Balmain 80s/90s

@ said:
Benny Elias couldn’t stand Darren Clarke. Two competing egos back in the Holy Cross days. I remember Clarke throwing a ball to Elias from the sideline for a penalty tap restart. Pass went over Elias’ head and he fair gave it to Clarke. Not good times
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Well it couldn't have happened in first grade…
 
@ said:
@ said:
Benny Elias couldn’t stand Darren Clarke. Two competing egos back in the Holy Cross days. I remember Clarke throwing a ball to Elias from the sideline for a penalty tap restart. Pass went over Elias’ head and he fair gave it to Clarke. Not good times

Well it couldn't have happened in first grade…
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Yeah it did. My memory is sketchy but I remember the incident and Elias wasn’t playing reserves. Clarke must have had some time in first grade
 
@ said:
@ said:
@ said:
Benny Elias couldn’t stand Darren Clarke. Two competing egos back in the Holy Cross days. I remember Clarke throwing a ball to Elias from the sideline for a penalty tap restart. Pass went over Elias’ head and he fair gave it to Clarke. Not good times

Well it couldn't have happened in first grade…

Yeah it did. My memory is sketchy but I remember the incident and Elias wasn’t playing reserves. Clarke must have had some time in first grade
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I don't recall Clark (there is no e) playing a single first grade game.
 
@ said:
@ said:
@ said:
@ said:
Benny Elias couldn’t stand Darren Clarke. Two competing egos back in the Holy Cross days. I remember Clarke throwing a ball to Elias from the sideline for a penalty tap restart. Pass went over Elias’ head and he fair gave it to Clarke. Not good times

Well it couldn't have happened in first grade…

Yeah it did. My memory is sketchy but I remember the incident and Elias wasn’t playing reserves. Clarke must have had some time in first grade

I don't recall Clark (there is no e) playing a single first grade game.
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I’m sure he played some. The reason I remember is I went to school with both of them. Elias was 2 years ahead of me, Clark (no e!) was one year ahead. But it was years ago so maybe I’m wrong but I’m pretty sure I’m not.
 
Okay if you can find a source that says he played first grade I'll stand corrected but I was at Leichhardt pretty much every game and I remember him playing a lot of reserve grade and zero first grade.
 
Yep he got a stack of media attention. I watched many of those reggies games he played. Everyone thought he'd get the ball and sprint off for a try. He rarely got the space or service to do much. Scored a few tries but his defence was dodgy from memory. He never looked like he was going to be called up.
 
@ said:
Yep he got a stack of media attention. I watched many of those reggies games he played. Everyone thought he'd get the ball and sprint off for a try. He rarely got the space or service to do much. Scored a few tries but his defence was dodgy from memory. He never looked like he was going to be called up.
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Well I’ll be stuffed if I know what I’m remembering because the memory is vivid but can’t argue against your figures. I can still de Elias spraying him over the pass. Got me stuffed
 
@ said:
@ said:
Yep he got a stack of media attention. I watched many of those reggies games he played. Everyone thought he'd get the ball and sprint off for a try. He rarely got the space or service to do much. Scored a few tries but his defence was dodgy from memory. He never looked like he was going to be called up.

Well I’ll be stuffed if I know what I’m remembering because the memory is vivid but can’t argue against your figures. I can still de Elias spraying him over the pass. Got me stuffed
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Maybe it was in a first grade trial game?
The mid week games had ended by then (I think?)
 
@ said:
Yeah Freeman was forced out to accommodate Smith. Jones being Jones he had his favourites and guys like Freeman and Jack (voluntarily got forced out).

What happened? The club was never wealthy but Barnes was an effective administrator. 89 we should have won the comp, 90 we made the finals. Then Jones comes in. 91 we don't win a game for the first 7 or so rounds. After that we got going but it was too late. 92 and 93 the Jones effect hits. He can't coach a RL team and it shows. His tactics are poor, his game knowledge non-existence. The team effectively coached itself. 94 he's replaced by Junior. All Jones' favourites go and most of the old guard have retired or moved on. Only Siro and Jack returning from England. 94 we run last and never had the cash to turn to around. Keep in mind the comp goes to 20 teams so it's harder to get talent with new clubs spending money. Then Super Lesgue hits and it's downhill until the JV.
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Yep, this is how I remember it. We spent up big during Ryan’s time. After the ‘89 grand final we were just about broke and down. Jones became coach for no pay as a great favour! It was a very hard time. The joint venture saved us.
 
@ said:
Yeah Freeman was forced out to accommodate Smith. Jones being Jones he had his favourites and guys like Freeman and Jack (voluntarily got forced out).

What happened? The club was never wealthy but Barnes was an effective administrator. 89 we should have won the comp, 90 we made the finals. Then Jones comes in. 91 we don't win a game for the first 7 or so rounds. After that we got going but it was too late. 92 and 93 the Jones effect hits. He can't coach a RL team and it shows. His tactics are poor, his game knowledge non-existence. The team effectively coached itself. 94 he's replaced by Junior. All Jones' favourites go and most of the old guard have retired or moved on. Only Siro and Jack returning from England. 94 we run last and never had the cash to turn to around. Keep in mind the comp goes to 20 teams so it's harder to get talent with new clubs spending money. Then Super Lesgue hits and it's downhill until the JV.
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The move to Parra?
Sydney Tigers?
I rememeber a lot of talk bout the game having to grow from a suburban comp to a national one, Roosters also changed their name…..the purple stripe?
Was that purely an attempt to improve crowds? Improve fianances? I think there was just some premier league soccer being played at LO during this time?
I recall a lot of worry in the comp...Newtown had been punted, Wests had to move, Norths had their issues..Canberra Knights & Illawarra were added. Things were changing all the time even though these issues were spread over a number of years...lots of clubs were worried.
I rememeber hating all the change...the comp I knew when i started following in the 70s was changing rapidly...lost interest a lot
 
Mention of Darren Clarke reminds me of Jeff Fenech having a stint with Parra, thought he played first grade but no mention in the stats site of him.
I remember footage of him, think he played wing, in headgear and huge shoulder pads
 
My reasoning

Money and the full time professional game

80's many players still working was their major income , money from football was secondary so being happy at a club was most important
 
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