Noel Cleal Retires

[Cobarcats]

Sea Eagles recruitment manager and premiership winner Noel Cleal has called time on an illustrious career in the NRL spanning 35 years across all facets of the game.

The powerhouse played 198 games for Eastern Suburbs and Manly in the NSWRL competition, winning a title in 1987 under the Immortal Bob Fulton.

‘Crusher’ Cleal also played eight Tests for Australia and represented NSW 12 times between 1984 and 1988, winning the Dally M Second Rower of the Year award twice.

I loved watching this guy play. Good luck with retirement big mun.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

View attachment 4078

Sea Eagles recruitment manager and premiership winner Noel Cleal has called time on an illustrious career in the NRL spanning 35 years across all facets of the game.

The powerhouse played 198 games for Eastern Suburbs and Manly in the NSWRL competition, winning a title in 1987 under the Immortal Bob Fulton.

‘Crusher’ Cleal also played eight Tests for Australia and represented NSW 12 times between 1984 and 1988, winning the Dally M Second Rower of the Year award twice.

I loved watching this guy play. Good luck with retirement big mun.

I recall watching the Roosters v St George at the Sports Ground when Cleal and Boustead were the centre pairing. Both were outstanding players I wished both had played with Balmain. Good luck in retirement.

At that time the Roosters had great support and the skull was at the ground supporting the Dragons. As he walked past the main grandstand, all you could hear around the ground was F off baldy. It was a great day coming from the country to watch.

 

[sleeve]

I recall watching the Roosters v St George at the Sports Ground when Cleal and Boustead were the centre pairing. Both were outstanding players I wished both had played with Balmain. Good luck in retirement.

At that time the Roosters had great support and the skull was at the ground supporting the Dragons. As he walked past the main grandstand, all you could hear around the ground was F off baldy. It was a great day coming from the country to watch.

Paws, I was a fan as well, but your post confused me . Cleal was a second rower, and Boustead was a winger. You mentioned centre pairing, have i lost the plot?

 

[Tim Sheens]

Paws, I was a fan as well, but your post confused me . Cleal was a second rower, and Boustead was a winger. You mentioned centre pairing, have i lost the plot?

Like many others, Cleal played in the backs until loss/lack of pace and/or size caught up with them.

Boustead was known as, and played the vast majority of his career as a winger, but not exclusively, including at centre when at the chooks.

 

[jadtiger]

I recall watching the Roosters v St George at the Sports Ground when Cleal and Boustead were the centre pairing. Both were outstanding players I wished both had played with Balmain. Good luck in retirement.

At that time the Roosters had great support and the skull was at the ground supporting the Dragons. As he walked past the main grandstand, all you could hear around the ground was F off baldy. It was a great day coming from the country to watch.

I met Noel Cleal once and he was a really nice down to earth bloke.As you have said i would loved to have had him at Balmain as he was one of those few players who could turn a defeat into a win just by his sheer power and will to win.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Paws, I was a fan as well, but your post confused me . Cleal was a second rower, and Boustead was a winger. You mentioned centre pairing, have i lost the plot?

Cleal played his early football in the centres. Remember his brother who was a second row forward and came down from Warialda with Noel? Great players and country men. I also vaguely remember a Roosters' second row forward from Newcastle who had the pace and step to play in the backs - Ian Barclay. A truly great side at the time. I was only very young but the quality of that team still impresses me.

 

[innsaneink]

Les

 

[Buttface]

I loved watching him play for the blues, he was a gun, and what a nickname “Crusher”.

 

[sleeve]

Cleal played his early football in the centres. Remember his brother who was a second row forward and came down from Warialda with Noel? Great players and country men. I also vaguely remember a Roosters' second row forward from Newcastle who had the pace and step to play in the backs - Ian Barclay. A truly great side at the time. I was only very young but the quality of that team still impresses me.

Thanks mate ,. You have a good memory !

 

[happy_tiger]

I met Noel Cleal once and he was a really nice down to earth bloke.As you have said i would loved to have had him at Balmain as he was one of those few players who could turn a defeat into a win just by his sheer power and will to win.

Noel and Les had something in common with this litle black duck ...the love of pig hunting

Spent a few years out at Moura and absolutely loved hitting the sorgham properties with the dogs and the blades ...best buzz ever

Even better ..you got paid for it ...don't even know if this even happens anymore ....