same Gosford High School team as the future Test second rower David Fairleigh. Paul was the stand out performer for the Gosford U18s during 1987 and played a single top grade game for Parramatta during 1989. He would subsequently play for both Ourimbah & Woy Woy before forging a career as a sports journalist and commentator with News Ltd & Foxtel.

Above: Alan Staunton was a wonderfully gifted Gosford five eight who played three season’s of top grade football with St George before heading south to captain coach the Wagga Kangaroos in the legendary Maher Cup Competition. Tragically, Alan Staunton was killed in a car accident aged just 31.

Above: Charlie ‘mad otter’

Staunton

was a stalwart of Gosford football throughout the 1920s & early 30s. A war veteran who’d fought with the 20th battalion in France at just 15 years of age, Staunton played a single top grade game for Norths during 1923. The game was played at the SCG and despite losing to University that day, Charlie nabbed a fine try from his position on the wing. Charlie Staunton was employed for many years at the Gosford Training School (later known as the Kariong Correctional Centre) and was the uncle of Alan Staunton (see above).

Above: Tough as teak Gosford backrower Rod Urquhart played 26 top

grade games with Cronulla (1970-71), before signing with Wests Wollongong in 1972. Rod captained the NSW Country 2nds that year; playing alongside club mates Warren Ryan, David Waite & John Dorahy, before heading back to Sydney the following year. Rod Urquhart played a further 20 first grade games, this time for Souths (1973-74) and by 1976 had shifted north to Nambucca Heads where he became a leading light for the Roosters as they took out that season’s Group 2 title.

pictured winning the 1934 Gosford High School High Jump competition. Lester was a remarkable athlete who the following year won every event at the senior athletics carnival, breaking five school records in the process. The son of Ourimbah’s postmaster, he would also become a very handy footballer and alongside his great mate, Walter ‘Finny’ Worrad would play the 1938 season for Gosford. Truth be known, both these lads were Ourimbah boys through and through and had only turned out for Gosford because Ourimbah failed to field a side that year. Lester Hough scored 4 slashing tries in the Challenge Cup final of 1938; won 41-6 by Gosford against Dairy Farmers from Sydney.

In 1940 both Lester and Finny played for North Sydney. Their final round game that season ended in a 21-13 loss to the Rabbitohs, a game in which the Sydney Morning Herald nominated Walter Worrad as one of the best forwards on the ground whilst Lester Hough had dashed over for all three of North Sydney’s tries.

Left: John Carlaw pictured

playing his final season of NRL footy, for St George Illawarra during 2004.

John had a remarkable top grade career; playing 151 first grade games that spanned six NRL clubs. A journey that all began with the Gosford U10s of 1985.

A detailed profile piece on John Carlaw can be found in the May, 2015 edition of The Eye of the Storm

Right: Ron Thornton was the son of a barber and

hailed from Urunga on the NSW north coast.

Having starred at five eight for Gosford during 1954, Ron headed south to try his luck with Canterbury and made his first grade debut at the Berries in August of 1955. Six season’s and 103 top grade appearances followed before Ron Thornton would return to Gosford to captain coach the Townies in 1962.

the Graduates by Andrew Stark

Left: Lester Hough aged 15 is

the Graduates by Andrew Stark

Above: Rhys Pritchard (circled) as a member of Gosford’s 1996, U9 Blue team. Rhys won the Coaches Award that year and was described by his coach, Carlo Chiofalo as, “the most elusive player in the competition”

Rhys played three season’s at Gosford before joining many of his Wamberal surf club mates at the Terrigal Sharks in 1998.

By his early to mid teens he was playing with the Wyong Roos.

Above: The ever smiling Rhys Pritchard pictured playing Massey Cup for The Entrance during 2013. Rhys played back to back games of NRL for the Sydney Roosters during June 2011, at fullback and on the wing.

Gosford Times 24th May, 1934.

Rhys Pritchard is our club’s most recent graduate.

Above: Edward ‘Ted’ McHugh was one of many Gosford footballers of the 1920s & 30s to have come down from the Youth Correctional Centre at Mt Penang. Ted was the halfback for Gosford during 1934 and reports of his bright performances from the scrum base quickly filtered down to the South Sydney secretary S.G. Ball. Ted duly played lower grades for the Rabbitohs before enlisting in the Australian Army at the out break of WW2; fighting the Japanese with the 2/15 Field Regiment in Malaya during 1940-41.

