Player's you've run in to.

[Tigersman]

I have known a few people who know Bryce Gibbs, and the opinion is always the same, he's a bit of a twat. Though, tbf i think its all due to the fact he can't handle his alcohol. The trouble he got into a couple times when he was here makes that easy to understand.

My little sister and her mum frequent the coffee shop at Wests Leagues and often she shows me pics of Tigers players she's met. Gareth Ellis, Brooks, Tedesco etc. The nicest guy though apparently was Adam Blair.

Not a footballer, but i did once attempt to approach Greg Norman in the car park at a tournament, but his bodyguard ushered me away, and Norman couldn't give a stuff. There was no one around so it wasn't like he was being mobbed. I suppose a 12 yr old with a texta and cap can be pretty dangerous. I wasn't surprised though as my uncle had seen him previously at a tournament have a go at a father who tried to approach him for an autograph for his son. The two nicest golfers i met (I went to heaps of tournaments as a kid and meant tons) were Bernard Langer and Gary Player. Player had about 100 people around him and he made sure no one missed out on an autograph despite his son trying to drag him away cos they had a plane to catch.

I never liked Greg Norman for some reason.. Now i know why :smiling_imp:

Yeah, always has come across like a tosser, i feel justified though cos i have my own personal experience.

Kids usually ask all golfers for their caps, gloves, anything they can get signed and collect. I asked Peter Lonard for his cheque once, but he wasn't willing to give it up 😢

Michael Campbell, the kiwi golfer gave me two balls at one tournament walking between holes. He did it once early in the round, then again later on. He went on to win the US Open a couple yrs after that, but of course i have no idea what i did with them.

Damn, so you lost his balls… :mrgreen:

 

[Tigerdave]

Funnily enough I've met our coaches, JT and Noddy. Both at the door of a club I was bouncing at, hmmm probably around 2001? and one I refused entry cause he was too intoxicated…....he was good about it though.

Met most of the Eels players around that time too.

Met Peni Tagive and Steve Price at the Uni I worked at. Peni walked in for directions and Price was graduating.

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

i remember running into Bill Clinton. I was coning down the steps of my studio in the West Village - i opened the door & saw this mop of silver hair. He turned to look at me & i looked back at him. And i said the strongest prayer to him. I said thank you - & just kept walking. Thats New York for ya.

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[mossco]

When I was running a cafe up in the Byron hinterland , Liam Fulton's mum became a regular customer. When she found out I was a mad Tigers fan and our kids ( Liam's brother and my son started hanging out together) she got me free tickets to games and took my son's and my jerseys down the concord and got them signed by the whole team. When Liam came up to visit mum she brought him in to meet me . Was pretty stoked , such a lovely lady, and Liam was was also a top bloke!

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[VanillaThunder]

When I was running a cafe up in the Byron hinterland , Liam Fulton's mum became a regular customer. When she found out I was a mad Tigers fan and our kids ( Liam's brother and my son started hanging out together) she got me free tickets to games and took my son's and my jerseys down the concord and got them signed by the whole team. When Liam came up to visit mum she brought him in to meet me . Was pretty stoked , such a lovely lady, and Liam was was also a top bloke!

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Love hearing stories like these, proud as punch parents and personable players (say that 5 times fast). Really not much different to an under 8's trophy night.

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[cqtiger]

Saw Todd Greenberg & Des Hasler @ Gold Coast airport.
Me & my Mrs were eating Sumo Salad waiting for our time to board and they just got off a flight, suited up and appeared to be in a hurry - later found out they were on the coast for Eastwood's dad's funeral or something.

Went to Albert Kelly's farewel party before he was leaving to play for the titans, a handful of NRL players there. Anthony Mundine was also there, chatted to them.

Nathan Merrit, Dylan Farrel & Greg Inglis - they all came into a store I worked at and got stuff, were down for a chat, photos, etc…. All good guys and Merritt is huge in person.

Met the u20's NZ squad when the test match was in Newy a few years back. Carlos Tuimavave offered me tickets to the game and is an absolute legend.

Met George Roses at the club one night, he's not as fat in person, believe it or not, still a big dude.

Have encountered knights players around the place for ages.
Don't like Jarrod Mullen but he's a big guy in real life.

Have met / spoke to - Kev & Wes Naiqama, Zane Tetevano, Beau Scott, Brad Tighe, Josh Mansour, Ben Barba, Tahu, Zeb Taia, Uate, Marvin Filipo, Tyrone Roberts, Richie Fa'ooso, Juniour Sau, Jamie Soward, etc etc.

Also chatted to some of the tigers boys from last years NSW cup when they played in Cessnock.
Moses, Santi, Sia, etc... all good guys.

Saw Asipeli Fine & Akaloula @ Canberra shopping but didn't talk to em or anything.
Tall lads.

