Pritchard boys united at last
GETTY IMAGES FRANK Pritchard is already enjoying the benefits of becoming an Eel.
‘‘It will be the first time my family gets to put on one colour,’’ Pritchard quipped.
Having joined Kaysa Pritchard at Parramatta, the veteran backrower is looking forward to finally playing with, rather than against, his younger brother at club level.
‘‘I’m happy to be back, for the opportunity to be back in the NRL playing with my little brother,’’ he said.
‘‘Definitely it will be a milestone for us. It will be a great opportunity for myself and my brother to be with each other through the whole year.
‘‘We spent a lot of time together off the field, we’re family, but during training and off the field you get to test your limits and the limits of how much you love your brother.
‘‘I’ll get him exposed to the bigger boys. I never had the chance to play with my little brother, I thought it would never happen. Now it’s happening.’’
Pritchard also thought he wouldn’t get the opportunity to play in the NRL again. He left Canterbury in 2015 to take up a deal with English club Hull FC, expecting never to play again in Australia.
However, the opportunity to return home for another crack proved too tempting to refuse.
‘‘I went over there on a threeyear deal and you go there not thinking you’re coming back,’’ he said.
‘‘You go to Super League to travel and that and think it’s done and dusted.
‘‘I went over in my first year and helped the club move forward. We became a top-four team and when you put everything into perspective, the club will be in a great position after I leave. There will be players that want to go to Hull FC now. That was a big thing for me, to achieve that in my first year. Now I’m just glad to come home.’’
Pritchard is looking forward to coming up against his former Bulldogs teammates, but insists he has nothing to prove against his old club.
‘‘Everyone thinks they will fin- ish off their career and stay put at one club,’’ he said. ‘‘When I was at Penrith, I thought I was going to be a one-club man, but it was never the case.
‘‘Footy is a funny thing. I was at the Bulldogs for a while and thought I was going to finish there, too. But due to salary cap reasons I found myself heading towards Super League. Shoulda, coulda, woulda, but at the end of the day you roll with the punches.’’
Before he had even played a single game for the blue and golds, coach Brad Arthur made Pritchard a member of the leadership group.
‘‘I’m pretty honoured to be in there,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s probably the first time the club has had one for a period of time and if I can offer a bit of knowledge – I’ve been around a while – to help the younger boys, so be it.
‘‘We’re heading in the right direction at the club and I’m happy to be there.’’
The former Kiwi international said he was looking forward to finishing his career under Arthur.
‘‘He’s been unreal, he’s been awesome,’’ he said.
‘‘I’ve never been under a coach before that lets you do what you want at a certain time on the field. He just wants you to play footy and give it your all.
‘‘He says it’s a new year, it’s time for us to shine. We’re the club with the biggest drought in winning a premiership. When he says stuff like that, when you’ve got a game on the next day, you turn up for him.
‘‘He’s one of those coaches where you listen to his words and respect him. The boys just want to get out there and play for him.
‘‘My goal is just to play consistent footy and do what I can for the team.
‘‘I want to be fit and happy and try to buzz. We want to finish in the top four this year, that’s the main goal.’’
‘ We spent a lot of time together off the field, we’re family. ’ FRANK PRITCHARD
The Sun-Herald