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Message: [QUOTE="Big Pete, post: 2754489, member: 1899"] Well let me just say, it's been a pleasure to watch Corey Parker play. To watch him evolve not only as a person but as a player has been a real thrill and a learning experience. It's through his career that I have been able to appreciate the 1%ers more and more and learned that hard-work will achieve results. When I think of Parker, I think of an extremely unselfish player who did everything asked of him. When he was a young backrow with plenty of upside, he was asked to put on weight and make the transition to a prop forward. He did so, all the while sporting lucrative offers from rival clubs, offers that would have made him a bigger star in the game. He stuck with the Broncos, because he never wanted to go anywhere else. In 2004, with De Vere, Seymour and Lockyer injured, Wayne Bennett turned to him to take on the goal-kicking duties. He did his best and WON Brisbane the game against Wests with a clutch shot that would have made Kyrie Irving (sorry got to get a Cavs reference in) a little envious. When Gordie retired, we needed somebody on the fringes and once again, Parker was on the spot and he dropped the weight, sharpened his skill-set and took one for the team. Not only did he have to adjust, he was basically Mr Fix It in the Pack. Civoniceiva's out? Parker to Prop. Thorn is struggling? Parker to left edge backrow. TC is injured? Parker to right fringe. I wouldn't even be surprised if the guy filled in at dummy half, he was hands on. He won the Paul Morgan Medal in 2009 on the left fringe, before really making a name for himself in the middle. His ability to play off the back of a fast-play the ball was among the best in the game and he was always good for a big third or forth tackle carry to give Brisbane the space they needed to work. For a long time, Parker carried the undesirable tag of a 'good club player'. His earlier representative stints didn't set the world on fire and he was perceived as a reason for the Maroons' failures in 2004-05. At 29, he finally received his second chance...off the bench...in more or less of a cameo role. That didn't perturb Parker at all, he was just happy to represent the state he loved. It wouldn't be until he was 31, he was seen as a starting player and at 33 he was considered the best representative player of anyone. Considering the company included legends of the game such as Johnathan Thurston, Cameron Smith and Greg Inglis, it was a huge honour. As with 2011 and the retirement of Darren Lockyer, Parker's retirement allows us to appreciate the rest of the season as we farewell the greatest lock forward to ever play at this fine club. Onya Cozza and thank you for always putting the club first. No one can ever question your passion. [/QUOTE]

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