| The Nathan Clarkes Tribute to the CHIEF PAUL HARRAGON | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This is a Picture of the mighty Chief in action for the Knights | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Paul Harragan (the chief) started his profesional career at Newcastle in the lower grader as a centre. As he moved into reserve grade he made the move to the forward pack. That move quickly paied off as he was put into first grade in 1991 and thats when the farytale of the chief finally began. He played with heart and pride for the red and blues and played an enormous part in getting the knights to their first semi- final apperience in 1992 under their new coach David Waite. In 1993 the chief was called up for state of origin duties. He played a record 20 State of Origin games straight for NSW. In 1995 the Chief made the move to the prop posision and as usual he tried his best and he played the rest of his career in the number 10 jersey. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| This is the chief holding the Australian Rugby League premiership trophy after winning the Grand Final on September 27 1997 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Chief has done everything in Rugby league. He has captained Australia in the 1995 World Cup match against South Africia. The Chief's Test career spaned from 1992 till 1998 playing 17 games and scoreing 3 tries. He also played 8 tour games with 2 tries under his belt. His club career started and ended in Newcastle playing there for 12 years. It all started in 1988 and finished in 1999. In all he played 168 games while scoreing 19 tries, which is great for a front rower. In Newcastle, He was the club captain in 1995 and will finish that duty at the conclusion of 1999. During that time he has had some memorable matches, Including the encounters he has had with the Spud, Mark Carroll. But he has had no match as memorable as the one on September 27 1997 at the Sydney Football Stadium against Manly infront of a ground record and capacity crowd. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Chief being chaired off the ground after the emotional game against Cronulla. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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That match was the 1997 Australian Rugby League Grand Final where the Chief held the thophey proudly above his head and that is a day he won't forget. That was what the Chief said at the ticker tape parade the following Tuesday in front of 100 000 people as a "Perfect Day". | That Was the happyest day of his life, then less than 2 years later, close to his saddest days when he announced his retierment at aroung 2:00pm on Friday May 28 due to arthritus in his knee. Dr Neil Halpin, the club doctor tried everything to help the chief and he saluted the Chief for playing so long on a knee that is of a 60 year old. "He's everything any red-blooded man would want to be. He's my absolute hero" exclaimed Dr Halpin. To tell you how bad his knee really is, Dr Halpin said "His knee is probebly equivilant to that of a person double his age, and he's carrying 115kg and playing in the front row in the toughest rugby league competition in the world". The Chief would have to be proud with his career because he has been compared to the like of Terry Lamb and Ray Price. All his team mated payed tribute to him and all shed a few tears on that Friday when the retierment was announced. On the Sunday, at Marathon Stadium, 24 and a half thousand people turned up to the game against Cronulla to fairwell the Chief. He was doing a speach before the game but could not finish because he broke down in tears as did the rest of his team mates who were watching on. After the game he came back out on the paddock to congreatulate this team mates on a fabulous win. But then he was lifted on his team mates shoulders and carried around the gorund to farewell the supporters one last time. CONGRATULATIONS CHIEF FOR A GREAT CAREERAND GOOD LUCK FOR THE FUTURE!!! HIAL THE CHIEF!!!!!
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