Barry Ferney, former Western Suburbs rugby league stalwart, is staying positive despite illness

The Port Stephens Committee’s Secretary Peter Arnold and Vice President Greg Hennessy visited former five-eight Barry Ferney at his Soldiers Point home last week.

Barry played in the 1960s with the West Magpies and Parramatta before he made his first grade debut under Parramatta coach Jack Rayner against the might of the Saint George club with Bob Bugden, Poppa Clay, John Raper, Norm Provan, Kevin Ryan and Ken Kearney in their line-up which was a tough ask at Kogarah Oval.

Later that year, Barry was offered a captain coaching job with the Guyra Rugby League Club and enjoyed the bush brand of football. He went on captain coach Wellington and Lithgow in a stellar career where he took his teams to numerous semi-finals and finals. He won a premiership early in his career at Western Suburbs Magpies in third grade.

In recent years, Barry has been ill with mesothelioma but true to his playing days, remains positive, stoic and ready for the battle.