Men of League magazine edition 52

Issue 52 – August 2013

AUSSIE EXILES ABROAD

TIGER TALES!

REMEMBER CHARLIE FRITH

A special Generation Next

THE GLADIATORS 50 YEARS ON MY GREATEST 17: BEN HORNBY AND KERRY BOUSTEAD LEAGUE’S FIGHT AGAINST BLACK DOG

HELPING MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE RUGBY LEAGUE COMMUNITY

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MEN OF LEAGUE

gala dinner

THURSDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2013

celebrating the venue:

star events centre the star 80 pyrmont st pyrmont

time:

7pm for 7:30pm

tickets:

$300 per ticket $3000 table of 10

dress: rsvp: black tie

book online molf.iwannaticket.com.au or phone 02 8765 2232

1963 grand final 2

MEN OF LEAGUE AUGUST 2013

IN THIS EDITION Health Focus – Depression.

Sons of Tiger legends Queenslander! Face to Face with Billy Moore.

12 Gaz: Our new board member 13 My Greatest Team: Ben Hornby 15 Ray’s Wrap 16-17 The Gladiators’ special bond 18-19 Pride of League’s revival 22-23 One Game Wonders 26-27 Exiles Abroad 28 The Rugby League Museum 30 Where are they Now: Charlie Frith 31 My Greatest Team: Kerry Boustead 34-35 Ross Livermore tribute 45 Face to Face with Bryan Niebling 48 Ivan Jones 49 Clontarf Foundation 52-54 The Pioneering Maori

FROM THE

4-6 8-9 10

PLUS THE REGULARS: Lending A Helping Hand: NRL, CRL and QRL welfare; Women in League, Events Calendar; Committee News; Obituaries.

PRESIDENT W

elcome to your newlook Men of League magazine. As part of our organisation’s growth and the change in our membership structure, we feel it is important that we continue to deliver the best product possible for our members.

As such, your magazine has undergone a bit of a renovation.

We’ve still got all the interesting features, important news and events from the Foundation, but with a clean and modern design that will make it a much more enjoyable read.

This redesign is another step in what has been a very positive year so far for the Men of League Foundation and we can rightly be very proud of all we have achieved.

EDITOR: Neil Cadigan (editor@menofleague.com.au) DESIGN: Brilliant Logic CONTRIBUTORS: Ian Heads, Steve Ricketts, Norm Tasker, Ray Chesterton, Barry Ross, David Middleton, Andrew Ferguson, Geoff Prenter, Greg Shannon, Ray Warren.

PHOTOS: The Foundation thanks News Ltd for supply of photographs ADVERTISING: Brilliant Logic Phone: (02) 4324 6962 www.brilliantlogic.com.au www.menofleague.com

In recent months we have updated our website and our members’ bulletin, and launched a new TV commercial, voiced by Oscar winner and South Sydney Rabbitohs co-owner Russell Crowe, for whose time and generosity we are very thankful.

Internally, we were disappointed to lose Brian James from the Foundation board, who resigned after seven years. Brian’s hard work and dedication to the Men of League will be sorely missed but I’m sure he’ll still be involved with the game and I look forward to catching up with him soon.

As a result, we now have a new face on the board – former Australia and St George Illawarra star Mark Gasnier will bring some fresh ideas to our board and

ensure the support we provide to the rugby league community will remain relevant to the next generation.

In early July we also held the inaugural Men of League Weekend, during which more than 300 pairs of commemorative socks were bought by teams and clubs across the country, raising more than $12,000 for members of the rugby league community who have suffered spinal cord injuries.

On top of this, several clubs undertook their own fund-raising activities, raising a further $4000 for the Foundation. At this point I must give special mentions to Concord-Burwood United and Holy Cross Rhinos, who raised $1500 and $1000 respectively.

This fantastic result could not have been achieved without all your hard work. Indeed the response we received from teams and clubs of all sizes from all corners of the country illustrates how much the Foundation is built upon the strength and spirit of the people who love the game.

As such, I would like to extend my personal thanks to you all for your inspiring effort and contributions to the Foundation’s work. We could not support the rugby league community without the support of the rugby league community.

However, the Men of League Foundation still has much work to do and I look forward to our continued partnership to improve the lives of the men, women and children of rugby league.

Ron Coote, AM

HELPING MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE RUGBY LEAGUE COMMUNITY

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PROMOTING GOOD HEALTH When being ‘tough’

is a man’s undoing

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Footballers, and the toughest ones too, are more prone to depression than most. Here we look at the issue through the eyes of those who have been victims. By NEIL CADIGAN

t is a compelling statistic creating a gripping story.

Three or four players in every rugby league team of 17, present or past, most likely suffer from some form of depression.

That’s the national average. Consider the gladiatorial aspect of their sport and the added pressure of scrutiny and weekly intensity, and footballers are regarded as being in a higher risk category.

Add the “after the cheering has gone” element that confronts once feted and pampered former NRL players and we have an environment where 5000 men who are reading this story would have been touched by the illness that has fortunately been largely destigmatised through the revelations of men like Andrew Johns, a bipolar disorder sufferer, and others.

And that is the one ingredient that is the key to this important issue; taking that step of talking to overcome the prime impediment to salvation – keeping it to yourself, particularly because you might think of yourself as being weak in a footy world of ‘toughness’ and bravado. Perhaps the key step of all is recognising and admitting you may be suffering depression and need the help, the communication, to deal with it.

Depression is an illness. Let’s not hide its full description – a mental illness – that does not discriminate. It can affect the big, the powerful, the famous and the presumably successful as much as anyone else.

How do you detect depression? Everyone feels down at times but if a dark mood continues for more than two weeks or you have problems functioning for prolonged periods, you may be a sufferer. In most cases, people ‘bounce back’; however those with clinical depression lack the ability to pick themselves up from feeling down.

Symptoms of depression include: Feeling bad about yourself; changes in sleep patterns; changes in appetite or weight; feeling overwhelmed by pessimism, anger, guilt, irritability and anxiety; varying emotions throughout

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Preston Campbell in his Penrith days when he undertook to beat his depression. Photo courtesy DAILY TELEGRAPH.

the day for example, feeling worse in the morning and better as the day progresses; not able to enjoy life; not so interested in sex; decreased tolerance for minor aches and pains; poor concentration and memory; low motivation to do things that used to matter to you or feeling exhausted.

Preston Campbell, who retired in 2011, now spends much of his life in Indigenous welfare, mentoring youth, but also presenting himself as an example of how depression can hit but be conquered. He says he can tell the signs in those who – like he did – present a façade to hide the onset of ‘the black dog’. And he sees it in rugby league.

He was just 15 months through the perceived peak of his career, winning the Dally M Medal in 2001, when he

tried to take his life one lonely day. He says if it wasn’t for the care and insight of the man he says saved his life, coach John Lang who later led him to a premiership, he may not be here to tell of his story of a happy ending.

“I look back now at what I went through and think it was stupid, it was silly, but it was serious,” Campbell reflects of his downward spiral which was prompted by something as simple as a change of coach playing position at Cronulla. Something so simple which saw him doubt his capability of surviving in the NRL and which unlocked deep memories of continually being told he was too small to be worthy of a career he had always dreamt of.

“It took just over a year to go from top of the world to a deep dark cold pit I couldn’t get out of, and it can happen just like that. I blamed others rather than myself and I kept it to myself and didn’t understand I was neglecting my family and friends; I kept myself in a bubble and didn’t talk about my feelings.

After a failed attempt at conciliation during a preChristmas trip to the north coast, Campbell surrendered to his demons and drove his car into a tree trying to take his life. He was taken by helicopter to hospital with a broken leg and chest injuries. The fortunate ending is that he and Lee were months later reunited and live happily on the Gold Coast and Preston learned to confront life’s issues – but only after the unexpected intervention of Lang.

He was at home alone one morning, still in his pyjamas, when there was a knock on the door and it was Lang who said “let’s go for a drive”. With no explanation about where they were headed, he ended up at the surgery of a clinical psychologist in Parramatta. Within minutes Campbell was in tears telling a stranger of his ordeal and had embarked on the road to recovery.

“It was because I was afraid, and I was embarrassed.

With footballers these days they have to have the tough exterior – look tough, act tough, be tough – but a tough person doesn’t get through this; a strong person does and there is a difference.”

“The psychologist made me feel like I could get control of how I was feeling,” Campbell says. “I was fortunate that I was able to overcome it without medication and when I felt strong enough it became a big part of my healing; being able to talk to other people about it. I don’t have any trouble talking about it because it makes me feel happy and reminds me of where I was and that I never want to go there again and let myself be that person again.”

He’d left to be reunited with his former Sharks coach Lang at Penrith but he admits the damage had already been done to his relationships and his wife Lee left, taking their two children (they now have three) with her, relocating to Ballina to be closer to her family. It rocked him, and the fear of not being able to provide for his family – a driving motivation in his NRL career – became his new seemingly insurmountable dilemma.

He is concerned for the young players, one of many alarmed at two Holden Cup players this year taking their lives, and he is conscious of cultural and family pressures that can often be at play. The NRL’s welfare and education manager Paul Heptonstall and his team are addressing the growing problem of depression, with the assistance of clinical psychiatrists from the Black Dog Institute, launch a State of Mind campaign.

URGENT! ANNUAL FEE DUE NOW To continue to receive the Men of League magazine by post, members are required to pay an annual $10 fee, as previously advised. This is to help absorb the enormous cost to produce the magazine, which we are committed to improving further.

As from 2014 you will no longer receive a printed copy of the magazine unless the annual fee has been paid. We appreciate your support on this matter.

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HELPING MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE RUGBY LEAGUE COMMUNITY

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Former international Scott Hill represents the category that may be more prevalent among Men of League members; those beset by depression post-career. And considering the more recent aspect of players coming out of the generation of full-time professionalism and having to contend with the Great Financial Crisis, it is an issue that is more common than meets the eye.

Hill confesses that he often can identify other footballers who suffer depression and will try to encourage them to get expert help. “It’s far more obvious to me now and it is more common than people realise,” he says.

“For the first time life became enjoyable. I wish I knew what was wrong with me much earlier and sought treatment."

Hill, who wants to follow the path of becoming a player manager, advisor and mentor, is one of many examples of those who have conquered the condition – he is no longer on medication - and is well placed to use his experience to assist others.

“It’s always been hard for men to speak about it but believe me once you take the first step it’s much easier to recover. Now I feel I’m in the space that I can get through anything now,” said Hill.

“Once you have an understanding you may not have to be on medication for the rest of your life and you can learn to deal with this, it can be very beneficial. For example I think it is important to continually train; I run every day which helps clear my head a lot.

“In most cases it’s a chemical imbalance that you can mask when the body is producing endorphins from training and competing when you’re playing. But when that ends and other factors set in, whether it being financial or suddenly not being in the football environment, it can affect you.”

PHOTO: Scott Hill

Wayne Wigham was a tall stylish winger-centre who played 170 first grade games with Balmain, Norths and Wests from 1976-85 and was once the competition’s top try-scorer but then, and since, he has battled depression.

Now he speaks to groups on behalf of the Black Dog Institute, more recently in the mining sector where depression has become 6

MEN OF LEAGUE AUGUST 2013

prevalent in circumstances similar to rugby league – supposedly tough men in a male dominated environment, often away from family for long periods and under enormous pressure to maximise income while it is available.

Wigham, only well after his league career had ended, was diagnosed with melancholia, a form of depression that is caused by chemical imbalance and can only be treated by drugs. He recognises now that he suffered from depression throughout his playing years; “I always felt sad as if a black cloud was hanging over me”.

“This continued long into my retirement but thought I was just being weak and a whinger ,” he says. “I could not concentrate and left many jobs because I could not function properly. The fact that I was hiding how I felt caused me to become reclusive which cost me relationships and some friendships as people think you don’t care anymore.

“I did not even realise until I bumped into John Brady [former journalist and now director of public affairs at the NRL] and he said he heard I had become a recluse. My personality had changed and I did not realise it.

“I then got told by a friend I probably had depression. I sought help at the Black Dog Institute where I was finally diagnosed and treated.

“For the first time life became enjoyable. I wish I knew what was wrong with me much earlier and sought treatment. My message is if you feel down all the time or are only feeling okay when drinking or taking drugs, get help immediately. It can be treated and life can be okay.”

If you consider you may suffer from, or know someone who suffers from depression, it can be conquered but only by seeking expert help.

The Black Dog and Beyond Blue contact details are below but Men of League has posted valuable reference material on the website (www. menofleague.com) that you can privately sift through in your own time. Learn what to look for (the Black Dog website has a self-assessment test), how depression works and how to get help.

Should you need to talk to someone urgently about your mental health, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.

NEXT ISSUE: Prostate cancer. www.beyondblue.org.au www.blackdoginstitute.org.au

YOUR MEN OF LEAGUE LOCAL CONTACTS NEW SOUTH WALES CANBERRA MONARO President: Noel Bissett 0407 597 533 Secretary: Peter Elliot 0419 426 200 Central Coast President: Don Parish 0414 353 141 Secretary: Trevor Andrews 0412 694 857 Central West President: John Lasker 02 6852 2477

Far South Coast President: Terry Dickson 0429 449 058 Secretary: Damian Kennedy 0417 069 723 Illawarra President: Peter Fitzgerald 0412 263 733 Secretary: Barry Harle 02 4229 1545 Macarthur/Sth Highlands President: Ron McEntee 0448 118 789 Secretary: Stephen Hazelton 0450 010 770

Mid North Coast President: Brian Atherton 0427 523 818 Secretary: Kevin Rayment 0427 533 644 Mid West President: Paul Rossiter 0418 624 530 Secretary: Elwyn Lang 0429 721 266 Newcastle Hunter President: Garry Leo 0400 421 767 Secretary: Ross Gigg 0409 154 233 North Coast President: Peter Barrett 0414 227 068 Secretary: Terry Clark North West President: Don Pascoe 02 6742 1560 Secretary: Kevin Robinson 02 6760 5067 Northern Sydney President: Neil Whittaker 0412 488 037 Secretary: Denis Bendall 0435 057 477 Northern Rivers Patron: Bob Abbott AM Secretary: Tony Cicchinelli 02 6621 3096 Media Officer: Barry Cheadle 02 6686 2977 NSW Police Patron: Andrew Scipione President: Dennis Clifford 0411 266 610

National Board Patron: The Hon John Fahey AC President: Ron Coote AM Vice President: Jim Hall Secretary: Neil Musgrave Treasurer: Geoff Thoroughgood Committee: Royce Ayliffe, Steve Calder, Martin Cook, Mark Gasnier, Ben Ikin, Noel Kelly, Peter Simons, Darryl Van de Velde

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QLD AND AFFILIATED STATES Brisbane President: Ron Atkins 07 3355 7271 Secretary: Vance Rennie 07 3350 6436 Bundaberg District President: Terry Dodd 0414 526 828 Secretary: Chris Sullivan 0407 425 563 Central Highlands President: Andrew Lawrence 0448 813 666 Secretary: Mick Roach 0400 638 249 Far North Queensland President: Paul Fowler 0407 640 533 Secretary: John McAllister 0411 752 391 Fraser Coast President: Peter Stephensen 07 4122 2868 Secretary: Bob Wicks 0419 722 746 Gladstone President: Mark Graham 0431 709 476 Secretary: Chris Anderson 0404 543 216

Executive Executive Officer: Chris Bannerman Office Manager: Sandra Hopwood Operations & Membership Manager: Jason Turik Qld Operations & Events: Tegan Jennings NSW Admin & Membership Officer: Claire White Accounts: Georgie Dawson & Marg Dawson Honorary Welfare Officers: Ron Pearce & John Peard Honorary Scholarship Officer: Ray Beattie OAM Liaison Officier: Michael Buettner Local Committee Manager NSW: Jim Hall Local Committee Manager QLD: Steve Calder Media, Marketing & Sponsorship: Louise Duff

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chris@menofleague.com sandra@menofleague.com jason@menofleague.com tegan@menofleague.com claire@menofleague.com accounts@menofleague.com welfare@menofleague.com nsw@menofleague.com qld@menofleague.com lduff@brilliantlogic.com.au

NSW & National Office Level 3, Eastern Grandstand, ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park NSW 2127 PO Box 7049, Silverwater NSW 2128 Ph: 02 8765 2232 Fax: 02 8765 2808 QLD Office QRL Office, Suncorp Stadium, Castlemaine Street, Milton QLD 4064 PO Box 1217, Milton QLD 4064 Ph: 07 4528 2925 Fax: 07 3367 3464

HELPING MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE RUGBY LEAGUE COMMUNITY

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Sons of Tigers

earn their stripes The Balmain Tigers legends of the 1980s have produced the most diverse Generation Next of siblings sport has seen. The latest graduate is Wests Tigers halfback Curtis Sironen. By RAY CHESTERTON

T

he sons of Balmain Hall of Fame inclusions Garry Jack, Steve Roach, Wayne Pearce and Paul Sironen once rejoiced in the accumulated glory bestowed on their famous fathers for their rugby league deeds in club and Test matches in the 1980s.

