The Rugby League Pyers Family (from left0 Robert 14, Father Paul Pyers Snr 37, Paul Pyers Jnr 17 and Steven 16.
In the Pyers household down Wynnum way, father Paul talks, eats and sleeps Rugby League with his son Paul junior, 17. Then he joins him for a game at the weekend.
Paul “Pappy” Pyers Snr, 37, still is playing top club football after 22 years of A Grade and is at present the hero of Wynnum Manly.
He hung up his boots last season, but when Wynnum become short of Reserve and C grade players last month, Pyers senior decided to help out. Last Sunday he played a full reserve grade game, then sat on the line for the senior team, in which son Paul was playing halfback.
Ten minutes after the start, Wynnum fullback Jim Ryan broke his shoulder and Pyers Snr. Was in the thick of it for the second time in a day. Pyers Snr., starred in that game scoring a try and kicking three goals in Wynnum’s shock 12-10 win over premiers Valleys.
There are two younger Pyers boys, Steven 16 and Robert 14 and naturally, both play Rugby League. Robert is regarded by his footballing father as a ‘real future star.’
Is there any chance that Pyers Snr. will stay on long enough to give on field instructions to the two youngest footballers in the family? “I feel like playing on for another year or two” said Pyers. You are only as old as you feel and I don’t feel that old.
FOOTNOTE: Pyers Snr. Played for Queensland as a fullback from 1957 to 1959. Two years ago Pyers Jnr. Played for New South Wales 9st. 7lb. team which made an undefeated tour of New Guinea.
Story Source: The Courier Mail, 1971.
Photo Source: Paul Pyers Snr.