Upon his return, Ted McHugh joined St George and made his first grade debut as a centre with the Dragons during 1942, finishing the year as one of Saints best backs in the 11-9 Grand Final loss to Canterbury played in muddy conditions at the SCG. He remained at St George for three seasons during which time he played 32 top grade games.

Left: Daryl Turner (circled) poses with his Western Suburbs Magpies

team mates of 1984. Daryl played two first grade games in the centres for the competition’s wooden spooners; both matches ending in agonizing two point losses, to Manly & Balmain respectively.

Daryl Turner would subsequently return home to coach the Gosford Townies during the 1990s; taking the 1997 side right through to the Grand Final against Wyong.

the Graduates by Andrew Stark

• q

Right: Les Bell captained the champion Gosford team of 1938

before linking with South Sydney for whom he played 18 first grade games between 1943 and 1946. The goal kicking five eight or centre, then joined the newly promoted Parramatta club and managed to slot 3 goals in the Eels inaugural game of 1st Division football against Newtown. He made 14 top grade appearances for the blue and gold's from 1947 through to 1949.

Left: Like so many of The Graduates, John Floyd was a product of Gosford High School and played in our club’s premiership winning D-Grade team of 1958. John then drifted east to play top grade with Erina in 1959 before being called up to play for Lakes United in the Newcastle competition. A true nomad of the game, John Floyd would ultimately have stints at Sydney University, Norths, Penrith, St George and Thiroul on the NSW South Coast.

He played one first grade game for North Sydney during 1965 and also lined up against the touring Great Britain teams of 1970 & 1974.

Below: Barry Willis (circled) as a member of the Gosford premiership winning team of 1950. Barry was a regular at fullback for Gosford during the late 1940s & early 1950s before the classy custodian signed with Balmain for the 1953 season. Barry Willis would ultimately spend three years with the Tigers; a stint that earned him 20 first grade appearances and yielded four tries.

Left: Skillful back rower Adam McEwen played for the Gosford U8s

in 1983 as a five eight and continued through to the Townie Under 18 side of 1994 before linking with South Sydney the following year. McEwen played 28 first grade games for the Rabbitohs over three seasons.

McEwen later coached Ourimbah, steering the 2010 Magpies side to their first top grade premiership in fifty years.

He is presently the head trainer at the Terrigal Sharks.

If you think you know of a Gosford Junior who went on to play 1st Grade rugby league in the Sydney competition (NSWRL or NRL), who isn’t already on the list … please drop me a line at 10dollarjpegs@gmx.com

Gosford Times May, 1956.

After hanging up his boots, Col Purcell and his wife Billie worked tirelessly within the Illawarra junior league over many decades.

Col is said to have first decided to turn his hand to junior coaching having one day wandered past a convent school and witnessed a nun attempting to show a gaggle of nonplussed schoolboys how to pack a scrum.

Col Purcell was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2005 for services to rugby league. He passed away, aged 80, during 2011.

An ongoing tribute to the man in the shape of a scholarship has been established by the Illawarra rugby league. Every year, the Col Purcell Centenary Scholarship is awarded to an Illawarra junior rugby league player to assist in financing their first year of education at the University of Wollongong.

Interestingly, whilst researching Bev Smith, The Eye uncovered a boo boo which is oft repeated across various sources by many and varied rugby league historians. The mix up revolves around Barry Smith, who played many years for Canterbury beginning in 1960. The Encyclopedia of RL Players and The Rugby League Project both claim that Barry Smith (who would later play for Umina) played a single first grade game for Balmain during 1959. This is incorrect, as the B. Smith at the Tigers was not Barry Smith but of course Gosford’s very own Bev Smith.

Above: Bev Smith was the vice captain and star centre three-quarter of Gosford’s premiership winning first grade team of 1958 and had previously captain coached the side in 1956 & 57. Bev knocked back an offer to play Reserve Grade at Norths in 1956 before ultimately deciding to try his luck in Sydney; signing on with Balmain for the 1959 season where he would play mostly Reserve Grade. His lone top grade call up arrived on the 11th of July when he played in the centres during the Tigers’ narrow 28-23 loss to Newtown at Leichhardt Oval. Bev lost his spot to Laurie Fagan the following week and played the final round of 1959 back with the Balmain Reggies .