Now, in the most startling group role reversal the game has ever known, it’s the turn of the fathers to bask in the reflected radiance of their sons seizing their own moment in the sporting limelight.

Pearce’s son Mitchell, the Roosters and NSW halfback, and Sironen’s enormously talented boy Curtis are on the conventional sporting path of rugby league.

‘Sirro’ junior is the latest in the Tiger-line to make the big time, the Wests Tigers No. 7 of 2013 at age 19 (he turned 20 on July 31) is expected to be the first grade five-eighth next season, post Benji Marshall.

Jack’s son Kieren is co-captain of the Sydney Swans in the AFL premiership and his younger brother Brandon, 19, made his first grade debut this season against Adelaide.

Roach’s son Aidan is an Olympic water polo player and his other two sons Daniel and Liam had lively careers in rugby union and rugby league.

And maintaining bloodlines that would make horse stud owners envious, Mitchell Moses, the nephew of Benny Elias, Balmain’s energetic Kangaroo hooker in the same bruising packs as Roach, Sironen and Pearce, is freely tipped as a first grader next season.

Throw in Mitchell Pearce being a champion 800 metres athlete before focusing on football and no wonder noted rugby league historian David Middleton says it is the most diverse range of sports ever played by the sons of former rugby league players and has no comparison in the game’s annals.

The great St George sides that won 11 successive premierships and fielded Test players in almost every position in their club side for a decade produced some second generation players of note but not as many or of such diversity as the Tigers quartet. It’s the same with the all-conquering Souths sides of the late 1960s and early 1970s which overflowed with internationals.

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“It must be something in the Balmain water,’’ says Roach senior. “I used to think it was the beer at Balmain Leagues Club but it can’t be that. Junior (teetotaler Wayne Pearce) has never had one in his life.”

Some players can talk about being mates since they were born. Mitchell Pearce and Liam Roach can turn the clock back even further.

Their pregnant mothers sat near each other watching their husbands play in Balmain games. Adding to the affection between families, Wayne Pearce’s wife Terri and Steve Roach’s wife Cathy were each other’s bridesmaids.

“The boys are all good friends,’’ says Cathy Roach.

“They have really known each other all their lives.’’

Proof of the longevity of the relationships lies in the once-modern but now creaking home videos of children’s parties with a smiling Mitchell Pearce celebrating little Kieren Jack’s birthday.

To maintain the momentum the Sironen and Roach families still live in the same street as each other in an inner north-western suburb of Sydney - opening up avenues of street cricket and football matches.

“Blocker came about eight years ago,” says Sironen senior. “I tell people the house prices dropped immediately.”

Cathy Roach says it all helped mould strong and lasting relationships. “There were barbeque's and gettogethers,” she says. “The boys all grew up together and were always close.”

With Daniel and Liam Roach now focusing on exciting new pursuits after stints in union and league, Aidan’s success in the pool as a water polo player has pulled his father into unchartered waters.

Aidan’s selection in the Australian water polo team at last year’s Olympic Games had Blocker, Cathy and her 80-year-old mother flying to London to support Aidan and see him play water polo proudly wearing Australia’s colours. With his team showing promise and finishing in sixth place.

Like father like son, Curtis (the only one of the ‘next generation’ to wear the black and gold) and Paul Sironen.

Although Blocker stresses his pride in all of his boys, he confesses that the heart-stirring emotionalism and ageless symbolism of the Olympics was overwhelming especially when your son is involved.

“I had tears in my eyes,’’ Blocker says.

Making up for a lifetime of ruses and practical jokes by his father, Aiden conspired with his mother about his Olympic selection. Knowing the squad for the Olympics had to be cut by two people to 13, Blocker took the phone from a sombre Cath when she said Aiden was on the line.

Expecting the worst, he’d already run consolation lines through his mind like: “Don’t worry son, there’s always next time.’

“They were geeing me up,’’ Blocker says. “They knew he was already in the team. “I couldn’t talk. Imagine … my son an Olympian.”

The Roach clan back in Blocker’s playing days.

Social engineers wrestle endlessly with finding a formula that will guarantee human sporting success.

They accept that the genetics of having a father, and sometimes a mother as well, who were champions, plus living in a household environment attuned to success combined with having ready access to someone who understands the demands and expectations of high performance sport, is an advantage.

But that doesn’t explain the success of all those sporting champions from backgrounds where sport was a minor part of the family life. The science continues.

Maybe Garry Jack got closest when he once said: “It just comes down to how driven they are.”

Wayne Pearce remembers his coaching days with the Tigers and Mitchell running with the first graders - and beating them. “He was always a very good athlete,” says Pearce.

Garry Jack chairs sons Brandon (left) and Kieren on his last day as a Tiger.

Curtis Sironen was just five years old when he led his dad on to Leichhardt Oval for his final match in 1998.

Mitchell Pearce was born the year before his dad retired in 1990 and his memories are restricted to watching videos of his Test and club performances.

“I watched a lot of him on video. He was a terrific player,” he says of his father who is now an NRL commissioner. “He’s been a tremendous asset to me with advice about my game. He’s a calming influence for me.”

Of all the boys Mitchell and Liam have formed the strongest bond. When Ricky Stuart was coaching the NSW side it was decided that each player could bring anyone they liked on an all expenses paid trip to Brisbane for the game.

Mitchell bought Liam. “We’re pretty tight,” he says. “But we’re all mates.”

HELPING MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE RUGBY LEAGUE COMMUNITY

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AFTER THE SIREN Men of League talk to familiar footy names about now … and then.

BILLY MOORE Former North Sydney, Queensland and Australian forward, BILLY MOORE is back in the spotlight thanks to the new series of XXXX advertisements featuring his famous ‘Queenslander’ call to bless every beer at the brewery.

Interview by STEVE RICKETTS. What was it like making that XXXX advertisement?

The whole ad only goes for about 15 seconds, but it took about 12 hours to make. I think I screamed out ‘Queenslander’ 800 times and I was thinking this could be terrible or it could be great. As it worked out the feedback was fantastic. I think the key was keeping the concept simple, with a good blend of the tongue-incheek and a reverence for people in Queensland who regard the call as part of State of Origin folklore.

In the lead-up to the making of the ad I had three sessions with a personal trainer, courtesy of my business partner who couldn’t avail himself of the opportunity. The trainer flogged me to death and my back was giving me hell on the day they made the ad.

There were 14 people on set and I didn’t want to let anyone down, so I took pain killers and got on with it. If you remember the part where I am chasing the forklift - I had to do that 20 times. One more would have finished me.

You are ‘Mr Queenslander’ because the television cameras captured you in the tunnel at the Sydney Football Stadium screaming the call at the top of your lungs as you filed out for Origin 1 in 1995.

What is the background to that? We had nine rookies that year because of the Super League war, and the young blokes’ eyes were liked saucers as 42,000 Blues supporters bayed for blood. The ‘Queenslander’ call went up and we maintained it for the walk down the tunnel, or so I thought. Anyhow, everyone shut up, but me. A few days later some mates told me they had seen me on television doing the call, and that’s the first I knew of it. I had a look at it and I must admit I was pretty pumped.

You were given a special crowd motivational role before Origin II at Suncorp Stadium this year. What was that like? Amazing. But it nearly didn’t happen.

They played the XXXX ad four or five times on the big screen, and there was a pre-recorded overlay of me 10

MEN OF LEAGUE AUGUST 2013

Billy Moore revs up the Suncorp Stadium crowd before Origin II … ‘Queenslander!!!’

running down the tunnel doing the Queenslander call.

They actually held me in the tunnel at Suncorp for four or five minutes before running. I went to water and couldn’t remember what I was supposed to say, and it was only a few lines. I made an excuse that I had to go to the toilet, and I went out the back and did 100 push ups to get my concentration going. I told myself to enjoy the moment, because it would never happen again and it turned out one of the great experiences of my life. I felt like Bruce Springsteen out there, that I could have got the crowd to go along with anything I asked them.

What do you do to keep fit? I actually got fit for the New York Marathon this year, at the urging of my wife Kerri who was determined to compete. Long distance running saw me drop from 104kg to 92kg. We went over there, but Hurricane Sandy put an end to our dream.

Still, New York is not a bad city to be stuck in. We hope to run it in 2014.

What keeps you busy today, and did you have any problems adjusting to life after football? This year I bought a half share in a Mooloolaba restaurant, Augello’s. It won the title ‘World’s Best Pizza’ in 2010 and 2012, and I’ve changed by name to Billy de Mauro.

Just kidding. It was a massive adjustment for me at the age of 28 to start a new life after essentially going down with the ship when Norths folded. I had a uni degree and thought I had prepared myself well, but it’s a rude awakening and it hits hard. It took me five years to realise that the key to success is hard work.

I was a bit of a boofhead there for a while, but then I remembered the Billy Moore who went from Wallangarra to representing Australia and the solid principles that got him there.

3 1 0 2 A N I W Y LEAGUE WORLD CUP RUGB E L P O E P 2 R O TOUR F

11 NIGHTS - 20 November 2013 - 2 December 2013

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HELPING MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE RUGBY LEAGUE COMMUNITY

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Turn on the Gaz When the Men of League Foundation were looking to inject some new blood, they didn’t have too far to go – MARK GASNIER was sat right next to Ben Ikin

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By David Hall

s the Men of League Foundation continues to grow, it’s crucial the organisation strengthens its links with the next generation. We all know how quickly the game is changing, so maintaining our relevance with those who are starting out or thinking about life after the final siren is increasingly important.

As such, the decision for Mark Gasnier to take Brian James’s place on the Foundation board, following Ben Ikin taking over from Bob Hagan in March, illustrates our aim to evolve as a charitable organisation.

After retiring from the game in 2011, Gasnier has remained in the public eye, thanks to his work alongside Ikin on Fox Sports, and the Foundation’s youngest board member believes he can have a positive impact.

“I knew about the Men of League and thought it was a great initiative,” Gasnier said. “Ben had spoken to me about it, then I got the call from Ron Coote seeing if I’d like to have more of a hands-on role. I was genuinely excited when I got the call.

“I’ve had the chance to meet some of the legends of the game but Ron still has that aura. It’s exciting to be working with him but it’s more important for me to be doing something for the cause.

PHOTO: New age Men of League: Ben Ikin (left) and Mark Gasnier

“It’s a great initiative and we’re only just starting to scratch the surface. The Foundation has loads of potential to help a lot of people.

“I have my first board meeting on 22 July and my role will be to give a more present players’ view as to what life’s like when you first retire. I think the board were looking to bridge that gap as some of them have been retired for a long time, and Ben Ikin and myself cover that last 20 years.”

Ikin, as another a recent addition to the board, echoes Gasnier’s pride at being reached out to by president Ron Coote and believes the Foundation is moving in the right direction.

“I’d been on the Queensland Committee for 12 months when I received a phone call from Ron to join the national board, and when Ron asks you to do something, you almost immediately say yes,” Ikin said.

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MEN OF LEAGUE AUGUST 2013

“I’ve gotten to know Mark through our work on Fox Sports and I knew he was a great guy but I’ve been impressed by what a smart guy he is and how much he’s willing to give back to rugby league.

“He obviously had a fantastic career but also went through some tough times so he knows about the issues today’s players have to deal with.”

Gasnier’s laugh when we suggest he could now consider himself an older statesman of the game says he might not see himself that way yet – but his ambitions to make a difference illustrate what he will bring to the Men of League board.

“I still speak to a lot of people in the game and they have a lot of different views on what works and what doesn’t, so important you put your own thoughts forward and others’ as well.

“There’ll be a lot of brainstorming and healthy debate to hopefully improve life post-football for a lot of people.”

MY GREATEST TEAM B

BEN HORNBY

en Hornby, one of the smartest and most respected players of the new millennium, has come up with a glowing endorsement of the state of the game today with an international flavour in his greatest team of opponents from his 13 seasons in the NRL. He has chosen Kiwi sporting all-rounder Sonny Bill Williams and English tough man Adrian Morley in his 17, which included seven current NRL players in Williams, Jamie Lyon, Greg Inglis, Billy Slater, Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston and a second hooker on his bench in Danny Buderus.

player to their teammates in any game they played, whether it was club, State of Origin or a Test match.”

Hornby, who captained St George Illawarra to their only grand final victory in 2010, went straight into coaching at the Dragons this season with their under-18 SG Ball side and assisting with their Holden Cup outfit, as well as working on recruitment and promotions.

And he has chosen Darren Lockyer at fullback to make way for Brad Fittler at five-eighth, and preferred Lockyer as captain ahead of Fittler and another fellow premiership-winning skipper Andrew Johns.

“I played with too many great players during my career to narrow my selection down to just 17. Because of this, my team includes just men I have played against,” said Hornby when Men Of League assigned him the challenge of providing his insight into the best of the game’s contemporary players.

“I have chosen Darren Lockyer as captain because he was always in control in big game situations. He was never flushed and always had a cool head. Darren usually made the right decision in high pressure situations. Some things he did, like a good kick, often went unnoticed.

“Of course, Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler were also cool players and so my choice as captain was quite difficult to make.

“I have included players that continually gave me dramas in the matches I ran out against them. Jamie Lyon was always dangerous and he is still one of the best centres in the game today.

