The Royce Ambassador
In the early days of The Royce, before the soil was even turned on the lot that it now stands proudly on, the Tulich family knew they wanted to enlist a Brand Ambassador for the facility. They wanted someone who personified the values of The Royce – someone who was warm, welcoming and who had a loveable character. Most importantly, they wanted someone who truly meant something to the Penrith community. For all those reasons, and so many more, there was no other choice but Royce Simmons.
Having been raised in the small town of Gooloogong, Royce intimately understands the value and importance of community and mateship. His unwavering dedication to upholding these values is what has established him as arguably the favourite all-time player of most Penrith Panthers fans.
Royce served in more than 400 games for the Panthers as both a player and a coach. During that time, he inspired fans with his grit, determination and no-nonsense approach to the game. He enjoyed some unforgettable moments – few which compare to his inspirational effort in the 1991 Grand Final, which saw him score two tries to take Penrith to a 19-12 victory over the Canberra Raiders. Topping off an incredible career in clubland, Royce also played 10 State of Origin Games for New South Wales and 10 Tests for Australia – the first Panther to ever do so.
In true Royce fashion, retirement has by no means slowed him down. Nowadays, Royce is now ingrained in the corporate area of the Panthers club. He is also a champion for dementia awareness, having been diagnosed himself in 2021. Turning a negative into a positive, Royce started Royce’s Big Walk in 2022, which sees him walk hundreds of kilometres each year, all in the name of raising money for dementia research in Australia.
It’s difficult to put into words what Royce means to The Royce. Alongside his wife, Liane, Royce has become an integral member of the community and a valued friend to both staff and residents. Simply put, he is at the heart of everything The Royce community stands for.