Bev married Lyn Winter in Gosford during early 1960 before linking with the Scone club for that year. In 1961 he was back playing one last season for Gosford before retiring from the game.

Funnily enough, the errors don’t end there. As can be seen from the match day program (reproduced above); The Rugby League News lists Bev’s christian name as ‘Bevan’, when it was/is in fact, ‘Beverley’.

the Graduates by Andrew Stark

Col “ Bubbles” Purcell played just the single season for Gosford (1956) before linking with the Eastern Suburbs Roosters the following year. During his stint in Sydney, the experienced hooker would also play lower grades at Souths after making 7 top grade appearances for the Tricolours during 1957.

Prior to arriving in Gosford, Purcell had played over 300 games in the Illawarra competition where he was a local junior; representing Wollongong, Wollongong Wests and Collegians as well as the Gerringong club in Group 7.

Left:

the Graduates by Andrew Stark

Right: Anthony Brann grew up in Wendy Drive, Point Clare and was a member of the Gosford U10s during 1980; a team that also included fellow Gosford Graduate Paul Kent.

A hard working, no nonsense forward, Brann made his NRL debut at aged 26 and ultimately racked up 59 top grade games during the late 90s/early naughties period. Despite exhaustive Eye of the Storm research, no contact details for Brann have materialized making it difficult to trace the forward’s path from Gosford U10s in 1980, to NRL player in 1996.

Anthony Brann played single seasons for the Balmain Tigers and the Hunter Mariners before turning out for the Canberra Raiders over three years, between 1998 & 2000.

Left: Outside back Max Wilkie played 26 top grade games for North Sydney through

the 1981-1983 era, scoring four tries and kicking a goal during his time in Sydney .

Wilkie had played first grade for the Townies in 1980, prior to heading south to Bear Park, however before turning out for Gosford he’d played all of his junior football at The Entrance. Wilkie had in fact starred for the sea side club during the 1976, U14s Grand Final defeat of Gosford, scoring a try and kicking 4 goals in The Entrance’s 18-6 win. Interestingly, the Gosford side that day was captained by fellow Gosford Graduate, Daryl Turner (see page 20).

If you think you know of a Gosford Junior who went on to play 1st Grade rugby league in the Sydney competition (NSWRL or NRL), who isn’t already on the list … please drop me a line at - 10dollarjpegs@gmx.com

So How Do We Get A Photo For Uncle Marty & Aunty Pam ?

Whilst my motivation for putting The Eye together each month is in no way financial, I guess it would be good to recoup my bus fares, accrued chugging to and from the myriad of footy ovals scattered across the CCDRL region.

So to keep Red Bus, Busways and even State Rail happy, all the photo’s appearing on the pages of this fine, up standing publication are available for purchase, in high resolution JPEG form for just $10 (via Paypal, cheque or money order), or $5 if you come and see me in person.

Simply email me (Andrew) at 10dollarjpegs@gmx.com and let me know which image you’re after …

Use the above e mail address to also complete Paypal payments, or mail cheques or money orders to …

PO Box 4323, East Gosford, 2250 (made out to ‘Andrew Stark’) Include your email address and I’ll email out your requested image in all it’s high res, purple, blue, white and yellow magnificence.

… or come and slip me a purple fiver on game day … I’ll be the bleary eyed, disheveled looking bloke with the dodgy haircut … oh yeah, and the big camera !

Under THIRTEENS

Recent Results Rd 9 … 30 – 10 vs. Terrigal Rd 8 … 28 – 12 vs. Erina Rd 10 … 0 – 36 vs. Ourimbah

UNDER THIRTEEN (2)s

UNDER THIRTEEN (2)s

UNDER THIRTEEN (2)s

rhys PRITCHARD Interview - Andrew Stark

Photo courtesy of the Gosford City Library & the Les Allen Collection

10 inuteths Rhys m wi

Pritchard

The Eye caught up with our most recent NRL Graduate, Rhys Pritchard and the former Gosford Junior shared a few of his earliest footballing memories .