“I didn’t play a lot of matches against Israel Folau but when I did, he always impressed me. Everyone knows how high he can jump, while his size and speed always cause problems to all his opponents.

“My bench is strong and each one of them would not look out of place in my starting 13.

“As you get older you have different views on your opponents. Your experience enables you to see just what positives some players bring to their respective teams. Each one of my 17 always was an inspirational

Darren Lockyer, fullback and captain.

Photo courtesy: The Courier Mail (Adam Head).

THE HORNBY FILE NRL: 273 appearances 2000-12 St George Illawarra (club record) Origin: 3 games for NSW Tests: 1 (2006)

BEN HORNBY’S GREATEST TEAM Fullback: Darren Lockyer (capt) Wingers: Wendell Sailor, Israel Folau Centres: Jamie Lyon, Greg Inglis Five eighth: Brad Fittler Halfback: Andrew Johns Lock: Sonny Bill Williams Second rowers: Nathan Hindmarsh, Gorden Tallis Props: Adrian Morley, Shane Webcke Hooker: Cameron Smith Interchange: Petero Civoniceva, Danny Buderus, Johnathan Thurston, Billy Slater

HELPING MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE RUGBY LEAGUE COMMUNITY

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MEN OF LEAGUE

cox plate race day SATURDAY 26 OCTOBER Get along and enjoy the action venue:

grand pavilion rosehill gardens

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time: 12pm

MEN OF LEAGUE AUGUST 2013

tickets:

$185 per ticket $1850 table of 10

rsvp:

claire@menofleague.com or 02 8765 2232

RAY’S WRAP

The voice of the game and league’s greatest TV broadcaster Ray Warren

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nother State of Origin series is done and dusted and has there been one more memorable?

A great Queensland squad has triumphed for eight years and it’s appropriate to recognise how great a feat that is.

I get disappointed when people who follow the Blues can’t see they are watching perhaps the best squad that has ever played the game at Origin level, and there have been some very good ones.

I get disappointed when people are not prepared to accept that the foe knocking the Blues down just happens to be a champion. And that is what the NSW players must realise to appreciate how good their efforts have been; that they went down to a once-in-a-lifetime organisation by a field goal in 2012 and a penalty goal in 2013 without their captain. This is what the fans must realise as well to find some comfort in defeat.

Wally and the boys – Alfie, Geno, Mal and co. – were great in the ’80s but this team might be even better.

If you are prepared to believe that – no change that – if you are prepared to listen to that, imagine how wonderful it is to know that even though you lost, you lost to the ‘Ali’ of rugby league.

That doesn’t mean you have to praise the ground they walk on but why not recognise and enjoy the fact you have been privileged to have seen the best of the best over eight years?

It is rugby league greatness; it is an Australian sporting achievement of gigantic proportion. So although your team lost Blues supporters, cop it sweet because you are watching greatness and few in their lives get that chance.

A familiar sight, but a symbol of greatness – Cameron Smith holds aloft the Origin shield. Photo courtesy DAILY TELEGRAPH.

With Wally and Alfie we had two genuine superstars; Wally was the best, but this current Queensland side offered us five who could be called by the same: Smith, Cronk, Thurston, Inglis and Slater.

At other times we would be able to come up with three or four genuine greats in the one side … but five? Their back-up wasn’t bad either. Take the backs for instance: Hodges, Tate, Boyd. Then add the forwards that have been there over the eight years and they might not make superstardom but by golly they were good. Don’t forget Steve Price and Petero were part of this dynasty too, when you are recalling who played in that period.

Mitchell Pearce should not be bagging himself and suggesting this is the end because his side was beaten.

So by now you will have realised I am full of recognition for Queensland. That doesn’t mean I haven’t recognised the herculean effort of NSW, it simply means we need to take a deep breath and ask the question: Was it all that bad and who did you run second to?

Mitchell, if ever you read this column, it really is meant for people like you. Read it, understand it and in some way be proud that you were a part of the team that finished second to greatness. You will note I didn’t say you were part of losing to greatness; no one loses to greatness, you were lucky to be there in the first place just to witness it and to come close to conquering it.

Where does this effort rank in the great achievements of Australian sport? That’s tough. Heather Mckay, Dawn Fraser, Perkins , Hackett, Thorpe, Laver, Newcombe, Rafter, Cuthbert, Elliot, Landy, Bradman, St George, the America’s Cup, Black Caviar – they all had something going for them that Queensland didn’t. They all had Australia barracking for them and loving what they did.

The 2013 decider was my 75th Origin call and I am fortunate to have seen and called the greats. These past eight years have been among my fondest memories.

With Queensland versus New South Wales there will always be those who aren’t and are unable to recognise the greatness they have witnessed. And that is sad.

HELPING MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE RUGBY LEAGUE COMMUNITY

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An image immortalised, a friendship developed

By NORMAN TASKER

They stand as everlasting symbols of the camaraderie of rugby league, their respectful embrace after the 1963 grand final the enduring image that adorns the premiership’s trophy. Half a century on we look at the bond between Arthur Summons and Norm Provan, now the subject of a book.

N

orm Provan and Arthur Summons achieved enough in their rugby league careers to ensure their place in the history of the game. In terms of the games and premierships he won, Provan remains perhaps the most successful player of all time, and the most successful coach. Summons was in charge of one of the greatest teams ever to wear Australian colours.

Neither of them would have been forgotten, even if a famous photograph had never been taken.

But the image changed everything. The Gladiators, arms draped around each other as they left the SCG on August 24, 1963, remain rugby league’s starkest image – a constant through 50 years of tumultuous change.

It still typifies better than anything else the ethos, the camaraderie and the respect at the heart of the game.

Summons has lived in Wagga Wagga since he went there in 1964, the year after the greatest of all Kangaroo tours, to play with the Magpies, but more importantly to take a 30-year job as manager of the Wagga Wagga Leagues club. His house adjoins the golf course. He has a golf buggy in the driveway and still hits a mean ball, albeit a little more often, he concedes, than he once did.

Both of them retain a busy involvement in rugby league, thanks to John O’Gready’s photo of them, caked in mud after St George’s eighth win in their 11-premiership run.

They are invited to presentations and appearances, they do the Dally Ms every year, and this year there is a special call on them, given it is the 50th anniversary of the photo.

Provan and Summons marvel even today at the way that photograph and the trophies it spawned has kept their deeds top of mind, generation after generation.

It has left them almost as well known today as they were at their peak, and they led their clubs in three successive grand finals. Not many players command a book about their life and times half a century on but the Gladiators have, and working on it with them was one of life’s rare experiences.

“It changed both our lives, no doubt about that,” Summons concedes. “We didn’t really know each other all that well when we were playing, but the photo and everything that has followed it pitched us together.

Norm and Arthur still command an aura. Provan is in his 82nd year but remains fit and strong, and works on his property at Mooloolah, in the hills above Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, with a zeal that belies his years. There is a cement drive leading to the house that must cover half a mile, which Provan and a couple of mates dug out and concreted themselves.

The writing of the book brought the matter to a head.

Summons wrote of the Wests version of events, where the referee was said to have backed Saints, and a range of decisions on the day were viewed in that context.

“How long did that take to build?” I ventured, marvelling at the extensive nature of the work, “a couple of weeks?”

Norm looked at me as if I was some sort of city wimp.

“A couple of weeks?” he chortled. “We did it in a day.”

It was the way he played his football, and has lived his life – a tireless worker, a man who guards his fitness resolutely. He was still running miles around the hills of Mooloolah into his mid-70s.

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MEN OF LEAGUE AUGUST 2013

“We have become firm friends. Curiously, as we left the field on that fateful day I was actually bitching about the refereeing. I reckon we were robbed, and it has inspired long-running banter between us.”

When he saw Summons’s view in black and white, Norm insisted on making the point that the only questions ever raised about the refereeing had come from Wests.

Debate is debate; it seems, no matter how good-natured.

Each remains a keen follower of the game. They recognise the improvements, especially in the quality of the athletes, but have regrets too, principally in the way that so much of the contest has been eradicated. They each have chilling tales of the battle that was the scrum, and the levels of spontaneity the game embraced when the play-the-ball was also the contest it was meant to be.

The men, the trophy … the legend. Photo courtesy DAILY TELEGRAPH

They don’t shrink from the mayhem the game entailed either, despite the legendary talents their era boasted in Gasnier, Langlands, Raper, Thornett, Kearney and the inimitable Billy Smith. Provan played in a NSW game against England that had to be abandoned, such was the violence. He sums up the cultural shift succinctly:

“Referees allowed a lot of leeway and it was considered part of every game that some sorting out would go on. One of the big differences was that it was all done in the moment,

“Nobody will ever convince me that the game today is as hard as it was then,” he writes.

“We didn’t have incessant replays to analyse it all and none of the close camera stuff that makes that sort of behaviour impossible today. It was on, then it was over, and we all just got on with it.”

“There was a general acceptance that it was a hard game and that seemed to excuse a lot of violent stuff that went on. A lot of players thought they would be considered a bit of a sook if they weren’t in there clobbering somebody.

Tough men, hard men; good men, legends. True to the that famous image and the trophy it inspired, Arthur Summons and Norm Provan have been true Men of League – then and now – and their legacy endures as a testament to the game.

HELPING MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE RUGBY LEAGUE COMMUNITY

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With South Sydney, the most feted foundation club, bringing some much needed good heart to an NRL season littered with dramas, IAN HEADS puts into perspective the rebirth of ‘The Pride of the League’ who last won a premiership in 1971.

The current Souths superstar – perhaps the most devastating ball-runner in the NRL, Greg Inglis.

Photo courtesy DAILY TELEGRAPH.

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MEN OF LEAGUE AUGUST 2013

Rabbitoh revival has

the game pumping

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he building anticipation that a famous South Sydney year has blown in and, quite possibly, a great Rabbitohs era, is akin to the posse arriving for the game’s new boss David Smith.

Amid a troubled beginning for Smith he can take solace from an ancient dictum of the game: “When South Sydney are going well ... rugby league is going well!”

I learned it as a greenhorn rugby league reporter decades ago, courtesy of George Crawford, a crusty old scribe of encyclopedic knowledge and deep affection for the game who was a senior workmate at the Daily Telegraph.

As the 1960s unfolded with Souths stirring to life, George would trot the adage out, adding a striking image of how in those times when Souths were truly `on the move’, fans would swarm across Moore Park “like a great army” on match days. At such moments, George reckoned, a Souths’ rising would sweep the game to dizzy heights.

This season, as Souths have displayed commanding form, there is a sense those times are returning. The Rabbitohs, under coach Michael Maguire, are on the move, leaving most of their rivals behind in the race to the semis.

It certainly recalled 1965, when a giant bedecked in cardinal and myrtle was stirring, ready to tackle the seemingly-unbeatable Dragon (St. George). The Rabbitohs faltered in season ’66 in the afterglow of a brilliant grand final challenge to Saints in ’65. But by ’67 all was in place, with a cloudburst of talent from the treasure trove of Souths’ Juniors – Coote, McCarthy, Stevens, Simms, Piggins, Sait, Branighan brothers – supplemented by the likes of Sattler, Cleary, Walters, O’Neill, Morgan, Moses, Pittard and James. Souths won the grand final that year (12-10 over Canterbury) and went on to take the premiership three times in the next four years.

These were golden years, resonating with words written long before by distinguished league journalist Claude Corbett. In the 1920s he observed: “There is a glamour about South Sydney football that has always held the public.” Corbett knighted them, `The Pride of the League’.

And so they were in a period of dominance that brought seven premierships in eight years, ’23-32.

Throw in the beginning years (premiers ’08-09) – and there have been four great Rabbitoh eras to punctuate and illuminate rugby league’s progress. Souths were the most successful team of league’s foundation years (winning ’08-09), dominant through the ’20s, rising from a low ebb in the ’40s to win five premierships in six years in the ’50s, then reclaiming their mantle from ’67-71.

There followed the Long Drought, albeit with a minor premiership (’89), as rugby league grew and left the Rabbitohs and other old Sydney clubs struggling to keep pace. Even through that time the fans kept hope that one day they’d be back on top. That was not shared by the game’s powers-that-be, however, and the `Pride of the League’ were killed off in the mad folly of Super League.

Friday, October 15, 1999, lives in infamy as the blackest day in the club’s history. But the spirit that got Souths through to win in more competitions than any other club in premiership history – epitomised in the sturdy frame of George `Never Say Die’ Piggins – rose in blunt defiance of the ruling – and the club lived to fight another day.

Those memories add starch to this first major Rabbitoh Rising of the 21st century. It seems fair to read last year’s challenge, followed by this season’s form, as a parallel event to the dawning of the earlier Great Eras.

On the punch line only springtime can provide, the jury remains out. But the team of 2013 looks worthy and ready to take its place on a wonderful honour board.

All dominant Souths sides had their stars: ’08-09 (Howard Hallett, Arthur Hennessy, Billy Cann); ’20s (George Treweek, Cec Blinkhorn, Eddie Wearing, Harold Horder, Eddie Root); ’50s (Clive Churchill, Jack Rayner, Les Cowie, Greg Hawick, Bernie Purcell, Ian Moir); and the wonderful talent from the ’60s-’70s mentioned previously.

So too does the class of 2013 (Greg Inglis, Isaac Luke, Sam and the Family Burgess, Adam Reynolds, Roy Asotasi, John Sutton and Nathan Merritt).

But I suspect each of these teams of different eras have lived far closer to another old league dictum: “A champion team will always beat a team of champions.”

On the paddock the game has changed profoundly, yet still demands of those who play it. Like so many before, the Rabbitohs of 2013 wear cardinal and myrtle and retain Redfern as their base. In so many other ways they are the soul brothers of those who preceded them … a team with a “certain glamour”.

Postscript – A Grand Final day hope: If it happens on October 6 that Souths make it, how right this would seem: George and Nolene Piggins, unbending fighters against the Great Injustice, take their places in the grandstand amidst the red-and-green throng. Afterwards, win or lose, the pair meet with Russell Crowe who has done so much towards the building of the `new’ Rabbitohs. Such people, after all have been both preservers of the past and shapers of the future for a great rugby league club.

HELPING MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE RUGBY LEAGUE COMMUNITY

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LENDING A HELPING HAND Sharlon (2nd from right) joins his best mate Nathan Phillips to meet Blues players Trent Merrin and James Tamou.

SHARLON TAKI

Sharlon Taki has beaten some tough opponents while playing for Wests Magpies in the NSW Cup and Jim Beam Cup but unfortunately could not conquer liver cancer which took his life last month at the age of just 25.

However before he died Men of League were able to co-ordinate a wonderful State of Origin experience for Sharlon and his family after being contacted by Ian Jagger. The father of a threeyear-old daughter, who was the leading try-scorer in the Jim Beam Cup in 2008, was given prime seats for Origin I and visited the Blues dressing room after the victory, thanks to the NSW team management.

Sharlon was accompanied by his best mate Nathan Phillips and members of his family at his first Origin match and enjoyed a memorable evening those closest to him. The Foundation sends heartfelt condolences to the family.

