By Matt Findlay

In many ways 1969 was a year of transcendent firsts that helped shape the world we live in today – for instance Woodstock transformed live music forever, the Boeing 747 took flight for the first time and in a poignant glance at the brutality of the Vietnam war the Ma Lai massacre and its cover up were exposed.

And while it didn’t have the morbid, global impact of the latter nor the worldwide exposure of, say, Neil Armstrong taking man’s first steps on the moon, closer to home something else happened, another monumental first.

Dennis ‘Muncher’ Garlick played his first game for the Parramatta Two Blues.

Of course, a direct comparison there would be taking steps into a dramatic realm of hyperbole and some may even consider it naive, but in terms of the influence his debut and subsequent time have had on rugby’s landscape in western Sydney, few would argue there’s been any bigger.

Put simply, Muncher is Two Blues rugby.

The now 69-year-old has been through it all with his beloved Parramatta, now Western Sydney, Two Blues, the dazzling highs of the glory years and the debilitating lows which, in more recent times, genuinely had many questioning the club’s future.

And it all began with his first game in colts 50 years ago, on a dreary day just down the road from his home in Granville Park.

“That game was at [Parramatta] Marist, I remember it vividly because it was Golden Slipper day and it was the first trifecta I’d ever won at the races,” Muncher laughed, even recalling the stunning run super colt Vain had in that famous win.

“It’d be one of the only trifectas I’ve ever won too, although I’ve tried bloody hard since.”
Trying hard is something Muncher is no stranger to, it’s something he’s done for his beloved Two Blues ever since as a premiership-winning, 300-game player and then as a manager, trainer and the most dedicated of supporters.

On Saturday those 50 years worth of blood, sweat and tears will be recognised and celebrated in the Two Blues’ Back to Parra Day at Lidcombe Oval, which they’ve aptly re-dubbed Back to Muncher Day.

Not that he’s all that interested in the fanfare, he’s just desperate to see Two Blues win.

“There’s nothing better than winning on Back to Parra Day I can tell you, nothing better. The players are heroes and it’s just incredible. Winning would be far more reason to celebrate than me being here for 50 years,” Muncher said.

“I always look forward to Back to Parra Day, last year there was a bit of a reunion for the guys that have played 200 games, that was great.
“We’ll probably all just have a beer after the games this weekend, it’ll be another good day.”

Muncher, who was presented with NSW Community Sport Award presented at Parliament House in 2017, fondly recalled his playing days, particularly the club’s grand final win over Randwick in 1986 – the last title the Two Blues won.

“The guys that played in that team will always be mates,” Muncher said.

“I played through until about 1989. The first grade coach at the time asked if I’d like to be involved with the team which was really good of him, that’s when I started running water and all of that.

“All the players at the time accepted me really warmly and I’ve pretty much done it ever since, I still do.”

After highlighting Brad Selby as the best player he’d seen at the Two Blues in his time and Pee Wee Goddard as the toughest, Muncher explained what keeps him going is pretty simple too.

“To tell you the truth I’d love another premiership, I might be here for another 50 years trying to get it but there’s good signs now and you never, ever give up hope,” he said.

“It might not be just around the corner but there is hope, there’s a lot of really exciting players in the group now and they want to win, the coaching group they’ve got is very good too. I just hope they don’t get frustrated.”

From the players’ perspective, Two Blues skipper and reigning Ken Catchpole Medal winner Adrian Musico was succinct in his description of the club legend, simply saying “he’s like part of the furniture”.

“He’s just always there, at training, games, everywhere, he’s great to have around the club,” Musico said.

“They’re the kind of guys every club needs but I’m not sure every club has a bloke like Muncher, he just loves his rugby and the Two Blues. Loves a punt too, he’s always talking about the gallops.

“We did a pre-season training camp at Marist, that’s where he played his first game for the Two Blues 50 years ago, he told us that story and a lot of the boys didn’t believe him, it’s incredible really.”

Musico went on to say how much the playing group’s looking forward to Saturday’s clashes with Eastwood, whom the Two Blues beat on Back to Parra Day in 2016.

“Saturday’s going to be a massive day for the club and for us, but obviously more so for him,” Musico said.

“Muncher was here through the good years back in the 1980s but he was here through the really, really dark years as well, when the club was basically just getting smoked week-in, week-out, but he’s still here.

“So if there’s anyone who deserves to celebrate a Two Blues win on Saturday, it’s Muncher.”

Saturday’s top grade game kicks off at 3pm but of course Back to Parra Day starts much earlier than that, with supporters who don a pair of fabled Dunlop Volleys and a Two Blues shirt given the special gate price of just $5.