My Priorities
1. Put Football Knowledge at the Heart of Football Decisions
My highest priority is ensuring that the Parramatta Leagues Club has access to experienced rugby league minds when making decisions that affect our NRL, NRLW and pathways programs.
That may include people like myself, but more importantly it should include individuals with greater football knowledge and experience than I possess. Good governance and sound financial management are essential, but football decisions should also be informed by people who understand the game, player development, recruitment and the culture required to build sustained success.
2. Give Members a Genuine Voice
Being a Parramatta Eels member should mean more than receiving a membership pack, buying merchandise and attending games.
Members are the custodians of this club. They should have the opportunity to vote for the people who represent them on the Board and have confidence that their voices are being heard.
I am not advocating for a return to the instability of the past. The current governance rules provide appropriate safeguards against the club being taken over by special interest groups. However, I do believe there is room to strengthen the connection between the Board and the membership, allowing constructive feedback from the people who care most deeply about the future of Parramatta rugby league.
3. Honour Our Past by Building Our Future
The Parramatta Leagues Club’s second object is to promote the game of rugby league. That should remain one of our highest priorities.
One of the club’s most enduring mottos is:
“Let those who drink the water remember those who dug the well.”
We have done an excellent job of recognising and honouring those who built this great club. That history deserves to be celebrated.
But every generation also has a responsibility to dig the well for those who follow.
My priority is to ensure we are investing in the future of Parramatta rugby league—from our junior pathways and women’s programs through to our NRL side—so that future generations inherit a club that is stronger than the one we enjoy today.
4. Support the Redevelopment of the Parramatta Leagues Club Precinct
I fully support the redevelopment of the Parramatta Leagues Club precinct and the opportunities it will create for our members, supporters and the wider community.
A modern, vibrant precinct will provide first-class facilities for members, fans, players and staff—not just on game days, but every day of the year. It will strengthen the financial future of our club, enhance the match-day experience, and ensure Parramatta remains one of the premier sporting and community destinations in Australia.
Supporting this redevelopment and advocating for greater football knowledge within our club are not conflicting priorities. In fact, I believe they complement one another.
A financially strong Leagues Club provides the foundation for football success. My goal is to ensure that, as we build outstanding facilities for the future, we also build an outstanding football organisation capable of delivering sustained success in our NRL, NRLW and pathways programs.
5. Honour the First Custodians of Our Land
Parramatta is one of the oldest places of continuous human occupation in Australia. The name “Parramatta” is derived from the Dharug language, and the Barramattagal people are recognised as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which our club stands.
As part of the redevelopment of the Parramatta Leagues Club precinct, I believe we have an opportunity to respectfully acknowledge and celebrate that history.
For many years, a statue at the front of the Leagues Club served as a reminder of the area’s Indigenous heritage. Since the redevelopment, that recognition has been absent.