Ruby Staines handed the special book created by his little fans at the Forbes Learning Ladder to her brother Charlie after the Grand Final. Proud parents Lisa (left) and Shayne (right) with Charlie and his partner Erin Dwyer.
If you asked the little ones at Forbes Learning Ladder about Charlie Staines they would be able to tell you lots about him.
Not only do they have the Penrith Panther player’s sister as a staff member, but they made a special book for him last week. “Every room had two pages in the book and they wrote messages for Charlie, created lots of paintings and other crafts,” said Ruby Staines.
Charlie, a former Forbes Magpies player, made sure his name was on every Forbes footy fan’s lips when he scored a try in his first Grand Final to help his team beat the Parramatta Eels on Sunday.
Ruby presented the book to him after the game and it stole his heart. “He just loved it and thought it was very cute.”
Ruby, who watched the game with her parents and older brother, said it was a day they would never forget. “The atmosphere was just unreal. I think it was the loudest event I had ever been to with 85,000 people in the crowd.”
She had no words to describe her feelings when Charlie scored his try. “There were lots of tears of joy in our group.” Ruby said it was very special that Charlie came over to them after he had received the ring presented to each Panthers player. “He was very emotional and so excited that he managed to score in his first ever Grand Final. We are just so proud of him.”
The family were invited to join the after-party for a very big night of celebration. Ruby said it was amazing how the whole town stood behind Charlie.
She said he was very determined to show the team what he could do and he hoped that he would remain in the squad and be able to play his preferred position.
By Maggi Barnard