FORMER NSW Rugby League premiership winner Ollie Prattl wants nothing more than to give back to the game he loves.
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Ollie, who won the competition with Balmain Tigers in 1969, has moved to Port Macquarie, and loves looking for players and their milestones to recognise.
He's already given a Cronulla season pass to Comboyne Tigers' 100 gamer Shannon Lee, and he plans to recognise Port Macquarie Shark Danny Graham in a similar way.
Ollie found out about Graham's 100th match in the Port News.
He plans to give Graham a calendar commemorating his special match.
It's not like Prattl has a shortage of memorabilia to give away. His garage is filled with memories.
There are old jerseys and photos adorning the walls.
He still receives plenty of letters about upcoming reunions and functions. Ollie had more clubs than Tiger Woods during his career.
At one stage, he went to five clubs in just over two years. Ollie played for Newcastle, Parramatta, two clubs in England before coming back to Australia and a stint with Canberra.
Balmain was where he had the most success, but you won't find Ollie's face in the photo taken on grand final day in 1969.
Ollie busted a leg about a month before in a game in a game against Newtown - but he can still reel off plenty of names in the team photo.
Alan Fitzgibbon and John Spencer were among his teammates. Then there's John Spencer, but he's not in the best of health.
"He's living down the coast, but I got a phone call saying he's had a stroke," Ollie says.
Ollie came across a remarkable link to Port Macquarie when he rang the Port Sharks' president, Phil Trembath, in search of Graham.
Balmain half back Keith Outten attended Trembath's wedding.
Ollie is already making mates all over Port Macquarie.
His new butcher is a Souths fan - with jerseys all over the Waniora shop - but he instantly remembered Ollie upon his introduction.
He wants to help anyone, and that shines through in Ollie's project of looking for league talent worth noting.
He's got two Parramatta tickets to a National Rugby League game against Canberra to give away.
"What am I going to do with them?" Ollie says.
"I won't be using them.
"If I can help anyone, that's what I do. That's what it's about: helping people."
He still remembers the 1969 final vividly, although Ollie didn't take part on the field.
He was on crutches at the Sydney Cricket Ground when Balmain beat Souths - a team which included 11 internationals - 11-2.
Ollie didn't even let a broken leg rule him out completely, such was his desire to take part in the biggest game of his life.
He still remembers his response to people asking him why he was even there.
"Just in case you need me at half time," he says.
