By GAVIN BANNERMAN
I’VE REACHED that point in my life: a moment of realisation that time marches on, that nothing is forever. Soon, I will be older than every current NRL player. I’m 35 (born in February) and currently only Sharks pair Paul Gallen and Chris Heighington are my senior.
I grew up looking up to players older than me – the phenomenal Broncos of the 90s, the Johns brothers, the Green Machine. Then I hit the same age bracket as those competing. I had a reference point. I could relate to these players. I knew what it was like being a bloke in your 20s and trying to lock down a job in your chosen profession.
I had very loose connections with players of my generation. Rugby league was not my participatory sport of choice, so all interactions were passing. Carl Webb apparently went to my school (he didn’t go much), Jharal Yow Yeh played junior cricket with my brother, I’d see Chris Walker out on the town regularly. I was going through the same life stages as the players.
But with every retirement, every one of my generation hanging up the boots, I wonder whether I can still relate. I hope, in time, I don’t become that fan calling players “young men,” and getting all sentimental about the time I had cartilage in my knees.
I honestly thought Corey Parker would play forever, I could see Jamie Lyon continuing to find the overlap on the right edge. But things change, we get older. A younger player is always pushing up through the grades, waiting for their chance.
Does this phenomenon exist elsewhere? Are other people conscious of this tipping point, where though they never had the talent, the spectator becomes past it?
All I can say is that I hope Paul Gallen keeps putting his head down and carting it up the middle. For me, he is a continuing reference point, and a pretty big one at that.
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