Named on the extended Parramatta bench for the Easter Monday clash against Wests Tigers, Apa Twidle told his mother not to come to the game as the chances of him making his NRL debut were slim.
But No.19 did get on the field in the 59th minute after the Eels’ right edge was decimated with centre Sean Russell (head knock) and winger Bailey Simonsson (ankle) out of the game.
Ater just 30 seconds, with his first touch of the ball, Twidle scored in the right corner of CommBank Stadium. Two minutes later and a Mitch Moses cut-out pass had him scoring there again.
Two NRL tries on debut and the happy ending to the story is that his mum, Pura, did make it to the ground due to some family pressure and a hastily-bought airline ticket from New Zealand.
They found each other in the stands after the final whistle.
“The first thing, when I went to my mum, we didn't even say anything, we just started crying,” Twidle said.
Apa Twidle Try
“My mum's everything to me. She wasn't even supposed to come, I told her not to come.
“I said, 'Don't waste your money, don't come', but my aunties told her to get over here and then she booked her flight (arriving match-day morning).”
It sounds like it could have been the best day of the 22-year-old’s life – but you’d be wrong. The birth of his daughter last August takes that honour.
Twidle writes the initials P.B. on his wristband before matches, but it’s not to celebrate his first child.
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It is a reminder of the man who kept Twidle upright, when he arrived in Brisbane as a homesick 16-year-old to attend Marsden High School and play for Souths-Acacia Ridge Magpies.
Paul Brown coached him in the Under 17s and U18s at the Magpies, put a roof over his head and gave him life advice and love in equal measure.
But he passed away from cancer seven months ago.
“I wouldn't be standing right here right now if it wasn't for that guy. I lived with him in Brisbane, he trained me hard, he looked after me, didn't ask for anything in return, he just made sure I trained hard,” Twidle said.
“He died the week my daughter was born. I just want to do everything for him. He's the reason why I'm here.”
Twidle was scouted by Parramatta and played in their NSWRL premiership-winning SG Ball side (U18s) in 2023. He went on to play Jersey Flegg (U21s) and the weekend before his NRL debut he scored four tries in a 26-26 draw with Penrith in NSW Cup.
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Coming into the game at such a crucial moment with the Eels trailing 18-10, he showed great composure to score two brilliant tries to level the scores with 19 minutes to play.
“I'd be lying if I said I was calm. I'd be pretty good at poker then,” he said.
“My heart was racing, even when Seany (Russell) went down, because I thought I was on then. The whole week the boys were getting into me just saying, 'Just be ready, you never know'.
“I prepped well, thought my preparation was good and just told myself be ready, my opportunity will come.”
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And it certainly arrived in front of a record CommBank Stadium crowd of 29,397.
Go back six years and it may not have even happened.
“My first weekend (in Brisbane) I called my mum and said, 'Get my flight back'. It was tough, but I just had to stay the course," Twidle said.
“Her and my brothers (convinced me to stay). I get emotional talking about my brothers, they're like my idols. My brothers taught me hard work. You don't get anywhere without hard work.”
