Rugby league history

[tiger_one]

Someone might go for 10 here 😉

 

[tiger_one]

Ben Elias​

Ben Elias in 1992, gave his heart and soul for the Blues in 19 Origin games and captained his state to a series victory in 1990.

 

[tiger_one]

Wayne Pearce, Balmain and Australian champion player and (later) inaugural coach of Wests Tigers

 

[tiger_one]

Bobby Lindner - champion Aussie rep, Queenslander and Wests Magpie

 

[tiger_one]

7 Games in 4 Seasons - WOW!!
Most injured First Grader ever?
Maybe.

Bad luck well and truly followed Brett Papworth after he converted to Rugby League from Rugby Union and joined Eastern Suburbs for the '88 Season.
The timeline is hard to piece together exactly but we'll let Papworth list his injuries that ended his debut '88 season after 2 games, he didn't play First Grade in '89 at all, he played 1 game in '90 and just 4 games in '91.
"I broke my forearm twice, then I smashed my jaw, before doing my knee twice."

The card below featured Papworth '92 season where he never actually played a game that year and retired. He ended up back in Rugby but never at the same high level.

 

[tiger_one]

Arthur Beetson,, Eastern Suburbs Roosters second rower consoles an injured St George Dragons fullback and captain-coach Graeme Langlands after the 1975 Grand Final, won by the Roosters 38-0 - the infamous game Langlands wore his white boots!

 

[tiger_one]

Fan favourite 💯

 

[tiger_one]

When going to the footy had 3 grades on the day, and you followed all your team's players - those were the great days!

 

[innsaneink]

When going to the footy had 3 grades on the day, and you followed all your team's players - those were the great days!



View attachment 29365

Won 16=11

 

[tiger_one]

Forever a Warrior, Sonny Fai.
\RIP

Remembered not just as a rising rugby league star for New Zealand Warriors, but as a courageous young man whose final act was one of selflessness.
On 4 January 2009, at just 20 years old, Sonny went missing at Bethells Beach (Te Henga), west of Auckland, while rescuing his aiga/family from dangerous surf.
Moe filemu toa.
Sleep peacefully Warrior.

 

[tiger_one]

Wests Magpies legend - TC always was a fan fav 💯

Trevor played 161 first grade games for Western Suburbs between 1981-1991.
He is the fifth most capped Wests player and holds the record for most appearances across all grades with 308.
He also holds the record for most tries scored across all grades.

After retirement, Trevor was made a life member of the Western Suburbs club, inducted into their hall of fame and named in the club's team of the eighties.

 

[tiger_one]

Englishman Martin Offiah played one season with St George - 1991, scoring 11 tries in 14 matches

 

[tiger_one]

Gary Jack - champion Balmain full-back of days gone .....

 

[tiger_one]

Michael Hancock, Brisbane Broncos winger scores a try at Campbelltown Stadium, just evading a determined Brandon Costin, (left hand side), Western Suburbs Magpies

 

[gallagher]

Michael Hancock, Brisbane Broncos winger scores a try at Campbelltown Stadium, just evading a determined Brandon Costin, (left hand side), Western Suburbs Magpies



View attachment 29618

Darren Willis the winger, he was a real tough bastard.

 

[tiger_one]

Darren Willis the winger, he was a real tough bastard.

Champion @gallagher - I wasn't sure of Willis; thanks for clarifying. And yes, I liked watching him too.

 

[tiger_one]

Cross-over sport

LES JOHNS - CRICKET/RUGBY LEAGUE

He played nine outstanding seasons for the Canterbury-Bankstown club between 1963 and 1971. He scored 14 tries and 233 goals and 19 field goals for Canterbury-Bankstown during his career.
Johns also played sixteen games for NSW between 1962 and 1969. He represented Australia on fourteen occasions between 1963 and 1969, first touring with the 1963/64 Kangaroos.

Also, Les holds a Sydney grade cricket record that is unlikely will ever be broken
He scored 101 not out for Sutherland vs Northern Districts in March 1986 - Johns was aged 43 years 237 days
He was a very talented cricketer, he could have easily carved out a career in that sport, had the call to Rugby League not been so strong.

Just a champion, gifted sportsman - a cult hero of his day!








(And here with the great Bob Simpson at a cricket Charity Day)

 

[tiger_one]

Western Suburbs champion Hooker, and later captain/coach

 

[coivtny]

Gary Jack - champion Balmain full-back of days gone .....



View attachment 29617

And also a Magpie for his first year only, I think.

 

[PrattenParkMagpie]

Cross-over sport

LES JOHNS - CRICKET/RUGBY LEAGUE

He played nine outstanding seasons for the Canterbury-Bankstown club between 1963 and 1971. He scored 14 tries and 233 goals and 19 field goals for Canterbury-Bankstown during his career.
Johns also played sixteen games for NSW between 1962 and 1969. He represented Australia on fourteen occasions between 1963 and 1969, first touring with the 1963/64 Kangaroos.

Also, Les holds a Sydney grade cricket record that is unlikely will ever be broken
He scored 101 not out for Sutherland vs Northern Districts in March 1986 - Johns was aged 43 years 237 days
He was a very talented cricketer, he could have easily carved out a career in that sport, had the call to Rugby League not been so strong.

Just a champion, gifted sportsman - a cult hero of his day!


View attachment 29626


View attachment 29627


(And here with the great Bob Simpson at a cricket Charity Day)


View attachment 29628

Simpson and Johns at the legendary Pratten Park.