MICK PENNEY

Mick Penney was visited at his Waterloo home by Sydney metropolitan welfare officers Warren Thompson and Alan Webb. Penney, who played with Zetland in the South Sydney area and also in the Harold Matthews Cup and Jersey Flegg Cup teams for Souths, suffers from emphysema and has had a hip operation.

Being a true Souths man, Mick was given a Rabbitohs cap, drink bottle, and a 2013 team photo of his beloved South Sydney, courtesy of Souths Cares’ Shannon Donato.

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MEN OF LEAGUE AUGUST 2013

Fred Jackson and Warwick Bulmer.

WARWICK BULMER

Warwick Bulmer has long dedicated himself to rugby league as a player and official and typifies one of those tireless volunteers every club needs.

Wok recently underwent a right knee replacement operation at The Mater Hospital, Crows Nest after having his left knee replaced a while earlier. While recuperating at his Beacon Hill home he was visited by Northern Sydney Men of League committee Fred Jackson and Ken Vessey and very much appreciated their company and gesture on behalf of the foundation.

Born in Maxwell, NSW, ‘Wok’ moved to Taree in his teens, where he played first grade as a 17-year-old for Taree Old Bar but relocated to Sydney to work for the Australian Taxation Office for 37 years.

He played for Tax Office from 1959-1965 in the very competitive lunchtime public service competition played in the Domain against the likes of John Raper, Bob Landers and Bob McCarthy just to name a few.

When he crossed the bridge from Clovelly, where he played league, to then Manly Warringah district in 1968 he began a long relationship with the local footy scene through coaching/managing teams for the Beacon club, where he is a life member, before becoming manager of Manly Warringah SG Ball and Jersey Flegg teams.

Since 2007 Warwick has been the manager of the Sea Eagles Toyota Cup (now Holden Cup) teams and is also a life member of Manly Warringah District JRL Association and the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.

Through his long term involvement over many years he has become a grandfather figure to many young players as they have progressed through the junior ranks to the senior grades and has led the Sea Eagles in their victory song with great gusto for many years.

Wife Mavis helps Brian Sommerville model his new pride and joy, the signed Rabbitohs jersey.

BRIAN SOMMERVILLE

Men of League representatives recently visited staunch Rabbitohs supporter and former junior representative Brian Sommerville at The Mayo Private Hospital Taree.

Brian has been a frequent visitor to hospital since 2001. He unfortunately lost his left leg in 2005 after knee replacement surgery. The Men of League organised a visit by John King at this time which Brian greatly appreciated.

Brian endeavoured to make the best of life and was adjusting to the long process of prosthetic limb fittings and learning to walk. Brian’s right knee had previously been replaced and it was later replaced by a thigh to ankle artificial joint.

Complications, operations and long hospital stays has been a way of life for Brian over the past 12 years.

After a stint in Lake Macquarie Private Hospital complications occurred he spent 85 days in the

hospital with his doctor fighting alongside Brian to do everything they could to save this leg, including skin graft surgery.

Brian’s wife Mavis has been by his side through his long ordeal and she recently organised a surprise for Brian with Keith McGraw from Souths Juniors sending him a signed Souths jersey.

KEVIN McCANN

Kevin McCann, 56, from Yass was in Hurstville Private Hospital with Sydney metropolitan committee welfare officer Warren Thompson for prostate procedures with Kevin¹s unfortunately being more serious.

He is a Dragons fan and knows his football well, having played as a winger for Yass. Kevin is a community volunteer working as a commentator on Yass FM 100.3 Radio. Following Kevin¹s release from hospital he was presented with a Men of League polo shirt and cap and the Riverina committee will follow up with Kevin on his return home.

(from left) Greg Pinson, Bob Sargent, Brian Finnigan

BOB SARGENT

Bob Sargent received a surprise visit for his 81th birthday from welfare officers Brian Finnigan and Ken Vessey and Men of League member Greg Pinson who heard that Bob was not in good health.

Sargent, originally from Coonabarabran, made his Sydney first grade debut in 1953 at Pratten Park, scoring two tries in a Magpies team that included Frank Stanmore, Col Ratcliffe, and Arthur Collinson against a Newtown team containing Gordon Clifford, Dicky Poole, Col Geelan and Frank Farrington. He went onto play another three first grade games and plenty in reserve grade before going to Young but regularly attends Wests reunions.

Bob later became involved in coaching for several South Sydney

junior clubs including Redfern United Club where he coached Arthur Branighan, Moore Park Juniors Club where he coached Bob McCarthy South Sydney Monarchs.

He also refereed many junior rugby league representative matches and A grade matches in the South Sydney Junior rugby league.

GREG WOODWARD & KEVIN RUDDLE

Greg Woodward, 64, and Kevin Ruddle, 70, were visited at Southhaven Nursing Home, by Sydney Metro welfare officers Warren Thompson and Alan Webb.

Greg played his junior football days with Concord United and Enfield Federals in the West Juniors. He still follows Wests Tigers today. Kevin attended school with Alan McKean, the former Roosters and Australian World Cup goal kicking fullback, and played his junior football days with Sydenham United (Newtown Juniors) and Kogarah Rex Hotel in the old Sunday Pub competition.

Today, he is a passionate St George Illawarra Dragons supporter.

HELPING MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE RUGBY LEAGUE COMMUNITY

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They made it… but just once It is something so many male league fans would like to be able to boast – “I played first grade”. For a surprising many, that happened … but only once.

We profile some of the more interesting cases. By DAVID MIDDLETON

S

ince premiership rugby league kicked off in Australia 105 years ago, more than 9100 men have worn the colours of their club at first grade level. It is an exclusive group and for the majority it is the realisation of a dream simply to make it to the top grade.

The number who advance to representative football, or have the opportunity to play in a grand final is comparatively minimal. The average first grade career is just 40 games. Incredibly, more than 1000 players – well over 10 per cent of all first-grade players – appeared in a single game.

Among this list there are countless stories of interest; of players who have achieved greatness in other fields or those who have been hit with misfortune and those who have gained fame from their briefest of moments in the sun.

Here are some who can say “I played first grade” but would have other aspects of their lives that are worthy talking points.

SIR PETER DELAMOTHE

His is not a name that resonates in rugby league circles but his contribution to public life in the north Queensland centres of Bowen, Hughenden and Collinsville was immense.

He was a surgeon and a politician, rising to the post of Minister for Justice and Attorney General in the Queensland Parliament in the 1960s. He was a longserving mayor of Bowen, prominent in the rebuilding of the town after a major cyclone in 1958.

He had played league at school in Hughenden and Charters Towers and joined the fledgling University team after arriving in Sydney in the 1920s as a medical student at Sydney University. He played mostly third grade for the students but when the first grade team toured New Zealand in the middle of the 1922 season it was a case of all hands on deck.

Delamothe played on the wing in a spare parts University team slaughtered 45-2 by St George, who ironically, later took out that year’s wooden spoon. It was the beginning and end of Delamothe’s top grade rugby league career.

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MEN OF LEAGUE AUGUST 2013

KARL FILIGA

Karl Filiga was rated one of the hottest schoolboy stars in the game less than a decade ago. Known throughout his schoolboy days at Westfields Sports High School as Karl McNichol, the youngster chose, for personal reasons, to change his name to Karl Filiga after signing a lucrative NRL contract with Cronulla in 2007.

Rated as the best up-and-coming centre in the game

by Sharks coach Ricky Stuart, he played nine Toyota Cup games in 2008 and midway through the same season, he appeared in first grade for the first time, coming off the bench for a 12-minute stint against Penrith at CUA Stadium. But injuries and loss of form cost the 188cm and 105kg youngster any further opportunities in the NRL. He was released from the Sharks on compassionate grounds in 2009. Filiga subsequently appeared for Wentworthville in the Bundy Red and NSW Cups and is currently playing for the Mudgee Dragons in Group 10.

TIM WILBY

A colourful, globe-trotting Englishman, Tim Wilby was forced to overturn a 10-year suspension before gaining clearance to play for the Canberra Raiders in 1987.

Earlier in the decade, Wilby had broken the international transfer ban to play with Mackay club Carlton under the pseudonym Tim Smith.

The Queensland Rugby League fined Carlton $500 and banned Wilby from playing in Australia for 10 years but when he returned in 1987 the QRL relented and allowed him to play for the Raiders.

The 28-year-old, whose career included stints with Leeds, Hull, Tonneins (France), Le Pontet (France), Wigan, Warrington and Sheffield, made a single top grade appearance in Australia as a replacement for the Raiders late in the 1987 season.

He later was involved in luring former English tennis star David Lloyd to buy the Hull club in England in 1997.

Perceived as being a man of wealth through stock market success and the owner of three Mercedes at the time, it was revealed Wilby had in fact been working as a manager of a London council estate. He was briefly Hull CEO.

REG CLOUGH

CHRIS SKELTON

Gibson’s selection of unknown 20-year-old Reg Clough to replace centre John Brass in the preliminary final of 1975 was considered a major gamble but Gibson was confident in the youngster’s ability. He’d spotted Clough playing for Bondi Royals in Easts’ juniors and even though he had played just two under-23s games plus a 10-minute spell in reserve grade, he believed he would handle the occasion.

The Bulldogs were already safely in the top five but the Tigers were fighting for their season. The understudy could have been rattled early when a Balmain player decked him as he tried to defuse a bomb and the Tigers scored inside two minutes. But showing remarkable poise, Skelton responded with two tries, including the match-winner to complete a fairytale first grade debut.

Including lower grade players in training drills was a non-negotiable part of Jack Gibson’s coaching theory.

Gibson contended that the best preparation for aspiring players was to train alongside the stars and when the time came that they were called upon to cover for an injured player, they would be ready.

Clough didn’t let him down. After 34 minutes Easts led Manly 17-2 and were on the way to achieving back-toback grand final appearances. But disaster struck when the youngster was forced from the field with a serious ankle injury. It was to be his only taste of the big time.

Fame was especially fleeting for Canterbury fullback Chris Skelton. On one golden afternoon in August, 1975, the Lakemba junior went from unheralded reserve grader to first grade star when he stood in for Garry Dowling, ruled out of the final round match against Balmain through injury.

The result forced an unprecedented series of midweek play-offs to determine the make-up of the top five between Balmain, Parramatta and Wests (the Eels won through then beat fourth-placed Canterbury) but for Skelton, the story ended there. He never received another chance in the top grade.

Karl Filiga in his one 12-minute stint for Cronulla. Photo courtesy DAILY TELEGRAPH

HELPING MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE RUGBY LEAGUE COMMUNITY

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ALAN WALKER

Walker was one of Australian sport’s great all-rounders but one who rarely rates a mention when such individuals are discussed. A left-arm fast bowler who played cricket in the era of Ray Lindwall, Keith Miller and Bill Johnston, Walker represented Australia on the tour of South Africa in 1949-50 but was unable to force his way into the Test side.

Two years earlier, as a pacey centre with a clever swerve, Walker toured Britain and France with the Wallabies and led the try-scoring on tour, with 19. He played five Tests for the Wallabies before turning to rugby league with Manly midway through the 1952 season.

He made little impression with the Sea Eagles and appeared only once in the top grade – in the final round of the regular season. He later joined Leigh in England but quit after nine games to play county cricket with Nottingham.

ARTHUR BLAKE

The playing contribution of Western Suburbs winger Arthur Blake was at best, modest. He did, however, share in history by playing in the Magpies’ first team on Easter Monday, 1908. Blake, who joined the new code after playing rugby for Ashfield Borough, lined up against Balmain at Birchgrove Oval but had little opportunity to shine in a team thrashed 24-0.

He was never given another chance. His career may have started and finished before the opening day of club rugby league in Australia had come to a close – but at least he left a legacy. His son Allan took up the game and played in the front row in Wests’ premiershipwinning team of 1934.

Kent Lambert (photo courtesy DAILY TELEGRAPH)

KENT LAMBERT

The signing of All Blacks prop Kent Lambert (above) was big news at the Panthers when he made the decision to switch codes in 1978. A veteran of 11 Tests, Lambert was a powerfully-built shearer, rated by Tim Sheens as “powerful as any player I have ever seen or played with”.

The only problem was Lambert had little or no knowledge of the requirements of a prop forward in league and Penrith coach Don Parish was not prepared to spend the time teaching him.

Lambert was thrown in at the deep end in the opening match of the 1978 premiership. He suffered a torn cruciate ligament playing against Balmain at Leichhardt Oval and never played again, returning to New Zealand where he became a publican utilising his league income.

GREG SMITH

Greg Smith may be unique in the annals of premiership rugby league as the only player to gain notoriety as a first grader through stealth.

A 26-year-old from Louisiana, Smith had convinced Newcastle Knights coach Warren Ryan that he had played as a wide receiver in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles before representing the American team at the 1997 rugby league World Sevens.

Early in the 1999 season, Ryan handed Smith his chance in the top grade where he played opposite Canterbury’s Kiwi Test winger Daryl Halligan.

Smith was shown up badly in defence and mishandled several times as the Knights surrendered a 26-10 lead and were eventually beaten 28-26.

Greg Smith (photo courtesy DAILY TELEGRAPH)

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MEN OF LEAGUE AUGUST 2013

Journalists covering the match believed Smith’s lack of basic football skills warranted an investigation of his background and when contacted by the Daily Telegraph’s Barry Toohey, Eagles officials and local reporters denied any knowledge of him. Smith’s game was up.

MEN OF LEAGUE

annual lunch THURSDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 2013

with special guests john grant, dave smith, wayne bennett & bart campbell

venue:

rna convention centre royal national showground brisbane

time:

12 for 12:30pm

tickets:

$175 per ticket $1750 table of 10 Legends Table: $2500 for table of ten including a Rugby League legend

rsvp:

by 18 september to tegan jennings on (07) 4528 2925 or tegan@menofleague.com

dress:

super raffle: You could win a 2013 Hyundai i20, $100 per ticket - only sold at the luncheon! You have to be there to win it!

business attire

HELPING MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE RUGBY LEAGUE COMMUNITY

25

Ron Pomering (right) photographed for the Yorkshire Post with fellow visiting Australian Andy Hall in 1975.

‘Internationals’ unite

half a world away THE annual selection of an international team of ex-pat Aussies and Kiwis in the UK has been rekindled in Britain under the banner of ‘The Exiles’ who take on the England Test squad. It brings back memories of the often brutal encounters that involved legendary names like Bevan, Bath and Paskins and the career highlight for those like Men of League member Ron Pomering.

By NEIL CADIGAN

W

hen Brett Hodgson led The Exiles onto Halliwell Stadium in June to face the English side that will hold the nation’s hopes in this year’s World Cup, he took with him nearly six decades of proud history for Australians who had decided to play their trade half a world away.

England won the match 30-10, which was disappointing after the previous three tough tussles since the ‘Other Nationalities’ origin concept was reborn in 2011 after an absence of 36 years. This time the field was in its glorious summer best condition compared to the winter bogs of yesteryear but the history was the same – the best of the overseas men taking on the best of the British, or in the halcyon days the best of England, France or Wales, Yorkshire and Lancashire.