Paul Haragon is at some of my nephews u10 games from time to time.

Former nights "super star"Justin Ryder works with at the local PCYC and does youth programs... I'm a youth worker so i've worked with him on a few occasions with some of the young fellas I work with. Super nice guy and still full of energy.

Demps, I think you are a groupie

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[cqtiger]

When I was a young fella I met Artie Beetson when he played for Balmain. I think he said g'day not much else.

When I was in my 20's, I played cricket for an Illawarra club, Thirroul, and they had their presentation night and invited Ian Chappell as guest speaker. I turned up a bit late because of a wedding and I was known back then for 'mooning' people. Sad I know. Anyway, chappelli was in stage talking and all my mates yelled out as I walked into the conference room and by instinct I drpped 'em.

Chappelli couldn't stop laughing.

Sorry nan (she was there too) oops.

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[Tiger_In_The_Gong]

There has been a heap.

Earlier in the year me and the gf were high fiving Taupau who we ran in to at the Nelly concert. He was with Drinkwater and Josh Reynolds.

Early last year i ran in to Mick Potter in the check out at Bunnings Wollongong. Had a bit of a chat, even though we were traveling well he wouldnt have it, said they hadnt achieved nothing.

Another recent one i almost bumped into Jack De Belin at Bunnings Wollongong again, he was all muscle in some loose fitting singlet and playing with his pretty hair. Quite often see the Dragons players out and about.

 

[southerntiger]

I have run into a few players in a professional capacity. Due to the circumstances i cant reveal details but I will say I am always generally surprised how well they come across. Even the ones that come across as idiots in the media, are actually pretty decent and articulate when you talk to them one on one.

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[MacDougall]

I was working during the Ashes a few years ago at The Chalk Hotel, which is probably the closest pub to the Gabba in Brisbane. I was working selling food to people in a pop up hotbox thing and Peter Wallace drunk as a skunk stumbled up and started looking at the options. I asked him how he was and he looked up and stared blankly at me for about 10 seconds until I started feeling really awkward. One of his mates noticed and ushered him away after ordering a couple of hotdogs. He was on Pluto man.

I've met Justin Hodges and Karmichael Hunt at the Treasury. I sat at a Blackjack table half cut and didn't realise it was Hunt. It was just him vs. the dealer at the time and I saw a spare seat so I jumped in. I lost a few times and eventually he just started telling me how to win. He and I ended up cleaning out the dealer. He had about 4 big dudes with him that were just standing behind him. Huge huge dudes. I think they only tolerated me because I was totally oblivious to who he was. I got up and a mate who was watching from a distance goes "How's your form playing blackjack with Karmichael Hunt!" and I was like wtf get out? I went over to say hi and thanks for the tips and they realised I finally clicked who he was and were very very unkind. Told me where to go in no uncertain terms. Hunt told the guy to chill and gave me a handshake and said no worries mate while his heavies looked on. Always thought it was weird that a random footballer had a few huge bodyguards with him but in light of recent allegations…

Justin Hodges walked past me smoking a cigarette when I was outside after being kicked out on the same night. He was talking on the phone and I recognised him and sort of stared drunkenly blankly at him. He chuckled and gave me a nod. He came back past me about 5 minutes later and asked me for a lighter and obliged and asked him for a cigarette and he obliged. I didn't mention that I knew who he was or say his name or anything. Asked if he'd had a good night and he said "yeah mate cleaned up, best night ever."

I went to school in Grafton with Anthony Don. He was a typical jock rural kid, super confident and dumb. Luke Douglas played against me once in an U14s game. I took a hitup from a 20m restart and ran straight at him. He literally gave me the Rock Bottom.

 

[tig_prmz]

It was just him vs. the dealer

hmm.. always thought hunt was the dealer

 

[Tigermama]

I met and had a photo with Matt Lodge after the Dragons game last week, and when I first saw him I was like…what a freaking beast! I asked him why he wasn't playing and he told me he got stood down, I didn't know he was stood down... So i felt so awkward afterwards lol.

I like the fact that he was honest, about been stood down!

 

[Tigermama]

When I was running a cafe up in the Byron hinterland , Liam Fulton's mum became a regular customer. When she found out I was a mad Tigers fan and our kids ( Liam's brother and my son started hanging out together) she got me free tickets to games and took my son's and my jerseys down the concord and got them signed by the whole team. When Liam came up to visit mum she brought him in to meet me . Was pretty stoked , such a lovely lady, and Liam was was also a top bloke!