Hi Rhys, thanks for chatting with The Eye. You were at the mighty Gosford club for three years from the Under 8s up; tell me, what do you remember of those days?

R.P. - “My fondest memories when I

started playing at the Gosford Giants was being able to be ball boy for the Townies down at Grahame Park. The crowd was electric, you were always guaranteed a bag of lollies and a sausage sandwich. And I can never forget the smell of Dencorub in the change sheds.

NRL Graduate Gosford Junior

From that year onwards, I was set on playing NRL, I was hooked” Rhys Pritchard - Gosford U8s - 1995

Rhys Pritchard is our club’s most recent NRL graduate. He played U8 – U10s with Gosford during the mid 1990s before ultimately progressing to first grade with the Sydney Roosters in 2011.

(For more on Gosford’s NRL Graduate’s turn to page 20) Rhys Pritchard pictured above playing for The Entrance during 2013 – Photo’s – Andrew Stark

rhys PRITCHARD Interview - Andrew Stark

Eye – You probably played at Gosford alongside guys like Bladen Baird and Shane McFadden who have both gone on to be fine first graders on the Coast?

R.P. - “Bladen and Shane were the year above myself. I remember playing with the likes of Chris Mortimer and Chris Chiofalo. We were great mates at the time.

I would always remember wearing my gear to the game and staying in it all day. Playing footy in the morning and going to a teammates house and playing until we dropped in the backyard.

I also remember playing an exhibition game at Grahame Park (Central Coast Stadium) before first grade.

There was maybe a hundred people there, but to me it felt like thousands.

My first ever try was against Umina at Umina. It was a double actually!

My legs just took off and before I knew it I was diving under the posts. It was such a surreal feeling.

All of a sudden my legs had a mind of their own and just took off!”

Rhys Pritchard - Gosford U8s, 1995

Above:

By the time Rhys had reached the U11s, he’d headed east to play with Terrigal. His first year at the Sharks provided a 24-19 grand final victory over Wyong; the club he would subsequently join in 2001.

R.P. – “I believe I moved clubs as I had started surf lifesaving with Wamberal, and the majority of my surf club mates were playing at Terrigal.”

Rhys Pritchard on the fly for the Terrigal Sharks

Right:

Rhys spent 4 season’s at the Sharks before heading to Wyong. It was whilst playing for the Roos that he was spotted by Manly talent scouts and subsequently invited to join the Sea Eagles SG Ball Cup team.

R.P. - “I made my first rep’ team with Manly SG Ball in 2002. Me, Karl Hewett and Ross Roberts would make the trip down to Manly four days a week for the opportunity to play. Our parents would share the car pooling. We would finish school early and head down … I still remember ‘Spud’ Carroll kicking people in the guts to toughen them up on conditioning night. Geoff Toovey was still an angry reserve grade coach! ”

rhys PRITCHARD Interview - Andrew Stark

Eye – Do you recall why you left Gosford in 1998?

rhys PRITCHARD Interview - Andrew Stark

Above & Right:

Rhys Pritchard in action for the Manly SG Ball team during 2004.

Photo’s – Andrew Stark

Rhys joined the Sydney Roosters in 2005; the club he would ultimately represent at NRL level …

Eye – You were at Manly for a while before heading to the Roosters, I believe ?

R.P. – “Two years later. I would do the same car pool, but this time I was at the Roosters and car pooling with Rory Kostjasyn and Brad Baldry. Jim Dymock was coach at the time, which meant more training and eventually we became room mates living in the eastern suburbs.

When I was at the Roosters … I had the pleasure of interacting with Arthur Beetson and the great Jack Gibson.”

Photo’s courtesy of the Wests Supporters Forum and David Napper

Rhys returned to the Sydney Roosters in 2011 where his boyhood dream of playing in the NRL would be realized during early June.

R.P. – “Brian Smith tapped me on the shoulder late on the Tuesday afternoon, I was just about to leave training. I was in absolute shock when he told me that I would be debuting at the SFS that Saturday night, it kind of came out of no where as well.

I had been playing some really good footy at Newtown*, but in true Brian Smith form, he never gave much away.

