The role was offered - and promptly accepted - during a surprise visit to Mount Smart Stadium yesterday.
He stunned the players when he greeted them in the gym as they returned from a field session.
Bedecked in the club’s 2017 Nines jersey (‘Te Toka Tu Toa’ - The Warrior Rock), Parker had his WBO world champion belt with him as well as the Downer NRL Auckland Nines trophy.
While the players were understandably wary about getting too close to the Nines trophy (a prize they’re striving to win for the first time), the glittering world champion belt was irresistible.
