Peter Psaltis is a Nine NRL commentator and the host of 4BC's Wide World of Sports radio show in Brisbane. Tune in from 6pm, Monday to Thursday!
I'm very sad to announce the passing of a rugby league great tonight.
Gary Parcell has sadly passed away at the age of 87.
Gary's passing signals the end of an era.
You see, Gary was the last surviving member of the all-Ipswich Australian front row from the late 50s and early 60s.
That's right, for those younger listeners or for those not entirely up with the history of the game. Ipswich provided the Kangaroos the entire front row.
Gary Parcell, Noel Kelly & Dud Beattie.
All three were absolute gentlemen. They played the game in a tough era. They came from a tough part of the world and they all went to play the game at the highest level.
Rugby League flows through the Parcell families veins.
Gary's father Percey played for Brothers in Ipswich, Gary's son Steve played for the Jets and was a Queensland resident's representative and Matt Parcell played for the Ipswich Jets, Qld Residents and now plays in the English Super League.
Gary was also part of one of the all time great Queensland teams. In the pre-origin era, against all the odds. Gary was part of the Queensland team that won the interstate series in 1959.
It was the last time Queensland won a series until Origin began in 1980. That's a long time between wins.
In 2013, the then Queensland Origin coach Mal Meninga and the Queensland rugby league honoured the 1959 team at a function with the Queensland side.
https://twitter.com/peterp79/status/1333689160062836737
It was a fantastic sight.
Seeing Frank Drake mixing with Billy Slater,
Barry Muir chatting with Cooper Cronk.
And the list goes on.
Garry Parcell, Dud Beattie and Noel Kelly were all in attendance that night. And the current players were in awe. In awe of seeing the Ipswich, Queensland and Australian front row.
The 3 men are together now. No doubt catching up on lost time.
To the Parcell family, we pass on our condolences.
Gary was a great man who will be missed by many.
May he rest in peace.
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