Corey Parker on family, the Broncos and life after league

Now he’s retired, Corey Parker’s time is split between supporting wife Margaux’s blossoming career and his Fox NRL commentary gig. And his old ties won’t stop him saying what he thinks – except maybe at home …

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Former Broncos captain Corey Parker has retired from playing rugby league but he’s busier than ever.

This winter he will again be a key voice for the Fox League commentary team as well as helping out as an assistant coach with the Broncos and supporting his wife Margaux who now co-hosts the popular Triple M breakfast radio show.

Parker, a father of four, talks about his expanded role at home, the great potential of the Broncos forward pack and why modern rugby league teams need more man-to-man straight-talk.

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Corey now has time to support Margaux’s career. Photo: Liam Kidston

How does it feel suddenly being the second highest profile member of your family?

I am … and happily. The transition from where Margaux started to where she is now is superb. She’s flying. She’s doing a really good job. It’s exciting. The best thing about what she does is none of it is made up. She’s authentic.

Has Margaux’s radio commitments seen your role change in the mornings?

It has. I have been pretty hands on anyway but for a long period of time during my footy career she was a stay at home mum with the kids until they got to school age. She leaves home at 3.30am and I am left in charge at home and away we go. With four kids and two careers we are still trying to sink our teeth into. We just make it work and get it done.

Corey I hope you haven’t tried that old line, “It’s OK for you out all day but I’m tired too after all the housework I’ve done”?

(Laughs) No. I have tried the opposite approach and just said nothing.

Parker is still giving the Broncos the benefit of his experience. Photo: Peter Wallis

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When you retired you wrote a candid piece for Players Voice saying you felt totally lost for two weeks after retiring. It must have been chastening?

It was. I played for 17 years and I was told where to be, what to wear, what to do etc. Everything was mapped out. When I retired I had some things mapped out but there was none of that “be here, do this, eat this’’ so there was a void. I was prepared for life after football as best I could but I realised you can never totally prepare for it.

And you said when training started for the 2017 season you felt a great sense of loss?

Yes because the previous season there were plenty of lasts like your last game at Brookvale but it is not until that letter is sent about calling you to training next season – and you don’t get one – that you realise it really is over.

You said recently you wanted to see the Broncos young forwards work more as a team. Were you worried they were too individual?

We have done it differently at the Broncos. Normally you bring young players into the system and they learn from all the experienced guys. We don’t really have that. The Roosters for example have Boyd Cordner, and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves who are hardened professionals so the young guys just organically learn. The Broncos have not had that luxury so we have fast tracked players into positions. We have some of the most exciting players in the game and the challenge is to take that talent and put it together as a team.

So which players did you learn most from?

When I first arrived I parked myself beside Shane Webcke and Andrew Gee. One was at the back end of his career (Gee) and he had been a great team man and a seasoned player and Webcke was a world’s best prop. They had routines that just did not deviate each day – Webby would just turn up and do the same things – and I became that person because I knew if I did that the gap between my best and worst game should be very small.

Do you see an outstanding forward leader coming through?

I see nine of them. Look at Payne Haas. Does not talk much big Payno but he can hold his hands up on et football field. David Fifita just turned 20 and he is doing things some players have spent 10 years trying to do. Matt Lodge and Pat Carrigan have some great qualities but the quality I want to see is them binding together. If I can borrow a bit from you and you can pinch something off me and collectively we will get there.

Former ties won’t keep Parker from calling it how he sees it. Photo: Anna Rogers

How did you find the transition from player to commentator with Fox Sports. Did it test your nerve?

It did because I spent 16 years trying to get respect as a hardworking player who got my job done but all that hard work can be lost so quickly if you say the wrong thing. It can just go. Initially I just dived into the deep end and swim like crazy.

You are helping the Broncos yet also commentating on them. Could that become a bit awkward if someone has a shocker?

No because whether I am commentating or coaching them you can still say it how it is. If you have had a howler instead of saying “you are shit and should not be there next week’’ you could say “he would regret this’’ or could have done something better. I don’t want to sound like that player who never made a mistake.

Parker now has an outsider’s perspective of league. Photo: Lachie Millard

What about changes in the game. What’s the biggest thing since you played that made you shake your head?

I do think the game has lost of some its real men, if that makes sense. I played with players who you could have a conversation with and look them in the eye and straighten them out – as I was straightened out at times as well. I’m not sure that is there now.

As a game we can become a bit better like that. Instead of worrying about if I have offended this person or that person just acting like men and getting on with it. If you think something is not right then say its not right and have a conversation about it.

So things were more candid?

Even playing for Australia guys like Matt Scott, Paul Gallen and Greg Bird. Like or dislike them you could have a strong conversation with them. Cameron Smith, Slater, Thurston … I understand it takes time but I still think there is too much political “can I say that?’’ We are playing an intense, high consequence game and sometimes you just have to tell it straight hit someone between the eyes and move on. If you spoke to any player who retired in the last five years they would have similar stories.

So who was your favourite straight-taker?

All of those guys plus Webcke, Tonie Carroll and Petero Civoniceva. None of them sugar-coated things. They never tried to make you feel like an idiot but I had plenty of times when I was 18 or 19 year old and carrying on like a dickhead and they straightened me out. Now you go through Peter to speak to Paul and hopefully we get there.

Name me the bolter team who will rise this year?

I really like the Parramatta are lining up. I reckon there’s a few things you need to have in a football side – two big wingers, a spine which has spent time together, and some experience in the centres and some forwards who can get physical and intimidate. They have all that.