It was an emotionally draining week, I had a lot of trouble sleeping as I was so excited, I had played this moment in my mind so many times that I just wanted to run out there.” * Newtown were the Sydney Rooster feeder team and played in the NSW Cup Competition.

rhys PRITCHARD Interview - Andrew Stark

Rhys continued to climb through the grades, playing Jersey Flegg and then NSW Cup at the Roosters. In 2009 he moved across to the Wests Tigers where he became a member of the club’s NRL squad, coming agonizingly close to an NRL debut when he was named as 18th man for the teams Round 26 game against the Bulldogs. During that same year Rhys was named ‘Player of the Year’ for the Western Suburbs Magpies NSW Cup team and also played for the NSW Cup rep’ team.

side who ultimately made the Grand Final that year ?

R.P. – “It was a tough debut to be thrown into, thank God I didn’t have to mark big Manu (Vatavai). I remember making a break on my first touch and heading for the try line, only to be ankle tapped literally millimetres from the white stripe. I was gutted.

The next minute I’m walking off the field with a win and a memorable debut. Everything else was a blur.”

Eye – The following week Anthony Minichiello was away on

Origin duty and you played fullback.

R.P. – “Yeah, the following week we played Melbourne in Melbourne and it was probably one of the best games I had played too.

A week later, the NRL team had a bye and Smithy wanted me to go back to reggies (Reserve Grade) and try my hand at centre for the following week. In a freak accident, I made a break, got tackled and landed abnormally.

I had shattered my collarbone in four places. A steel plate, 12 screws and 12 weeks on the sidelines, clubs (including the chooks) that were expressing interest in my services for the following year, stopped enquiring. Nobody wanted a 25 year old injured fullback!”

That fateful day at Brookvale Oval during mid June of 2011 when Rhys sustained his terrible shoulder injury.

Above:

Photo – Mike Boubidis (Pro Carlos Sports Photography)

rhys PRITCHARD Interview - Andrew Stark

Eye – And you were up against a crack New Zealand Warriors

such close proximity to your NRL call up. That’s fate being terribly cruel .

R.P. – “ It was a cruel blow but that’s the game I guess.

Looking back, and still to this day, I am upset that I couldn't have played more games, but on a positive I got to achieve my childhood dream of playing NRL. Not many people can say that! “ Eye – Absolutely, and you are also the most recent Gosford junior

to have done so …

Many thanks for the chat Rhys, congratulations on the footy career and all the best for the future.

Rhys played two final seasons with The Entrance in the Massey Cup competition before retiring at the age of just 27. He currently runs his own business in the fitness industry, Total Body PT.

Rhys playing for The Entrance, his NRL debut, Rhys the PT, and playing for the Roosters

Clockwise from top:

Photo’s – David Napper , Andrew Stark & Total Body PT.

rhys PRITCHARD Interview - Andrew Stark

Eye – I must say Rhys, I didn’t realize the shoulder injury had come in

In The Press …

Tough Draw For The Storm

by Andrew Stark.

Coast Community News – 15th July, 2015 Round 10 of the Central Coast junior rugby league provided Gosford Kariong with a tough assignment at the Carrington Street Field as four Storm teams ran headlong into competition heavyweights.

The U15(1)s were backing up from a tremendous 24-22 upset victory over Terrigal on the previous Saturday however had no answer to the unbeaten Erina Eagles team, who despite playing one or two boys short, ran riot to score 7 tries in the opening half before powering on to record a hefty win.

The Gosford U13(2)s went into their top of the table clash with unbeaten rivals Ourimbah on the back of six straight wins and a keen and close battle was anticipated.

Two tries gave the northerners a hard earned 12-0 lead at the break and despite notable games from Storm five eight Nick Rodrigues, prop Sione Vaenuku, and lively threequarter Bradley Shaw, the Magpies proved far too strong, running out 36-0 winners.

The Greg Eather coached U11(2)s fared somewhat better than their aforementioned club mates, pushing the top ranked Terrigal Sharks all the way during their narrow 20-14 loss. A close range try to the elusive Kyle Dowling gave Gosford an early advantage however Terrigal pounced twice before the interval to head the locals 12-4. Long distance solo efforts from Soakimi Aho and then from dummy half by Tyson Pagacs kept Gosford in the hunt right up to the final bell of an entertaining contest.

