Parkes Spacemen

The Parkes Rugby League Football Club (nicknamed the Spacemen) is a rugby league club that plays in Group 11. The Spacemen gained media attention when they recruited a number of Fiji national rugby league team players prior to the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.

Parkes
Names
Full nameParkes Rugby League Football Club
Nickname(s)Spacemen
2017 season
After finalsPreliminary Finalists
Home-and-away season4th (9 wins, 5 losses)
Club details
Colours  Red   White   Dark Blue
CompetitionGroup 11 Rugby League
Premierships10 (1954, 1972, 1973, 1983, 1984, 1988, 1995, 1996, 2010, 2013)
Ground(s)Pioneer Oval, Parkes

Nickname

Parkes is a regional town of nearly ten thousand people located near the middle of New South Wales, with its economy based on farming and mining. It is also the location of the Parkes Observatory Radio Telescope, from which the Spacemen took their nickname.[1] The name was also recognised during the 100 year celebrations of rugby league by being listed in the article 100 Reasons Why People Love Rugby League, which appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Media attention

The Spacemen were simply a struggling regional club before circumstances brought media attention. The Spacemen advertised for players; at the same time, Fijian rugby league players sought to join a New South Wales club in preparation for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. These Fiji national rugby league team players included Alipate Noilea, Semisi Tora and Ilisoni Vonomateiratu.[1][2]

Local media closely followed the 2008 Rugby League World Cup progress of the Fijian National team and its Spacemen,[3][4] culminating in their defeat by Australia in the second semi-final.[5] By this time national and international[6] media had picked up the story.[1][2]

Notable Juniors

References
  1. Andrew Stevenson (12 November 2008). "We have lift-off - Spacemen ride all the way with meteoric Fijians". www.canberratimes.com.au Canberra Times. Retrieved 16 November 2008.
  2. Josh Massoud (12 November 2008). "Fijian targets Lockyer". www.news.com.au/heraldsun The Herald-Sun. Retrieved 16 November 2008.
  3. "Spacemen trio in World Cup". parkes.yourguide.com.au/ Parkes Champion-Post. 13 October 2008. Retrieved 17 November 2008.
  4. "Fijians to face Australia". parkes.yourguide.com.au Parkes Champion-Post. 14 November 2008. Retrieved 17 November 2008.
  5. "Three of our Spacemen to take on Kangaroos". parkes.yourguide.com.au/ Parkes Champion-Post. 14 November 2008. Retrieved 17 November 2008.
  6. "Fijians fly in World Cup". fijitimes.com/ Fiji Times. 7 November 2008. Retrieved 17 November 2008.
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