Tony Gafa couldn’t wait any longer for his first child to become a Sea Eagles Member.
So, he signed up his soon to be born as a proud Manly Member when wife, Francesca, was still 12 weeks pregnant. Today, that child is a happy little boy named Jaxon, who turns four in July.
The Gafa family were just some of the great Manly fans who wandered into the Collegians Rugby League Ground in Figtree to see the Sea Eagles players train as part of the team’s four day camp.
Dressed in their Sea Eagles colours, Jaxon kicked the football around with Tony while Francesca shared her passion for Manly holding their second son, Hudson, in her arms.
“We have a bit of history with Manly and they are a big part of our lives. We actually got engaged at Brookvale Oval during a game as well,’’ Tony said.
Following training, the Gafas couldn’t stop smiling when the players took time out to meet them and pose for photos.
Jaxon’s eyes lit up when captain Daly Cherry-Evans personally wrote a 'Go Manly’ message on the boy’s flag after receiving a texta from passionate Sea Eagles fan, Warren Byrnes, and his daughter, Shelby.
And as it turned out, both families live nearby each other and regularly travel to Lottoland matches from their homes in the Illawarra, and naturally, cheer them on at WIN Stadium when the team is in town.
"It was a pleasure to meet the players,’’ Warren said.
“Please pass on to Trent Barrett and the players that my daughter Shelby, my wife Samantha, and myself were delighted at how friendly and approachable they all were.
“Shelby can’t stop talking about meeting Trent, ‘Turbo’, Dylan and Api and getting photos with them. We love our Sea Eagles.”