In the 1950s when several Australians were lured by big money to abandon the Australian competitions for England, Other Nationalities selection was a sought26

MEN OF LEAGUE AUGUST 2013

after prize and large crowds turned up to watch in awe a conglomeration of Aussies, Welsh, South Africans and Kiwis combine. The freakish Bondi-born flyer Brian Bevan played for the ex-pats 15 times, alongside Harry Bath, Lionel Cooper, Tony Paskins, Arthur Clues, Rex Mossop, Rupert Mudge and former Wallabies Trevor Allen and Bob McMaster in matches between England, France and Other Nationalities in a series branded the European Rugby League Championships.

The brutal tussles between the French forward Edouard Ponsinet and Clues were absolutely legendary. One, in 1951, is called the ‘Battle of The Boulevard’ and was played at Hull. Early in the game Ponsinet pole-axed Clues who spent the remainder of the night in hospital with bad concussion; Lionel Cooper on the other hand staggered away from another high Ponsinet tackle before the Frenchman was eventually sent off for his thuggish and offensive behaviour in the 17-14 Other Nationalities victory.

The Yorkshire Post reported: “Something will have to be done to prevent this developing into an interminable sour serial … when the first concern of a man with the ball is to guard against the probability of a brutal assault you cannot expect much good football.”

to be listed among overseas players to have played in those matches with some legendary Australian names.

We were big outsiders against Yorkshire but almost beat them, and they had some top players of that time.”

In the return match Clues succeeded in a get-square and Ponsinet was stretchered off after a sickening high tackle in France’s 16-3 win.

Pomering’s series was the last until Other Nationalities was reborn under the banner of the Exiles in 2011 when English coach Steve McNamara requested cut-throat competition for his Test squad to prepare it for upcoming battles against the Kangaroos.

Other Nationalities played England and attracted 17,000 at Central Park, Wigan in the debut of brilliant Aussie back Trevor Allan who had defected from rugby union where he was the Wallaby captain in a world record £5000 transfer deal to Leigh.

An anecdote of how brilliant Bevan was came in this match. Allan put Bevan into space in his own half and started to move forward in sport when an arm on his shoulder stopped him. It was Clues who said: “`Stay where you are mate,’ Clues said. `He’ll be back in a minute.”

From 1955 to 1974 the match lost its appeal as fewer ex-pats played in the British competition and only two games were played (in 1964 and 1965).

For the ‘74-75 seasons only, Other Nationalities and Wales sides were added to the English’s version of State of Origin – the War Of The Roses clashes between Yorkshire and Lancashire. It was during this period that Sydney real estate valuer Ron Pomering, an Eastern Suburbs Sydney junior who had progressed to play reserve grade behind Jack Gibson’s magnificent premiership-winning sides of 1974-75, had a threemonth off-season stint with Bramley.

Danny Buderus may have captained NSW 15 times and played 24 Tests for Australia but he depicts the time he captained the Exiles – his last representative appearance – as a career highlight. A late try to his Kiwiborn former Knights team-mate George Carmont saw The Exiles win 16-12.

“It was just a great week and to see the pride in some of the guys was just wonderful,” said Buderus whose teammates included Brett Hodgson, Pat Richards, Matt King, Mark O’Meley and Craig Fitzgibbon. “I’ll never forget when we had the presentation of the jerseys the night before the match. Chase Stanley [playing for Castleford] got up and said he was a man of few words and didn’t know what to say to describe his pride – then went into a passionate version of the haka.

“The game was an opportunity for a lot of players a long way from home to bond and be given a reward for our form in England, and it was very special for us.”

He probably would have played first grade at any other Sydney club at the time but had Ron Coote, Arthur Beetson, Kevin Stevens, Barry Reilly and Greg Bandiera ahead of him in Gibson’s all-star line-up.

The no-name ex-pats almost caused a massive upset against a Yorkshire side that boasted internationals Steve Nash, Steve Norton, David Topliss, Jim Thompson, Alan Smith and Jeff Grayshon, drawing 16-all.

Other Nationalities included a young halfback from Wagga in Steve Martin, who was three years later to find fame in a Manly premiership winning side and Kangaroo tour selection, as well as a prop from Oberon, Bruce Gibbs, who would be recruited by Roy Masters’ Western Suburbs.

For Pomering, who played 14 games from Bramley for the princely sum of £200 per game before a treacherous winter saw the grounds frozen for weeks, regards those international matches as the highlight of his career.

“It was international competition and the highlight of my career and is a memory I’ll always have,” says Pomering who recently met Paskins and spoke about those historic encounters in Britain. “It gave me an opportunity

Danny Buderus proudly displays his 2011 Exiles jersey.

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Treasure of memories

I

t is almost a year since The Rugby League Museum opened in Sydney and several thousands of visitors from all corners of the globe have viewed the exhibition, experiencing first-hand the wonderful material on display.

Since its unveiling on August 29 in 2013, 117 years to the day since the breakaway in northern England which saw the birth of our game, visitors have ranged from youngsters who will be the next generation of players and fans, up to those who have had a lifetime love affair with the game. Yet there is something for everyone within the wonderful array of riches.

The museum, manager by historian Terry Williams and former Panthers’ Kiwi international Frank Puletua, is laid out in nine modules which pay tribute to various aspects of the game: its birth, the changing nature of the game and its players, media coverage, bush footy, Origin, Test matches, the Hall of Fame, Snapshots which showcases over 60 iconic photographs depicting milestone moments from throughout the game’s history, and the connection between people and the game at all levels.

Apart from iconic items such as the jerseys and trophies there are four large touch screens which contain a vast range of content and add to the visitor’s experience.

Fans can watch a variety of television commercials and coaching films, as well as footage of great players and moments, view an assortment of advertisements and articles from throughout the ages and listen to an interview with Dally Messenger, excerpts featuring callers such as Frank Hyde or their favourite club’s theme song.

In fact there is so much content in the Rugby League Museum that hard core fans should reserve three or four hours for their trip. The various milestones throughout the rugby league calendar are acknowledged, so that

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there have thus far been temporary displays showcasing items associated with Anzac Day, Women in League and State of Origin, with others planned for the remainder of the season.

In its first year the museum has also established several public and education programs to augment the display of items from the game’s rich archives. The Heroes and Legends program marries a current or recent first grader with a former great and opens a dialogue between the two which compares different eras. Thus far we have had the likes of Ron Coote and Matt King, John Raper and Dean Young, Cliff Watson and Andrew Fifita, etc share their own reminiscences and perspectives.

To assist with the museum’s everyday operations a volunteers program through the Men of League Foundation has been established, with which we formulated a partnership.

The relationship between the Rugby League Museum and the Men of League has, within its first year, already proved of mutual benefit. It provides opportunities for members of the foundation who have the desire, time and capacity to offer their knowledge of the game to further the museum’s schedule of programs and visits.

Volunteers undertake a range of duties including assisting with tours where they can guide visitors through the various modules within the exhibition and share their own stories. If you’d like to find out more about being a volunteer at the RL Museum you can ring the museum on (02) 9359-8500 or email museum@rugbyleaguecentral.com.au.

The museum is located at Rugby League Central, Driver Ave, Moore Park, (just outside Allianz Stadium) and is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 3pm. Entry is free.

HELPING MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE RUGBY LEAGUE COMMUNITY

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW CHARLIE FRITH In the late ’70s, the South Sydney enforcer was the biggest hitter of them all

By GREG SHANNON

W

hen rugby league fans get together, footy chat invariably turns to “who was the best tackler” and “who made the biggest hits”.

While many of the game’s legends from different eras naturally get thrown up, there’s one name that often comes from left field – a raw Queensland country kid who played just 49 games for South Sydney.

Charlie Frith donned the red and green from 1979-81, long enough to make an impression of legendary coach Jack Gibson (the Rabbitohs mentor in ’79) who regarded Frith as one of the toughest players and perhaps hardest hitter he ever coached.

The powerhouse Queenslander, who terrorised the opposition with big-hearted defence, only played the game in Sydney and Brisbane until he was 24. But the raw-boned country kid from the rich footballer-producing town of Roma never took a backward step.

He first left home to Brisbane and linked up with the Brisbane Valleys club. Playing alongside future internationals like Wally Lewis, and being coached by international halfback Ross Strudwick, provided a good education for him before joining Souths in ’79.

While playing at Redfern one of his tackles was used as a promo for Channel Seven’s Big League show and commentator Rex Mossop once described him as a “human projectile”.

Gibson’s right-hand man during much of his coaching career, Ron Massey, claimed Frith, nicknamed “Hitman”, was the biggest hitter the game has seen. He told the Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield, who listed Frith in the top 10 hitters of all time, how Frith was recommended to Souths by Brisbane’s coaching legend Bob Bax as a player “who could tackle telegraph poles”.

“Bob explained how his team played against Frith and his three best players were back in the sheds by halftime after being wounded by him.” Massey was told Frith was dropped the next week for making no tackles in the second half … no one would run the ball at him!

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Charlie Frith in his Rabbitoh days.

Photo courtesy DAILY TELEGRAPH

In 1982 big Charlie was back in Roma where he played a few games for his old Wallumbillah club before embarking on a highly successful career in the cattle industry where he still works.

These days Charlie owns a couple of cattle properties in Queensland and one in the Northern Territory, and also co-owns a unique cattle buying and selling business known as Australian Beef Stock Market (BSM). What makes BSM unique is it uses a computer database and electronic identification to track individual cattle condition. The cattle are reared on a range of properties across four states on either broad acre or irrigated improved pasture. Cattle on these properties are showcased online when ready for sale.

The days of droving cattle to major cattle sale yards have not completely gone, but the digital age has made the process of buying and selling cattle more streamlined and efficient with less cattle movement and stress to the animal.

Charlie’s company is at the forefront of embracing this impressive technology.

He still calls Roma home and still supports South Sydney, but also admits to having a soft spot for the North Queensland Cowboys given his son John, who is also part of the family cattle business now, played for them in 2007 and 2008 under coach Graham Murray, a teammate of Charlie’s from his Souths days.

MY GREATEST TEAM F

KERRY BOUSTEAD

ormer Test winger, Kerry Boustead reckons it took him only 10 minutes to name his greatest team, chosen from the men he has played with and against.

Coming up with a side that incorporates current or more contemporary players was another matter.

Boustead, who toured Britain and France with the 1978 and 1982 Kangaroo teams, named a star-studded outfit from his era and found places for Steve Mortimer, Brett Kenny and Wally Lewis in the backline.

On the 1982 tour, coach Frank Stanton controversially opted for Peter Sterling and Kenny as his top halves combination, even though Mortimer and Lewis had been the Test pair at home that year against New Zealand.

The only player out of left field in Boustead’s team is utility back Phil Blake, who had more clubs than Les Boyd had send-offs.

However few would dispute that Blake was one of the most dynamic and naturally gifted players of the 1980s and 90s.

And the only contemporary players Boustead views as gate-crashers of his ‘All Stars’ line-up are Cameron Smith, Andrew Johns, Billy Slater and Darren Lockyer.

“Naturally Greg Inglis came into contention, but to me he is very similar to Mal Meninga, and I can’t go past Mal,” Boustead said. “The young Mal Meninga could run like the wind, and people forget that when he came out of under-18s he was a skinny, tall bloke compared with the Test player of later years.

“He took big strides, a little bit like ‘GI’, and as a winger you had to go like hell to support him if he got into the clear.

“Inglis today is a bit like Eric Grothe in the way he makes life miserable for the last line of defence. But despite the claims of GI and Billy Slater, Graham Eadie remains my favourite fullback. He was awesome and it was an honour to play alongside him at Manly.”

Kerry couldn’t imagine the team running out without him, so he nominated himself as one of the wingers, with due reason. He was a brilliant winger of his era.

These days ‘Bowie’ lives in Brisbane and is involved in a real estate business with his wife Lee – Ray White Real Estate at Forest Lake.

Phil Blake, the only non-Test player in Bowie’s 17, but a wonderfully talented player. Photo courtesy DAILY TELEGRAPH.

THE BOWIE FILE ARL: 178 appearances 1979-90 (80 Eastern Suburbs, 65 Manly, 33 North Sydney).

Interstate: 9 games for QLD, 6 for NSW (1978-84).

Tests: 25 (1978-82) Dally M winger of the year 1983.

KERRY BOUSTEAD’S GREATEST TEAM Fullback: Graham Eadie.

Wingers: Eric Grothe, Kerry Boustead.

Centres: Brett Kenny, Mal Meninga.

Five eighth: Wally Lewis.

Halfback: Steve Mortimer.

Lock: Ray Price.

Second rowers: Rod Reddy, Bob Lindner.

Props: Arthur Beetson (c), Greg Dowling.

Hooker: John Lang.

Interchange: Les Boyd, Steve Rogers, Gene Miles, Phil Blake.

HELPING MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE RUGBY LEAGUE COMMUNITY

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2013 MEN OF LEAGUE EVENTS CALENDAR

AUGUST 16 Aug

Sydney Metro

Luncheon

Steve Waugh Room, SCG

19 Aug

Queensland

Corporate Golf Day

Brisbane Golf Club

21 Aug

Brisbane

Kick Off Club

Broncos Leagues Club

23 Aug

Illawarra

Kick Off Club

Wollongong City Diggers

23 Aug

Southern Division

Golf Day

Gatton Jubilee Golf Club

06 Sep

Canberra Monaro

Kick Off Club

Hog’s Breath Café, Philip

13 Sep

Bundaberg

Kick Off Club

Salter Oval

19 Sep

NSW

Gala Dinner

The Star

20 Sep

Central Coast

Golf Day

Shelley Beach Golf Club

22 Sep

North West NSW

Bowls Day

South Tamworth Bowling Club

26 Sep

Far North Queensland

Prime Ministers 13 - Dinner

TBA

26 Sep

Queensland

QLD Annual Lunch

RNA Convention Centre

27 Sep

Illawarra

Finals Luncheon

Wests Illawarra

29 Sep

Newcastle Hunter

Bowls Day

Nelson Bay Bowling Club

SEPTEMBER

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MEN OF LEAGUE AUGUST 2013

OCTOBER 10 Oct

Sunshine Coast

Kick Off Club

Mooloolaba Surf Club

11 Oct

Canberra Monaro

Golf Day

Goulburn Golf Club

13 Oct

Tweed District

Bowls Day

Coolangatta Bowls Club

16 Oct

Brisbane

Kick Off Club

Broncos Leagues Club

18 Oct

Central Highlands

Golf Day/Sportsman’s Dinner

TBA

19 Oct

Central Highlands

Battle of the Mines

TBA

19 Oct

Central West

Ian Walsh Bowls Day

Forbes Bowling Club

19 Oct

North West

Golf Day

Moree Golf Club

19 Oct

Riverina

Race Day & Rep Reunion

Murrumbidgee Turf Club

26 Oct

Newcastle Hunter

Trot Night

Newcastle Paceway

26 Oct

NSW

Race Day

Rosehill Racecourse

01 Nov

Western Region

Golf Day

Dubbo

03 Nov

Far South Coast

Bowls Day

Club Sapphire Merimbula

15 Nov

Bundaberg

Golf Day

North Bundaberg Golf Club

22 Nov

Sunshine Coast

Golf Day

Horton Park

23 Nov

Mid West

Golf Day and Dinner

Lithgow Workers Club

23 Nov

Canberra Monaro

Lunch and Bowls Day

Forrest Bowling Club

29 Nov

Bundaberg

Kick Off Club

Salter Oval

03 Dec

Illawarra

Kick Off Club

Steelers Club

06 Dec

North Coast

Coffs Harbour Race Luncheon

Coffs Harbour

06 Dec

Newcastle Hunter

Golf Day

Cypress Lakes

07 Dec

Sydney Metro

Arthur Beetson Memorial Xmas Lunch

Bondi Icebergs

07 Dec

Tweed District

Christmas Party

Border Park Tweed Heads

12 Dec

Sunshine Coast

Christmas Luncheon

Mooloolaba Surf Club

18 Dec

Brisbane

Kick Off Club

Broncos Leagues Club

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

HELPING MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE RUGBY LEAGUE COMMUNITY

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OLD-STYLE MAROON MAN OF HIS WORD He bled maroon blood and devoted 31 years to rugby league as a dedicated, determined hands-on managing director of the QRL. We pay tribute to ROSS LIVERMORE. BY STEVE RICKETTS

R

oss Livermore lamented the loss of some of the conviviality traditionally associated with rugby league as the game moved towards full professionalism in the mid-1990s.