In the frosty 8AM game, Gosford’s battling U10(2)s fell 32-6 to the table topping Tigers in a game that saw Storm prop Byron van Biljon eat up many metres in a powerful display.

An Ozgur Emeli try off a final tackle grubber kick had seen the local boys trail by just six at halftime however The Entrance crossed for four unanswered tries after the break to safely pocket the competition points.

In brighter news for Gosford, the U10(1)s made it back to back wins despite running into considerable resistance from the bottom placed Berkeley Vale. Three second half tries pushed the Storm boys clear of the plucky Panthers and the 28-16 victory maintains Gosford’s place in the coveted top five.

The semi final bound U12(3)s were also winners on the day, turning a narrow 6-0 halftime lead into a well taken victory over the Sharks; Jake Martin and Nash DorrattMavin, two of a host of heavily involved Stormers.

The U14(1)s enjoyed two competition points and a bruise free weekend courtesy of the bye.

Please note: this is the submitted piece in it’s entirety. The editor of the Coast Community News is responsible for the changes that ultimately appear in the newspaper.

Under UnderTWELVES TWELVES

Recent Results Rd 9 … 24 – 22 vs. Budgewoi Rd 8 … 24 – 4 vs. Ourimbah Rd 5 … 31 – 0 vs. Erina (forfeit) Rd 10 .. 22 – 6 vs. Terrigal

UNDER TWELVE (3)s

UNDER TWELVE (3)s

UNDER TWELVE (3)s

Under UnderElevens Elevens

Recent Results Rd 9 … 12 - 12 vs. Berkeley Vale Rd 8 … bye Rd 10 … 14 – 20 vs. Terrigal

UNDER ELEVEN (2)s

UNDER ELEVEN (2)s

UNDER ELEVEN (2)s

Under Under Tens Tens (Div 1) (Div 1)

Recent Results Rd 9 … 18 – 22 vs. Erina Rd 8 … 28 – 12 vs. The Entrance Rd 10 … 28 – 16 vs. Berkeley Vale

UNDER TEN (1)s

UNDER TEN (1)s

UNDER TEN (1)s

Under UnderTens Tens (Div (Div 2)2)

Recent Results Rd 9 … 16 – 24 vs. Kincumber Rd 8 … 16 – 20 vs. Terrigal Rd 10 … 6 – 32 vs. The Entrance

UNDER TEN (2)s

UNDER TEN (2)s

as o

2015 COMPETITION LADDERS U15(1)s

Pts

U14(1)s

Pts

Erina (Blue) Wyong The Entrance Berkeley Vale Woy Woy * Northern Lakes Terrigal

19 17 16 12 10 10 6

Wyong (Green) Ourimbah Kincumber Erina Woy Woy Terrigal

18 17 13 12 10 6

Gosford Kariong *

6

Gosford Kariong

4 -

Erina (Red)

2

Wyong (Gold) *

* game still to be played, or points to

f Jul y 15 th

U13(2)s

Pts

Ourimbah

20

Gosford Kariong

14

Berkeley Vale The Entrance Blue Haven Erina Kincumber Terrigal

12 12 12 6 4 0

U10(1)s

Pts

* team folded mid season

be shared ???

U12(3)s

Pts

Blue Haven Erina

18 15

Gosford Kariong

15

The Entrance Budgewoi Terrigal Ourimbah

14 10 4 4

U10(2)s

Pts

Umina The Entrance Toukley Budgewoi Erina Wyong Terrigal Northern Lakes Kincumber

18 18 12 12 10 10 9 7 4

Gosford Kariong

0

U11(2)s

Pts

Terrigal Wyong (Green) Northern Lakes Kincumber Blue Haven Erina

18 18 12 12 11 10

Gosford Kariong

9

St Edwards Wyong (Gold)

6 2

Kincumber Terrigal Erina Northern Lakes

17 15 14 14

Gosford Kariong

12

Wyong The Entrance Ourimbah Woy Woy Berkeley Vale

12 8 4 2 0

U8s Star @ The Stadium Storm Boys Draw Crowd of

12569

‘Eye of the Storm’ – Vol 9, July, 2015 PDF-MAG compiled, photographed, written & designed by Andrew Stark © 2015 Contact - 10dollarjpegs@gmx.com

the B ac

ck Pa ge

the Back Page