They were coming from one man.

“By the name of P-a-u-l … C-l-y-b-u-r-n,” Moran says, slow enough you could almost spell it quicker.

He then starts laughing.

“He just kept hassling me about coming out to Parkes,” the ex-English Super League gun remembers.

“Being overseas at the time, it’s hard to find a job back here in Australia when you’re over there playing.

“I didn’t want to play at a high level any more. I wanted to enjoy my footy.

“Pauly got me that opportunity and I’m grateful for that.”

As grateful as Moran is, the Parkes rugby league club should be just as appreciative of Clyburn’s email barrage.

There’s three Group 11 referee’s association best and fairest awards, three Group 11 player of the year gongs, six grand final appearances, two premierships.

Representative stints with Group 11 and Western Division, captaining and coaching both throughout nine years at Parkes.

A tier two Country Championship win in 2012.

There’s also NSW Country jumpers in 2009 and 2010.

After 36 games with the Eels in the NRL, then 207 in the English Super League with London Broncos, Wigan Warriors, Widness and Leigh, you can count 120 games across both senior grades with the Spacemen between 2009 and 2017.

There’s also 97 tries, 338 goals and 1066 points in red, white and blue.

And then there’s that 100 metre goal-line drop out in 2011 – the one where an opposing player was then trapped in his own in goal as a result of the epic kick,

That’s not ever happened before, just ask anyone at Pioneer Oval that day.

Hyperbole aside, Moran’s time with the Spacies is glittering.

You could argue no one has had a bigger impact on the Group 11 competition in the last nine years.

But the Moran era has now come to an end.

Moran called time on his decorated career with Group 11 giants Parkes at the Spacies’ 2017 presentation night last Friday.

The wily half linked with the Parkes club at a time when they could be called anything but giants.

The Spacemen were rumoured to be close to folding after a wooden spoon campaign in 2007.

They regrouped to make the finals the following year in 2008, but finishing up in fourth place is hardly worth writing home about.

On board in 2009, Moran helped lift Parkes to one of its golden eras – six grand final appearances in seven seasons.

“When we first got here, I think the club was still in a building phase,” Moran remembers.

“To come out here and see the potential the club has and the town has, it’s unbelievable.

“The club’s in a great position and it’s only going to get better.”

It’s a position Moran would have loved to help strengthen further, in an on-field role, had his 40-year-old body been up for it.

“The head would play any day, but the body won’t allow it,” he said.

“It’s been really enjoyable. Everything comes to an end with all of the injuries, there’s nothing you can do about that.

“It was always going to be my last year, with my knees the way they are. At the end of the day it’s probably been coming for a while now.

“I still want to be able to walk around and do things with my kids later in life.

“It’s best to pull the pin early.”

Moran debuted in the NRL with Parramatta in 1997.

Spacies, Western and NSW Country juniors star Darby Medlyn, who played with Moran in Parkes’ first grade side this season, was born in 1999.

Through both his epic career playing footy and his work as a CRL community football officer, Moran has seen plenty of great players.

For the Spacemen, Moran rattles off names like Aaron Thorne, Bobby Hunt and warhorse Epi Sadrodro, who “hasn’t missed a game since he’s been here”.

Former halves partner Nick Doig is another who stands out for Moran, while more recently the likes of Sam Dwyer and hooker Joss Cleal have impressed.

But the highlights are undoubtedly premiership wins in 2010 and 2013, the latter dubbed “the sweetest” by Moran.

That victory was of course against competition juggernaut CYMS, in Dubbo.

Moran scored a try in the 30-18 win over the Fishies, helping the club to its ninth Group 11 premiership triumph in first grade.

“The one against CYMS over there, it was awesome,” Moran said.

And while Moran’s time on the field is done, the Armidale product won’t be leaving his adopted town any time soon.

His three youngest boys, Jaylin, Carter and Marley, love their footy with Parkes as well and are involved in the junior system.

“Hopefully there’s a lot more to it than just sitting at home,” he said. 

“We aren’t going anywhere. This is our home.”

A home made thanks to a few, let’s say, encouraging, rather than hassling, emails.