There was, however, a bar for entertaining guests, particularly league journalists, who liked nothing more than debating the hot topics of the day with McAuliffe and Livermore.

The Queensland Rugby League managing director began his tenure at Lang Park in February, 1981, back when Senator Ron McAuliffe was still the code’s charismatic chairman.

It became known as “The Gunsynd Bar’” a reference to the grey-haired McAuliffe’s nickname.

Administration of the game then was a far cry from today’s corporate world. Office facilities were basic at best in those days, with just two telephone lines and a small but willing work force running the show.

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On one occasion in the 1980s a prominent journalist became so ‘merry’ he couldn’t find his glasses, even though they were on his head all the time.

“I suggested to him the next day he had better apologise to Ron McAuliffe for some of things he had said, and he

duly phoned up and did so,” Livermore recalled some years later.

“He hadn’t said anything out of turn really but he couldn’t remember. It was great the way people got together in those days, but things changed as jobs became more demanding.”

This is just one example of the cheeky sense of humour that was as much a part of Livermore’s make-up as his incredible work ethic.

On Sunday, January 9, 2011, the day before floodwaters engulfed Suncorp Stadium (formerly Lang Park), Livermore worked tirelessly, with little help, to ensure equipment, records and memorabilia were out of harm’s way at the QRL’s offices at the ground.

A ball boy at league matches at the Brisbane Cricket Ground in the 1950s, Livermore played on Lang Park when he was a pupil at Ithaca Creek Primary School.

He later attended Toowoomba Grammar where he played union, which he continued playing after leaving school.

At one stage he trained with Fortitude Valley Diehards with the intention of switching to league, but he also was in the CMF (Army Reserve) and commitments there often clashed with Valley’s training.

That’s why he was so upset when the game was split by the Super League war in 1995 and lifelong friendships were left in ruins as players and administrators took sides.

The QRL stayed loyal to the ARL, but the ’95 State of Origin series shaped as a farce with most of Queensland’s top players at Super League aligned clubs such as the Brisbane Broncos.

The QRL scraped together a squad that went on to win the series 3-0 against a star-studded New South Wales side coached by Phil Gould.

Livermore always had faith in the Maroons to rise to the occasion under rookie coach Paul Vautin but a cleansweep was beyond his wildest dreams.

While that series proved a triumph, there was heartbreak around the corner with the demise of the South Queensland Crushers in 1997, just three years after the club’s debut season.

Livermore and legendary Queensland Origin manager Dick “Tosser” Turner were instrumental in the formation of the Crushers, a club that gave Brisbane people an alternative to the Broncos but fell victim to fan disenchantment during the Super League schism.

One night a club match drew an unexpectedly large crowd at Lang Park and Livermore found himself in the bar’s cold room opening beer cartons to help meet the demand from thirsty patrons.

After his retirement in 2011, Livermore filled a consultancy role with the Brisbane Bombers, one of the bid teams for a new NRL licence. His son Nicholas is a Bombers’ director.

Livermore also maintained his role on the QRL history committee, which has among its goals the establishment of a rugby league museum in Brisbane.

Livermore’s father Alan played two union Tests for the Wallabies in the 1940s before he was lured to league

by McAuliffe.

He loved fishing, but retirement didn’t sit well with him and he suffered from ill-health before his sudden passing, on April 13, after a period in hospital.

It was also McAuliffe who persuaded Ross Livermore to give up his job in the state public service and from February, 1981 until his retirement in 2011 he gave his heart and soul to rugby league.

A memorial service in his honour was held at Suncorp Stadium on April 19 with more than 500 people paying their respects.

One night a club match at Lang Park drew an unexpectedly large crowd and Livermore found himself in the bar’s cold room opening beer cartons to help meet the demand from thirsty patrons.

There was period in 1983 when McAuliffe was chairman of the Australian Rugby League and Livermore the secretary after Sydney-based ARL supremo Kevin Humphreys stood down.

Livermore was a man of principle, and a handshake was good enough for him when it came to settling deals.

Among them were former star players Wally Lewis, Darren Lockyer, Allan Langer, Steve, Kevin and Kerrod Walters, David Wright, Len Dittmar and the man he referred to as “super coach”, Wayne Bennett.

Australia’s Kangaroos wore black arm bands in Livermore’s honour in the Test against New Zealand in Canberra, and teams from all over the state observed a minute’s silence before club games following his passing.

Livermore is survived by his wife Meralda, daughter, Helen; son Nicholas and grandchildren, Amelie and Aubrey.

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LENDING A HELPING HAND Vance Rennie, Ron Atkins and Pat McGuire visit Queensland league legend Kel O’Shea

KEL O’SHEA

Queensland league legend Kel O’Shea had good company from Men of League colleagues when he celebrated his 80th birthday in July at Redland Bay Nursing Home in Brisbane.

O’Shea, from Ayr in north Queensland, went onto such prominence with Wests in Sydney that he was chosen in the 100 greatest players as part of rugby league’s centenary celebrations and the Magpies team of the century.

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MEN OF LEAGUE AUGUST 2013

Kel was visited by president of the Brisbane committee and Wests Old Boys Ron Atkins who has known Kel since they were teenagers, who took Brisbane committee secretary and former Wests player Vance Rennie with him, along with former South Sydney and Brisbane Brothers player Pat MacGuire, a Brisbane committee welfare officer.

SEL BELSHAM

O’Shea played 15 Tests for Australia (plus 10 games for Queensland and eight for NSW) and three times (1958, ‘61 and ‘63) was in a Magpies side which lost a grand final to the all-conquering St George side that won a world record 11 straight titles.

Sel proudly wore the New Zealand strip in 10 Tests between 1953 and 1957 and also represented NZ in the 1957 Rugby League World Cup and also gained selection in the Rest of the World against Australia.

He partnered Dragons’ giant Norm Provan in the second row for Australia in an imposing combination.

As a Queensland legend it’s great to see Kel doing so well.

Former New Zealand International Sel Belsham may have been in poor health recently but he could not have been more delighted to receive a visit from Gold Coast Men of League members Greg Sylvester, Tommy Bishop and Graeme Farrar.

He was also a first class cricketer for Auckland, regarded as a certainty to tour South Africa for the Black Caps before being struck down with hepatitis. His late brother, Vic represented the Kiwis against Australia in 1948 after which he became one of the code’s top referees.

Left to Right – Ken Vessey, Justin Smith and Fred Jackson

JUSTIN SMITH

Seventeen-year-old Justin Smith has shown a level of courage and determination beyond his age as he has fought for three years to overcome serious leg problems to fulfil his dream to play rugby league again.

Justin started playing as a sixyear-old with the Pennant Hills Cherrybrook Stags where his father Tony coached for many years. He was developing as a promising second-rower or centre and gained selection in the North Sydney development squads since he was 13 and was twice selected in the NSW Combined Independent Schools under-15s in the Australian championships.

For some time he had been experiencing high levels of discomfort and pain in both legs (tightness in calves and tingling or numbness in both feet) and while in Perth at the 2011 Australian Schoolboys Championships the team trainer (also a qualified physiotherapist) diagnosed the problems as potentially Chronic Compartment Syndrome. Tests revealed the presence of not only CCS but also Politeal Artery Entrapment Syndrome in both legs, which was restricting the flow of blood.

Justin has had eight operations and for the past nine months has been receiving exercise programme advice from a leading NRL physiotherapist who referred him to a leading podiatrist who recommended moulded orthotics.

When Northern Sydney welfare officers Fred Jackson and Ken Vessey met Justin and a proud Tony in early June, Justin was no longer experiencing leg pain, had played a few games of Oztag with confidence, was completing light

running exercises plus doing gym work. His goal is to return to footy in 2014 and to gain selection in the Bears’ SG Ball team.

Thanks to the Sydney Roosters, the Foundation was able to present Justin with a signed 2013 Roosters jersey, the team he follows passionately.

BARRY O’BRIEN

Barry O’Brien was diagnosed with Multiple Systems Atrophy three years ago and is confined to a wheelchair. The foundation supplied Barry with a homecare patient lifter hoist to assist his wife with getting him in and out of bed so Barry can still go on social outings in the community.

To read ‘Helping Hand’ welfare visits to Bruce and Anne Koth, Kevin O’Toole, Len Diett, Les Haggett, Kevin Hain, Mano Thompson, Peter Brien, Robert Gordon, Tony Howard, Warwick Warlters, Altona Roosters and Kevin Ruddle go to www.menofleague.com.

Char Grill & Terrace Bar PRIME STEAKS & SEAFOOD

Winner 2012 - Best Pub / Bistro I Love Food Awards

Finalist 2012 - Best Restaurant QHA Awards for Excellence

Your hosts the Farquhar Family

38 Caxton Street, Petrie Terrace, QLD 4000, Australia

P.S Have fun!

HELPING MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE RUGBY LEAGUE COMMUNITY www.caxton.com.au I For all your function enquiries please phone (07) 3369 5544

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REMEMBERING T Men of League Foundation wishes to recognise the recent passing of the following people who left a positive legacy within the rugby league community. For more tributes or expanded versions of those printed here, go to www.menofleague.com

GRAHAM MURRAY

A huge gathering attended the service for ‘Muzza’ in Brisbane after he passed away in late July, aged 58, after sudden heart issues in previous months. An active Men of League member, Murray was one of the NRL’s most popular figures, having played 88 first grade games for Parramatta and Souths before embarking on a long and successful coaching career.

Murray’s Leeds team holds the record winning score in a Challenge Cup final in England, the 52-16 victory against London in 1999 during his two seasons in the UK before he returned to Australia to take the Sydney Roosters to their first grand final in 20 years.

Previously Murray had coached Penrith to a reserve grade title in 1987, mentored Illawarra to their first finals series and only trophy – the pre-season Cup - in 1992.

Later he coached the North Queensland Cowboys to their first finals appearance in 2004 and to their only grand final appearance the following season.

After heading the high performance unit at the Newcastle Knights in December he returned to Wynnum-Manly, where he had a stint as CEO, to coach their Queensland Cup side. He leaves many, many friends in rugby league.

GREG FATNOWNA

Greg, who grew up in and was still living in the Mackay area, lost his battle with aggressive lung cancer in late July. Greg was well known in local rugby league circles, and was a humble man who gave so much but expected nothing back.

Greg was involved in many teams and clubs from Gladstone to Moranbah and enjoyed nothing more than seeing kids he coached as juniors go on and play A grade football. During his coaching days, Greg would regularly go out of his way to ensure kids were able to get to and from training and games such was his commitment.

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MEN OF LEAGUE AUGUST 2013

NEVILLE BARRY

Nev passed away on May 29 2013 aged 79 years. A former Brother’s Rugby League player in First Grade and Reserve Grade. He was a fine half-back brilliant in attack and solid in defence Neville was educated at Marist Brothers Ashgrove; a school that has produced many fine footballers. He also played for Wests Rugby 1st. Grade soon after leaving school. He was a very good cricketer and a qualified life saver with the North Burleigh Life Saving Club. A noted raconteur, Nev was well known and appreciated by the people of Ashgrove as evidenced by a packed St. Finbarr’s Catholic Church of over 500 people from all different walks of life. Nev was pre deceased by his wife Fae and son Michael. Our sympathies are with his daughters Louise and Shannon and son Daniel and Grandchildren.

STEPHEN VALAMIS

Stephen had been suffering from motor neurone disease and Men of League assisted him by providing a mini-bus with wheelchair access. Stephen is survived by his wife Peta, and five children.

WALLY WEBSTER (OAM)

Wally Webster gave more than 50 years’ service to rugby league and in particular, the Wentworthville club where he is extensively known as a Magpies stalwart in rugby league, cricket and the leagues club’s development.

Wally was one of the original 46 foundation life members of the leagues club and honorary club secretary from 1958-62 before becoming the first fulltime secretary, a position he held for more than 25 years. He was awarded the Australian Sports Medal (ASM) and the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for service to the Wentworthville community through a range of sporting organisation.

As a footballer he played A-grade for Wentworthville (winning a premiership), plus President’s Cup and some lower grade games with the Eels.

THOSE NOW GONE HENRY AMESBURY

IAN JOHNSTON

A good all-round sportsman, Amesbury played for Lismore High School with Souths legend Jack Rayner before becoming a classy hooker with Ballina and Newcastle club Belmont. After retiring he established the Wests club at Lismore then moved to PNG where he played a significant role in the formation of a junior competition in Port Moresby. He was 89.

Johnston later spent many years coaching the Eels lower grades, and had two seasons in charge of their top side in the late 1960s, before spending 11 years on the board of directors from 1986.

RON ‘SAO’ LEONARD

STEW MCCALISTER

Known as “Bugandi Jack” for his work in establishing a boarding school in the Bugandi region of Papua New Guinea, Henry is credited with introducing rugby league to schools in PNG.

Leonard was visited by Men of League when it was heard he was suffering from prostate cancer and he revelled in reminiscing of football days gone by.

Ron was one of those people that could light up a room with his infectious laughter and leave a lasting impression on those he met. He was a long-time official with the Baradine and Bendemeer clubs and Group 4 treasurer for many years.

ALYN CAMPBELL

Alyn played with the Wagga Magpies and was part of their 1955, 1956 and 1957 premiership sides. He represented Riverina between 1957 and 1959, playing against the touring English, New Zealand and French teams alongside legendary names like Greg Hawick, Ross Kite, Allan Staunton and Billy Wilson.

He was a president and first grade team manager of the Turvey Park club in Wagga Wagga. He died on a fishing trip doing something he loved.

Ian Johnston was the Parramatta Eels’ first international when selected for Australia in 1949, as a centre. He next played for his country on the 1956-57 Kangaroo tour when he was with the Western Suburbs Magpies.

He was recognised for his long time service when he was elected to the Parramatta Hall of Fame in 2009.

Stew McAlister was the brother of Far North Queensland committee secretary John McAlister. Stewie played with the Ivanhoes Club in the Cairns competition before moving on to play in some of the great Wests Panthers sides of the 1970s in the Brisbane league.

