Gareth Ellis last wore a Wests Tigers jersey in 2012, but the British league legend continues to have a significant impact on the club through his mentorship of fellow Pom Kai Pearce-Paul.
Fresh from his dream debut for the Tigers last Saturday, Pearce-Paul paid tribute to Ellis, who won three Player of the Year awards during his 75-game stint at Camp Concord.
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“Ever since I came out here (to Australia), even before I came to the Tigers and was at Newcastle, he reached out on Instagram and gave me his number,” says Pearce-Paul, who scored two first-half tries in Wests’ 44-16 win over the Cowboys.
“We had a few chats, and we were going to meet up over the Ashes series; we didn’t end up managing to do so.
“He was sort of an idol of mine growing up, he was so tough and is everything an Englishman wants to be and what you pride yourself on.
“You know what he was like as a player, and I highly respect him and kind of relate to him being at the Tigers now.”
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Pearce-Paul, 25, says his friendship with Ellis has grown on their shared experiences of living abroad. While both men had great success in the Super League, they were unknown quantities when they arrived on Australian shores. Interestingly, London-born Pearce-Paul says most of Ellis’ advice relates to life off the field.
“He almost mentors me in a way, just making sure I am all sweet with the stuff outside of rugby, mentally and stuff,” says the former Wigan and Newcastle Knights star.
“Just making sure that I am coping by asking how I’m going… regularly checking up on me.
“I don’t have a lot of English family here, so it’s nice to talk to someone who was in a similar boat.
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“It’s quite nice knowing that when he says things it’s coming from a place of empathy.
“He’s felt what I’ve felt… and it makes it easier for me to relate to him.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for him. He’s a really nice guy.”
Ellis isn’t the only Tigers legend inspiring the 6′ 6″ edge forward. He’s made no secret of the fact that coach Benji Marshall was the driving force behind his decision to join a club facing a 15-year finals drought. He has clearly embraced Marshall’s vision and is now a fully-fledged ‘Benji-ite’.
“This team last year, they ended with some pretty good form, and that was something that we focused on coming into this season, to add to that and carry it on,” Pearce-Paul continues.
“As a team, we’ve got what we call our ‘non-negotiables’, which are the little one-percenters you don’t see on TV, but end up making the difference, and help your team out more than just yourself.”
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Then there’s his third inspiration: the fans. A Crystal Palace supporter, Pearce-Paul was full of praise for the Leichhardt Oval crowd following the Cowboys’ win, comparing the atmosphere at the inner-west venue to some of the more raucous Premier League stadiums.
“It reminds me of being at a soccer game in England, crowds up and chanting, beers flying everywhere,” he says.
“And that’s exactly what you want from a crowd that’s backing you.
“You want that bit of crazy, knowing that they’ve got your back no matter what.”
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