The wily old, experienced teacher is worth gold in any school; they’ve seen and done it all over their career.
They say things like ‘that’s not new; we were doing that in 1991’.
They lend their confidence and knowledge to others and that’s where Western Clydesdales hooker and captain Matt Parcell will re-enter the Hostplus Cup for the first time since 2015.
The learner has become the teacher, lured back by Ben and Shane Walker, the young hookers in the Hostplus Cup are about to watch and learn and gain an education in the art of dummy half.
In 76 games in the Hostplus Cup, Parcell scored 30 tries with 19 coming in the year of the Ipswich Jets' premiership in 2015, including nine in the finals series and five against the Brisbane Tigers.
“When I came back from England, I had no desire to play again unless Ben and Shane were coaching,” Parcell said.
“I have loved being at training and it’s such a young squad. The gains from three months ago have been massive.
“That’s what Ben and Shane do, they give you confidence.
“I have enjoyed it so much and I just want the region to do well; I want young boys and girls to want to play for Toowoomba and not think they must leave.
“A classic example is Chris Woodbridge, he has been playing for Dalby and scoring tries, he will do it again in Hostplus Cup.
“I can’t wait to see him run and score tries for the Clydesdales.”
Western Clydesdales coach Ben Walker knows what he’s getting.
“If the Broncos needed a hooker next week, they could pick Matt Parcell and he could play NRL, Walker said.
“Matt Parcell is a complete professional and he’s so encouraging; the guys have loved having him around.
“If we were coaching an NRL team he would be our hooker no doubt.
“I think he’s got better at his craft than 11 years ago, he hasn’t lost pace or reaction time, and he learned his craft.
“I think some young hookers in the Hostplus Cup are about to gain an education.
The last time Parcell played the Tigers he scored five tries in the Jets’ 44-18 finals win 11 years ago.
“If he scores five tries on Sunday, we will give him the second half off,” Ben Walker said.
There will be a point on Sunday when Parcell goes to dummy half, looks around and then scoops the ball up runs past a marker and impacts the game and every young hooker in the Hostplus Cup will know he’s back.
Someone might even say that’s not new; he was doing that 11 years ago.