MAL CHENEY

The former lanky Parramatta forward passed away aged 63 after showing much courage and determination for years as he battled a serious brain tumour.

His rugby league career began at Tarcutta in Group 13 in 1966 and later represented Turvey Park, Broken Hill where he played with the Geebungs in their premiership win, before joining the Eels for two seasons in 1974 and was part of the reserve grade premiership side under Terry Fearnley in 1975. He later won premierships as captain-coach of Batemans Bay. Mal covered rugby league in the local media, for newspapers and with Radio 2EC.

GERARD FITZPATRICK

JACK STANFORD

Gerard was passionate about the history of his beloved Valley Diehards and contributed a significant amount of time and effort in researching this history. He was also on the organising committee for the annual Valleys past players reunions.

A pre-match minute’s silence was afforded him before the Manilla-Kootingal clash in honour of his contribution as a player and later supporter of the club.

Gerard, a true Valley (Brisbane) Diehard, passed away unexpectedly aged 62. He was a Valleys player from 1971-79, competing in five Brisbane A-grade grand finals and representing Brisbane and Queensland.

Jack was a life member of the Manilla club where he played his first senior football in the 1950s before being transferred in the police force to Sydney and joining the Parramatta Eels.

HELPING MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE RUGBY LEAGUE COMMUNITY

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Winners are grinners: the 2013 Women’s World Cup winners – AUSTRALIA!

Jillaroos dedicate Cup win to ‘MuzZA’

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he Australian Women’s Rugby League team ‘The Jillaroos’ returned home victorious after breaking New Zealand’s stranglehold of the World Cup with a 22-12 victory over the Kiwis in the final at Headingly in Leeds in mid-July.

It was Australia’s first women’s World Cup trophy victory, coming from their first-ever win against the Kiwis, who held the crown with three World Cup victories over 13 years.

After the scores were locked at eight-all at half-time, the Jillaroos went ahead early in the second half and then withstood a punishing period of play from New Zealand as they tried to get back into the game. Tries were scored by Jenni-Sue Hoepper, Tarah Westera, Heather Ballinger and Samantha Hammond.

The NRL’s support of the team was enormous and for the first time the Jillaroos went to UK fully funded.

Murray, an active Men of League member over many years, had coached the girls in the lead-up to the World Cup but had to give away his duties to Dyer after suffering a heart attack early in the year. Sadly he passed away two weeks after the girls’ victory but he would have been very proud of their performance.

The Jillaroos beat England 14- 6, France 77-0 and then lost to the Kiwis 14-6 in their round matches.

The leading try scorer was Hammond with eight, which saw her called ‘Sammy Slater’ by Australian Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens, who watched the final.

Ali Brigginshaw scored 12 goals.

Australia dominated Rugby League’s Festival of the World Cups in the UK, winning four individual world cups with the Armed Forces, Student and Police teams also bringing home the gold.

“This was a true team effort by all 23 players,” Jillaroos coach Paul Dyer said. “We never gave up against a bigger and stronger team and in the end, wore them down with brilliant defence.

“What a great day for Australian rugby league,” said ARL Commission CEO,” Dave Smith. “I had the pleasure of spending a short amount of time with the teams in the UK last week and the amount of work they have had to put in to achieve their success is incredible.

“We dedicate this win to Graham Murray, our former coach who was struck down with illness just prior to the World Cup campaign.”

“To the Jillaroos, who have won the World Cup for the first time, I think the whole nation is proud of your achievement,” Smith added.

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Fitting tribute to Gibson

Harley meets Blues heroes

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By MARTIN COOK hat a wonderful day” is the way Johnny “ Peard so succinctly and appropriately put it. And not one of the 120 bowlers or 170 lunch guests at the Men of League Fred Gibson Memorial Bowls Day at Club Dubbo would disagree.

arley Smith, a brave 13-year-old from Dubbo in western NSW, had the experience of a lifetime at State of Origin III, thanks to the Men of League Foundation and the players and management of the NSW team.

There was an overriding sense that Fred’s struggle with the dreaded motor neurone disease wasn’t in vain as an unseasonably warm winter’s day and tiptop Club Dubbo greens greeted the bowlers.

Harley and his father Shane took away with them two special mementoes too: Greg Bird’s name plate from his locker signed by the Blues star and a scarf signed by a legend from his beloved Tigers, Ben Elias.

Following a few ends of social bowls was a first class Club Dubbo lunch accompanied by anecdotes from one of Australian boxing’s toughest - Dave “Charkey Ramon” Ballard.

Harley and Shane, who suffer from Huntington’s Disease, were afforded exclusive access to the Blues dressing room after watching the series decider from prime seats.

There were Frank Sinatra covers from the dulcet tones of former NSW five-eighth Leo Toohey, Master of Ceremonies Jim Hall gave his take of “The History of rugby league” and the hilarious Peard, who keeps getting better and better.

After Bird took down his name plate and signed it for Harley, Elias, not wanting Shane to miss out, took off the Origin scarf – maroon on one side and blue on the other - and presented it to the avid Tigers fan, with the words (on the blue side) “Shane, do not turn this over.

Go the Blues, Benny Elias.”

Fred Gibson, the Brewarrina, Mendooran and Dubbo Macquarie hooker, was also an astute stockman and a religious person. Fred was smiling down from heaven over the bowls day. He would have been proud of his wife Rosie, his four children and grandchildren and proud of his football mates who all came together to raise money for the wheelchair van, so that others wouldn’t be isolated like he was.

Brewarrina had no wheelchair taxis. The only time Fred left home in the twelve months before receiving a wheelchair mini-van was in an ambulance to medical appointments. He died only three weeks after receiving the van but as his son Fred junior put it: “He was so proud of that van. Just receiving it and knowing that the Men of League cared so much meant so much to him.”

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative genetic disorder that affects muscle coordination and leads to cognitive decline and psychiatric problems.

Harley’s grandfather had the condition and his father Shane contracted it not long after Harley was born.

The disease develops earlier in life in each successive generation. Harley was only 11 when he started experiencing symptoms of Juvenile Huntington’s Disease.

Harley and Shane high in the stands with Harley’s step-father Steve and mother Katherine.

The $12,000 raised at the bowls day will ensure the van stays with Men of League so that it can be used to ensure the next member who is wheelchair bound won’t be left so isolated like Fred was. This generosity started with the board and management of Club Dubbo - they generously donated the costs of the breakfast, bowls and lunch, so that supporters of the day knew that 100 per cent of their contributions were going to the cause.

All this added to an overwhelming sense of pride in the rugby league community, that there is a fantastic support network called the Men of League Foundation. As Peard so profoundly put it: “Not since the discovery of insulin, has a single medical discovery so potently contributed to wellbeing of humanity than what is offered by mutual support groups, such as Men of League.”

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ISC clubs unite to tackle depression

By Michael Hillier

D

espite its combative nature on the field rugby league provides a close-knit community where people band together in times of need.

Earlier this year, the Intrust Super Cup was rocked by the tragic and untimely death of 20-year-old Alex Elisala, a well-liked young man who was playing great football and always wore a smile on his face.

However, that smile hid an internal pain he may have thought was a burden he had to bear by himself.

Elisala’s passing spurred Ipswich Jets chairman Steven Johnson into action and along with Redcliffe Dolphins captain Petero Civoniceva, fellow front row forward Isaak Ah Mau, they sought to find a way to raise awareness of depression amongst rugby league players.

After setting up a meeting with QRL general manager of major competitions Jamie O’Connor, the wheels were set in motion for the league to highlight the need for action on an issue that was devastatingly brought to the fore.

As a result, round 15 saw the inaugural ‘Turn to Me’ round in the Intrust Super Cup, with all clubs wearing blue socks to promote the work done by beyondblue, which works to increase awareness and understanding of depression and anxiety in Australia.

League players are often seen as the epitome of toughness, but sometimes the most courageous thing a person can do is ask for help.

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Mau and Civoniceva filmed a TV commercial that highlights the importance of speaking to someone in your time of need and to prompt players to ask how their teammates are going.

Civoniceva said he hoped the ad would influence some young players to open up.

“It is important that, as a game and as a competition, we do something to bring awareness to this issue,” Civoniceva said.

“For Isaak and I, being in the commercial was about ensuring guys understand they can turn to someone to help them, be it family, friends or their coach or one of the hotlines.

“Within our code, we look for toughness in a physical sense on the field, but real toughness is being able to get out of your comfort zone and to turn to someone and talk to them.

“It can seem like a huge thing at the time, but if you get some help and talk things through, you may find it’s actually something small you can deal with.”

As well as promoting the cause, each club has been given the tools to enhance their player welfare programs, which fits with the broader focus within the game to promote strategies for better mental health.

If you or someone you know needs help, visit www.beyondblue.org.au

Raising Your Game The inaugural Men of League Weekend was a huge success, as the rugby league community got behind the Pull Your Socks Up campaign

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arly July in the rugby league calendar is usually dominated by State of Origin but this year the Men of League Foundation started a new day to remember for those who love the game.

The inaugural Men of League Weekend, held over July 6-7, saw countless clubs and teams across the country proudly show their support for the Foundation’s work, raising money and awareness through a variety of initiatives.

To kick things off, the Foundation launched a new TV commercial, voiced by Oscar-winning actor and South Sydney Rabbitohs co-owner Russell Crowe. (If you still haven’t seen it, check it out on www.menofleague.com). With the ad being shown throughout the weekend across Fox Sports’ NRL coverage, it was a fantastic way to kick-start the campaign.

To make sure we got the message out there, a number of NRL clubs also got involved, with the Cronulla Sharks, North Queensland Cowboys and Gold Coast Titans players all wearing the gold and blue commemorative socks for their round 17 games.

Local clubs were also encouraged to buy the socks and wear them in their teams’ games over the weekend, with an online competition that asked them to take creative photos of their players wearing their socks in a unique location for the chance to win a private coaching clinic with Kangaroos head coach Tim Sheens, as well as a signed NRL All Stars jersey and two tickets to State of Origin Game III in Sydney.

In a fantastic response, more than 300 pairs were sold, raising more than $10,000 for members of the

The winning competition entry from the Glenmore Park Brumbies Under 8-1s.

rugby league community who have suffered spinal cord injuries.

The competition also received some brilliant entries, with eventual winners Glenmore Park Brumbies under 8-1s from western Sydney sending in an evocative photo of the boys in the Sydney Cricket Ground change rooms (see above).

Inspired by the spirit of the Men of League Foundation and the chance to meet Tim Sheens, mum and photo organiser Gillian Ewer went to great lengths to come up with an idea that really captured the aim of the competition.

“We learnt lots and lots and had lots of fun too. We would love to tell Tim all about it when he comes to coach us.”

On top of all this, several local rugby league clubs undertook their own fund-raising activities, raising another $4000 for the Foundation.

Two clubs in particular – Sydney teams Concord-Burwood United and Holy Cross Rhinos – put in a fantastic effort, raising $1500 and $1000 respectively.

“We all decided that we should think of a place that represents the same values that Men of League represent. We wanted the photo to represent, ‘Heritage’, ‘Footy’ and ‘Being there for your mates,’” Gillian said.

It was a weekend to remember for Men of League and an inspiring start to a campaign we hope will become an integral part of the rugby league calendar. And it’s all down to the efforts of the people who love and participate in rugby league, at all levels of the game, whose continued hard work and commitment to help those in need shows the true spirit of the game.

“It was agreed that the SCG would be ideal – so in the school holidays one of the mums organised the whole team to have a trip into Moore Park and we were shown around both the SCG and Allianz Stadium.

The Men of League Weekend will return next year, bigger and better – so start planning now about how your club and local team can get involved and support the rugby league community.

HELPING MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE RUGBY LEAGUE COMMUNITY

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The victorious Illawarra squad, NSW Country champions 2013.

Country Rugby League

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Illawarra run away with Country crown BY TERRY LIBEROPOULOS

llawarra put a stop to the Newcastle Rebels’ recent domination to emerge victorious in the Country Championships, coming from six points down at half-time to run out convincing 38-22 winners in the final in Dubbo.

Illawarra had won the title four years running from 2007 but Newcastle were victorious in 2011-12 and looked like making it a hat-trick when they led 22-16 at halftime, only for the south coast side to take control.

The first points came after 11 minutes when former Knights player Riley Brown split the defence after a scrum win and raced 30 metres to score.

Three minutes later, it was 10-0 to the Rebels when Matt Shipway delivered a great cut out pass for Stephen Gordon to race clear. He sent Smith down the sideline and backed up to take the pass and score. He added the conversion and the Rebels were in full control.

Illawarra hit back with three tries in six minutes to lead 16-10. The first came in the 17th minute when Matt Clarke charged down a Brown kick and ran 35m to score.

Three minutes later, prop-forward Greg Reh charged over from a tap move, on the back of a penalty.

Then a great offload from Illawarra centre Lulia Lulia put Brad Scott over for the try after Smith had lost the ball close to his own try line.

Newcastle levelled the scores in the 28th minute after hooker Terrence Seu Seu scooted away from dummyhalf to put Royal over adjacent to the posts.

Noilea dived over in the corner for Illawarra but was denied the try after putting his foot into touch in the process of scoring.

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In the final minute of play, Rebels halfback Jade Porter put a bomb up and winger Chris Pyne was able to fly high, take the ball and score. Gordon added the conversion and Newcastle led 22-16.

Illawarra got off to a perfect start in the second half when Ty McCarthy put winger Wayne Bremner over wide out.

But Duggan couldn’t add the extras and Newcastle held on to a two-point lead.

But that didn’t last long with Duggan producing a wonderful 40-20 kick. From the ensuing scrum win, Blake Phillips took an inside pass from Daniel Burke to score. Duggan kicked the goal and Illawarra were back in front at 26-22.

Illawarra went further ahead in the 56th minute when Duggan slipped through the defence to score under the posts, then kicked the conversion for a 10-point lead.

With dark clouds converging over Apex Oval, Newcastle needed to score but handling mistakes cost them crucial points.

Illawarra made sure of the win when winger Jason Raper beat two defenders and sent Lulia over to score in the 73rd minute.

The game just finished in time for the heavens to open and deliver a huge downpour.

“The boys got stuck in after the half-time,” Duggan said.

“Our win was on the back of a good performance from our forwards. It made my job so much easier.”

Newcastle coach Paul Skovgaard addressed his players at half-time about doing the simple things right.

“Illawarra came out firing in the second half and they put a lot of pressure on us,” Skovgaard said.

AFTER THE SIREN Men of League talk to familiar footy names about now … and then.

BRYAN NIEBLING For the record

POSITION: Second row TESTS: 13 (1984-87) ORIGIN: 9 games for QLD (1983-87)

Interview by STEVE RICKETTS. You made your representative debut as a youngster for Wide Bay against Great Britain at Maryborough in 1979. What was it like playing against a team of old hard heads? Pretty daunting. They had some of the legends of the game like Roger Millward, Jim Mills, Doug Laughton, George Nicholls and Steve Nash. But we gave a good account of ourselves, although the Poms won 27-7. I was playing for Murgon at the time after knocking back an offer from Souths in Brisbane.

I just wanted one season at home with my mates.