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And funny too, i bet :smiley:

 

[TurnStyle]

i love these threads too; thanks tigermama.

got a great laugh out of a few of them, but especially GnRs "I suppose a 12 yr old with a texta and cap can be pretty dangerous."!!! :roll

League players i havent met many (mostly AFL being in WA), but two occasions i do remember is once when the Western Reds were around (anyone remember super league?!!!) i met Jon Lomax at a club. this was not long after Adam Ritson (really young, huge Cronulla to Parra player) had a brain issue after being hit by Lomax. I said to him it was just one of those things and not his fault. (in my state i probably thought i was robin williams in Good Will Hunting: "its not your fault…"!).

good thing i didnt say anything bad because he probably wouldve picked me up and driven me head first half way through the floor! not overly tall, but a very very solid unit!

coming back from UK one time i saw the kangaroo squad at singapore airport. didnt talk to them, and all i remember was being surprised i was bigger than darren lockyer!

as this has digressed slightly into meeting famous people....

when i lived in london my (aussie) girlfriend had an Australia day party at her place. she lived with a guy and girl who were into rowing, and as i was mingling discovered that most of the people there had rowed at the sydney and athens olympics. then a couple turned up and just looked like stars. the girl was just gorgeous, and the guy was like some 6'7" ken doll former boy band member or something.

i spoke with the girl a bit and she was lovely. didnt speak to the guy, but the next day talking to my gf, she said "thats James Cracknell...". i didnt have a clue who he was, so i googled him and he is like SO famous! double olympic gold medallist and tv personality! and his wife is Beverly Turner who used to be the grid reporter for the F1 in UK. she is gorgeous...

a friend of a workmate worked at BBC and at friday drinks i saw Anne Robinson (british host of the weakest link, and TV super biatch!) just hanging having a few drinks and chatting. didnt talk but she was happy and seemed really nice.

saw a guy in another club there once and said to him "you look just like David Coulthard" and he said, in a Scottish accent "yeh, i get that a lot.". pretty sure it was David Coulthard....

in an Irish bar in Manhattan in 2003 i met this guy and we had many a pint of guinness together and a great night. we never spoke about work or anything and it wasnt until i was watching a movie well afterwards i realised i had been drinking all night with an actor named Cillian Murphy! (he was the scarecrow/psychologist in the batman movies, inception and recently in tv show peaky blinders).

he was a really great guy. as far as i remember.... :laughing:

 

[Tigermama]

Great post Turnstyle, and funny too :smiley:

 

[GNR4LIFE]

I walked past Greg Eastwood once in a shopping centre near my place. Also walked into the TAB just up the road from me and there was a big guy standing at the counter wearing an LA Clippers singlet, i thought ''I know that guy'', took me a few seconds to place him. Sam Kasiano.

 

[VanillaThunder]

As far as my contribution to this thread goes, I saw the Panthers squad from afar as a kid at Sydney airport, had a picture with Brian Fletcher in Perth in his playing days, said hi to a few Hobart Hurricanes players (Paine and Doherty, from memory) working at the WACA, and stood there gawking awkwardly at Mike Hussey at Perth airport.

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[happy_tiger]

The key to having a decent chat is disarming them completely

If I was to want to chat to Robbie I'd bring up Liverpool for example or Keefy his child

 

[grrrrrrrrrr]

Passed gus Gould and jack Gibson on a little fishing boat. The usual practice is to wave as you pass boats. Gus was looking straight at me as I waved but just turned and looked the other way. Felt like flipping him the bird.

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[Demps]

Continuing on…

Met Brett Kimmorley @ a Westfield here in Newy when he played for the dogs.
Had a quick chat and he said dogs top 4 that year which came true.
Thought he seemed like a bit of a football nerd and would make a good coach.
Lucky to have him on board at the tigers.

Have seen; SBW, Trent Hodgkinson, Uate, Mason, Benji Marshall, etc etc @ the barber shop.
Didn't talk to them as I'm sure they woulda preferred to keep it low key whilst getting a fade.

My girlfriend went to school with the Mat'utia brothers, we've seen them about and they say hello to her, she is friends with their sister. She also knows Josh Drinkwater and went to school with Newy Knights flops - Tyrone Roberts, Chad Redman and Panthers flops Will Smith & AJ Davis, lol.

Owen Cragie use to work for the same company I now work for, have seen him around. Brenton Horwood - ISC cup player who you'll probably see in the NRL one day did also, good bloke. Jobe Wheelhouse former Newcastle Jet works here as well if you're into that stuff.

Have had a few good chats with Isaac De Gois - never liked him as a player but an absolute good guy. Told me he thinks Wayne Bennet is a f-wit.

Also had a few good chats with Neville Costigan - an absoulute gangster. He said he absolutely hates former team mate Willie Mason and Jamie Soward is ........... keep it censored - "gay man."

Me & my girlfriend have also had a coffee w/ Tim Mannah & Jarryd Hayne a few years back, Tim Mannah is friends with a family friend of ours. Not a fan of him as a player though.