Senseless death of a mate drives Gillett to play with double

[Locky24]

A young back-rower is leading a generational shift at the Broncos, writes Chris Barrett.

It was a phone call Matt Gillett will never forget. Eight months before his rookie NRL season that earned rave reviews, the 21-year-old was given the devastating news that one of his closest friends was on life support.

Todd Parnell, a schoolmate at Morayfield State High and a teammate at Bribie Island Warrigals and Brisbane Norths, had hit his head on the ground during a fight at a post-match function and was in intensive care. His family switched off the life support two days later. The young man who had punched him was charged with murder.

''I was at the party where it happened,'' Gillett recalls. ''I was there early that night but I had footy the next day, so I'd gone home. I got a phone call from one of my mates early the next morning. He said [Todd] was in hospital on life support.'' Things were about to get even tougher for Gillett. ''When I got to footy [he spent last year in the Queensland Cup with Norths] I had to tell some of the boys about what had happened.''

The lure of premierships and representative jumpers drive most players, but Gillett has even more to play for. Parnell was, for a time, a Broncos junior as well and harboured ambitions of making it in the NRL before having to scale back his league commitments due to his job as a carpenter. Now that Gillett has made it there, he feels, in a way, he is playing for the both of them.

''Toddy had done a few pre-seasons with the Broncos, a few of them knew him,'' Gillett says. ''He would have loved to make first grade. He was a real hard trainer. He was so young - you've just got to give everything a shot because he didn't get the chance.

''I still talk to Todd's dad [Tony] a little bit and it's the same with his mum Jenny … she comes to home games and supports me. They love their footy. They've been going through a tough time.''

Handed an NRL debut as one of several Brisbane unknowns in the first round against North Queensland - who the Broncos will again play in Townsville tonight - Gillett has not looked back. He has mounted a serious campaign for NRL rookie of the year, with coach Ivan Henjak using him at centre, second row and off the bench.

Gillett has dedicated his season to Parnell, who was also a friend of South Sydney utility Jamie Simpson. On the evidence to date, his mate would have been very proud.

''The step up to first grade was massive,'' Gillett says. ''The contact and just the pace of the game was so quick. To be honest, I'm still taking my time adjusting to it.''

As a bystander, you would struggle to tell. While fellow Broncos forwards Sam Thaiday, Ben Te'o and Corey Parker are enjoying sublime seasons, Gillett has made his own impression, mixing the characteristic back-rower's workrate with an attacking flair that has many good judges stamping him as a representative star of the near future.

''My goal at the start of the year was just hopefully to get one [NRL] game. I'm just overwhelmed by how it's all gone,'' Gillett says. ''He [Henjak] gave me an opportunity at the start of the year and I'm very grateful for that.''

It is fair to say he has returned the favour. Nine tries in 16 games, including doubles against Cronulla and Souths, have showed an eye for the line, while a figure of 28 offloads demonstrates his ability to create them. In short, Gillett's emergence, and that of fullback Josh Hoffman, have laid to rest any fears about generational change at Red Hill.

''I'm really looking forward to the finals - we've just got to make sure we're in there,'' Gillett says.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 11kub.html

 

[Bucking Beads]

Pretty sure this has been up before, just shows what is driving Gillet at the moment.

 

[tkday]

Yeah, someone had posted this a little while ago.

 

[ningnangnong]

BroncoMatt posted it, I think.

 

[gUt]

Gillett inexplicably dropped from the Busters on the eve of the finals; scores double and possibly a forward try for feeder club the Broncos; Busters coach sent to Ward 10D forever.

 

[tkday]

Hope he'll make a recovery, poot Busters coach.

 

[The Brizz]

Gillett inexplicably dropped from the Busters on the eve of the finals; scores double and possibly a forward try for feeder club the Broncos; Busters coach sent to Ward 10D forever.

Man I cannot imagine how pissed off you must be!

 

[Huge]

I'm terrified that something like that could happen to my boy. He weighs 95 kilo stands 196cm and is a gentle soul. My fear is the heavy set, chip on the shoulder far quit who gets a few under the belt and king hits the big fella just to compensate for his small man syndrome. I'm not a real soft bloke(at least not outwardly) but when I just read about those parents who lost their son, and in the manner they did with the terrible decision to turn off life support, I teared up. My biggest fear next to my boy getting on the piss and driving causing either his own or others deaths.