BRONCOS young gun Matt Gillett has paid the ultimate honour to his best mate Todd Parnell.
As the first anniversary approaches of Parnell’s tragic death - during a fight at a party on Bribie Island last July - Gillett’s stunning first year in the NRL has been heralded as the most fitting of tributes.
The 21-year-old had made it known he would dedicate this year to Parnell, a fellow Bribie boy and former Morayfield State High School classmate.
And it could not have been a more heartfelt pledge, Todds father, Tony Parnell, told the Herald.
``I know he has said he has made the season for Todd and I think he meant it, the loss of Todd hurt him (Gillett),’’ Mr Parnell said.
``He is a good young bloke, he trains really hard and he would be quite capable of playing Origin next year.’‘
Gillett, a former Bribie junior, was shocked into making the most of his abundant talent following Parnell’s death on July 27 last year.
Parnell was also a talented footballer, who, like Gillett, was scouted by the Broncos and played Queensland Cup for Norths.
Former Bribie Island president Aldo Loi said Gillett was the ``talk of the town’’ with his exploits in the NRL.
``It’s really good to see him doing so well. Everyone is glued to the TV for every Broncos game,’’ he said.
Mr Loi said the death of Parnell last year was a factor in Gillett dedicating himself to league.
``That (death) really knocked the Bribie boys around,’’ he said.
Gillett has been the find of the season for the Broncos, who rewarded one of the NRL’s best young talents with a three-year contract extension last month.
His emergence has been so spectacular that his name was bandied around by punters during Queensland selections for Origin I.
Wherever Gillett goes, coaches sing his praises, no more than Gillett’s former coach at Morayfield High, John Turner.
``I knew he would be an NRL player from the time he was 14. He was dead-set outstanding,’’ Mr Turner said. ``He was virtually impossible to stop.’’