You ended up at Valleys when you moved to Brisbane and you played under controversial captain-coach, Ross Strudwick. What was that like?

Really good. I was just a kid and Struddy’s unique style of coaching suited me. Some players needed a pat on the back and some needed to be yelled out. Struddy could press the right buttons and he was probably ahead of his time. We played it hard and having our coach on the field with us was an advantage I thought, because we all had an input. But I know it wouldn’t work now.

Your next club was Redcliffe and their pack had a fearsome reputation given it included internationals like you, Wally Fullerton Smith and Dave Brown. Did you blokes try to live up to that reputation?

Not really. You had to play hard because Redcliffe had plenty of depth and there was always someone in reserve grade ready to take your place. The toughness of the Dolphins pack was more a media thing, but we all took great pride in our performance. There was a weekly competition to see who make the biggest hit, but you had to play smart. Big hits were not going to win finals.

In 1986 you won the Rothmans Medal as Brisbane’s best and fairest player. Was that one of your greatest honours? Some people rolled their eyes at the fact a fiery forward would get an award judged by referees, but I always prided myself on playing clean.

I also had a lot of respect for referees of the day such as Eddie Ward who controlled Test matches and interstate clashes. The medal still looks good and every now and then I get it out of the cupboard to show the kids.

Bryan Niebling in action for Valleys. Photo courtesy COURIER MAIL.

You were one of the Broncos’ first signings. Was their interest from Sydney clubs? Yes. Penrith, Manly and Easts had approached me as early as ‘86, but I was a country boy, and although Brisbane was a big place compared with Murgon, it was nothing compared with Sydney. The Broncos gave me a chance to stay in Brisbane and that was great.

You finished your playing career at Hull Kingston Rovers in England. What was that like? I enjoyed the winter over there playing on the soft, damp fields.

Sometimes I wore garbage bags under the jersey to keep me warm, but I didn’t mind the cold. Playing over there gave me a new lease of life. Back here I would cart the ball up 30 times and tackle for 80 minutes. But over there I was allowed to pass more and even do the occasional chip kick, and it worked well for the team.

I believe you watched Origin I this year on the Greek Island of Santorini? Yes, my wife Cath and I were on holidays and we found a sports bar showing the game.

We met all these young guys from New South Wales who gave me a hard time when they found out who I was. But it was all good fun, and of course Queensland got the last laugh after losing that game.

What has life after football brought for you? It has given me a chance to spend more time with the family, and that’s the most important thing. I was also able to concentrate on my floor covering business and I still go out now doing jobs. I watch the NRL and Queensland Cup on television, but I don’t get to many games. If I go to the football it’s usually to watch Brothers in the Brisbane second division. It’s old style football and very enjoyable. Our daughter Sophie’s boyfriend, Jay Russell, plays for Brothers. His dad, Noel played for Brothers back in the ‘70s. Sophie and her brother Josh have moved out now, so Cath and I are empty nesters.

HELPING MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE RUGBY LEAGUE COMMUNITY

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NRL WELFARE & EDUCATION OUR PLAYERS ARE BETTER PEOPLE FOR HAVING BEEN PART OF THE LEAGUE.

This is the vision of NRL/RLPA Welfare and Education. From our Holden Cup “No Work or No Study = No Play” philosophy, to our NRL career and social responsibility programs through to transition services for retiring players, we aim to help players be successful on and off the field. Here are just some of their success stories.

DAVID BHANA

Holden Cup Player, NZ Warriors

Fast facts

Junior Club: Northcote Tigers NYC Career: 37 games Family: One sister & two brothers From playing under-6s at Northcote Tigers 14 years ago, who would have thought New Zealand-born David Bhana would be captaining the under-20s Holden Cup team of 2013 and signing an NRL contract for 2014?

On and off the field David is an inspiration to many young people demonstrating that it is possible to study and play The Holden Cup philosophy, No work or No Study = No Play is great because the reality is not everybody will make it to the NRL, but isn't detrimental either.

“While we are here at the Warriors and they are helping us to study, it’s silly not to take advantage of it,” David said.

In his final year of a Bachelor of Science at Auckland University, David says he can see all the hard yards are paying off and hopefully this will bear fruit at the end of the year when he will graduate before his NRL career has even started. This is an amazing achievement, one that doesn’t come without lots of hard work.

David has followed in his father’s and uncles’ footsteps on both sides of the family, having all played league.

And now David’s two brothers look set to do the same as their big brother aspires to a career like his hero Nathan Hindmarsh.

“Being captain of the under-20s is a huge honour and responsibility that John Ackland [coach of the Warriors’ Holden Cup team] has given me, and to walk in the line of those who have come before me in the likes of Ben Henry, Elijah Taylor and John Palavi means these are big shoes to fill, ones which I guarantee to follow in.”

With all the hard work on and off the field that David has put in, he is one future role model for the NRL and definitely someone to look out for.

NRL WELFARE AND EDUCATION PROGRAM The NRL Welfare and Education team and 44 Welfare and Education staff across 16 clubs now deliver their programs to all elite players, from U15s through to NRL and retiring players. We invite you to download our full brochure to find out more: www.nrl.com/leaguewise "The vision of our program is that when players leave our great game they are better men for having been part of rugby league"

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MEN OF LEAGUE AUGUST 2013

COLIN BEST

DALLAS JOHNSON

Fast facts

Fast facts

Former player, retired in 2012

NRL player, North QLD Cowboys

Junior Club: Engadine Dragons NRL Career: 261 games – Cronulla, Raiders, Souths & Dragons; 63 games – Hull FC Family: Married with three children Business: Owns Best Kids ELC at Alfords Point with wife Emma

What was your highlight of your football career?

I would have to say definitely the semi-final series.

I was lucky enough to be involved with four teams that made four finals series but never made it to a grand final. I know how hard it was to get to the semi-finals, so definitely any of the semi-finals series I played in was my highlight of my career.

What have you been doing since retiring in 2012?

Since retiring last year I have been helping my wife run our childcare business, Best Kids ELC with the accounts, admin and maintenance side of things. I have also taken on a role with the NRL as an apprentice mentor, which is affiliated with the Sharks.

Had you always planned to own your own business and why did you decide to buy a childcare centre?

In my early days I studied to be an apprentice but left as it wasn’t for me. I completed a sports admin and small business course, which is when I got the idea that I would like to own my own business – just not knowing what.

When I played at the Dragons I met a guy who owned a few childcare centres and he gave me the idea. After having my own children and with my wife studying, it gave us confidence to go into the industry. It took us 12 months to find the right location. We are now in our fourth year and hope to one day invest in another centre.

What is your role as NRL apprentice mentor and what do you think are the benefits of this program?

My role is to help any young apprentice or trainee at the Sharks or within the rugby league community in the Sutherland shire with their apprenticeships. We want to improve the completion rate by providing them with as many resources as we can to make it possible to successfully finish their course. I currently have nine apprentice mentees that I look after.

What advice do you have for players about preparing for life after footy?

Don’t leave it to the last minute; you need to start planning early. What the NRL is doing is fantastic by assisting the players with their education expenses as well as making sure that all players are doing things off the field to help them for life after football.

Junior Club: Herberton Magpies NRL Career: 221 games - Storm, Cowboys & 28 games with the Catalan Dragons Rep Career: Australia: 1 Test (2007), 12 Origin games for Queensland (2006-09) Family: Married with two daughters Business: insightcash.com.au At what age did you start playing football?

I started playing when I was about five or six years old.

When I was growing up the Origin games were always a big thing.

What studies have you undertaken while playing?

I am a plumber by trade but haven’t been a plumber for 12 years as I have been concentrating on my football.

I recently completed a small business course.

Do you have a business currently?

My business is called Insight Cash; it’s a bit of a leftfield one because I am an ATM deployer. I provide ATM machines to all different venues likes clubs and pubs and have had the business since the middle of last year.

Do you believe that having the balance of playing and studying is a great balance?

Most definitely, you need something outside of football.

You need to keep a life balance as football tends to consume a lot of your time, so having that balance – a family, a job or studying – is important.

Do you have plans for when you retire?

I would like to concentrate on building my business up.

I would also like to look for an opportunity with a club; staying involved in football somehow would be good.

EMPLOYERS WANTED Can you support one of our under 20s players by providing employment?

“No Work, No Study, No Play” – players need to be studying or working 25 hours per week to be eligible to play in the under 20s.

If you can help or would like further information please contact your local NRL club or Tony McFadyen, U20s Cup Program Manager on (02) 9359 8712 or tmcfadyen@nrl.com.au

HELPING MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE RUGBY LEAGUE COMMUNITY

47

Jones’ courage still on show

By BARRY ROSS

I

van Jones showed plenty of courage during his playing days and it is a trait he hasn’t lost. The Rabbitohs halfback of the 1960s, who never took a backward step against bigger opponents, has been undergoing chemotherapy once a week, as well as radiation five times a week. He doesn't complain and remains the always personable and positive person.

Three competitive halfbacks at a Men of League function: (from left) Terry Hughes, Ivan Jones and Steve Mortimer.

Ivan still lives deep in South Sydney territory with his wife, Diane, having celebrated his 70th birthday at Erskineville Bowling Club last November with many of his Souths teammates and friends.

A 68kg halfback, who played first grade at 16 at Dalby before joining Souths from the Brisbane competition, Jones had incredible strength for a small man and would often drive forwards backwards in a tackle.

After growing up in Dalby, he joined Brisbane Souths for three seasons in 1961 and in 1964 was a paid player with the Rockhampton Brothers club.

He joined the Rabbitohs in 1965 and quickly established himself, playing in the 1965 grand final when the young Souths team extended St George, holding them to a 12-8 scoreline.

This match at the Sydney Cricket Ground will long be remembered, as fans grabbed any vantage point they could, such as on grandstand roofs. The crowd of 78,056 was a ground record, but there were many more who were not counted.

Jones played in the Rabbitohs’ 1967 victory over Canterbury and would have been there in 1968 but was injured in the semi-finals, giving Bob Grant, who went on to become an international, his chance.

He returned to play in the reserve grade grand final winning team, along with Bob McCarthy who had also been injured.

One of Jones’ most memorable performances was against the mighty St George in the 1967 major semifinal. Although he received plenty of attention from the Dragons’ powerful forwards such as Dick Huddart, Elton Rasmussen and Ian Walsh, Ivan played strongly in the 13-8 win.

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MEN OF LEAGUE AUGUST 2013

"It was no place for the faint hearted around the playthe-ball area," Jones remembered, "But with Billy Smith, my opposite number, it was just as physical at scrum time.”

Two weeks later in the grand final at the SCG he faced even bigger forwards; dual international Kevin Ryan was captain and one of the Canterbury-Bankstown props, while his partner was giant Englishman Merv Hicks.

Souths won the match 12-10.

Ivan played 70 first grade games and 27 reserve grade matches with Souths before having one final season with Wests.

Current Australian selector McCarthy said of Jones: “Like Steve Morris, Ivan had electrifying speed and made many long individual breaks.

“He was also very strong for his size and I will never forget three of the many tackles he made, all against much bigger men and he lifted the three of them and drove them backwards.

The first was on Kevin Ryan, the second on Arthur Beetson and these were both at the SCG, while the third was at Redfern Oval on North Sydney's Lloyd Weier.”

During his working life, Jones managed several hotels, including the Lord Raglan in Alexandria, which is still popular with South Sydney supporters and players.

He and Diane have three daughters and one grandson.

CLONTARF KO DAY

By BARRY ROSS

The Clontarf Academy teams from Bourke and Oxley with some of the day’s dignitaries.

T

HE Men of League are committed to the Clontarf Foundation in their efforts to improve the education, discipline, self-esteem, life skills and employment prospects of young Aboriginal men.

Since opening its first academy for 25 boys in 2000, the foundation has grown to cater for around 2800 boys in 54 schools across NSW, Northern Territory, Western Australia and Victoria. The most recent academy was established at the Brewarrina Central School last year.

The foundation uses the passion that Indigenous boys have for rugby league, and in some places Aussie Rules, to attract them into schools and keep them there.

The chairman of the Clontarf Foundation is Ross Kelly AM, who is a successful businessman. Ross is the chairman of Wood and Grieve Engineers and chairman of Imdex Limited and is a former commissioner with the Western Australian Football Commission and Fremantle Dockers chairman.

Although Australian Rules is his sport, Kelly clearly understands that for the Clontarf Foundation to succeed in NSW, rugby league has to be the vehicle that it uses to engage the students in education.

The Clontarf Foundation held a successful junior league carnival in Sydney in June which featured academy students from Armidale, Bourke, Brewarrina, Coonamble, Inverell, Moree and Oxley. The boys were elated when ARL Team of the Century member and Immortal, Graeme Langlands, arrived to watch some of the action.

“It was a pleasure to meet so many happy young men,” Langlands said. "And I was also impressed with their on-field ability."

NRL welfare and education manager Dean Widders watched several matches and spoke to the boys.

South Sydney legend Bob McCarthy also spent several hours at the carnival, along with Men of League national vice-president Jim Hall and ARL officials Ricky Walford and Geoff Carr, plus world famous boxing trainer and Men of League member John Lewis, also attended.

NRL chief executive David Smith found time in his busy schedule to enjoy some of the matches and make a presentation.

State Member for Canterbury and chairperson of the Australian Rugby League's Indigenous Council, Linda Burney, a hard working, activist for all Aboriginal causes, also watched the action.

The Clontarf Foundation welcomed the Men of League support and the boys have quickly become supporters of our organisation. Currently they are working hard in a fund raising drive, with the aim of presenting some funds to the Men of League.

The newest and smallest academy, Brewarrina, won the final after a tight and entertaining clash with Armidale.

The Clontarf Foundation is grateful for the Men of League involvement, while they were also thankful for the volunteers from AMP, Caltex and Goldman Sachs, who helped make the carnival a success.

HELPING MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE RUGBY LEAGUE COMMUNITY

49

MEN OF LEAGUE MEMBERSHIP FORM

Date:

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If these details are not completed in full, the processing of your application may be delayed

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Corporate or Gold members only - please select one of the options below: ❑ I will supply my company’s logo for recognition in the Men of League Magazine and on the website to admin@menofleague.com (where applicable) OR ❑ Please recognise my contribution by having my name in the Men of League Magazine and on the website OR ❑ I do not want to be recognised for my contribution to the Men of League in your Magazine or website Please tick payment method: Direct Debit ❑

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Please forward your membership application together with your payment ($20 individuals; $150 gold/corporate to: Men of League Foundation, PO Box 7049, SILVERWATER NSW 2128, or fax to 02 8765 2808 For further information please visit www.menofleague.com, email admin@menofleague.com or call 02 8765 2232 50

MEN OF LEAGUE AUGUST 2013

MEN OF LEAGUE FOUNDATION GOLD & CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP

LET’S KEEP THIS GOING

• made over 5000 welfare contacts with people in hospital or other forms of care in order to check up on those in need.

To keep this going we invite you to become a gold/corporate member of the foundation.

The cost of this membership is $150 per year. By becoming a gold/corporate member you are making a significant contribution in ensuring the good work of the Men of League continues. Apart from the personal satisfaction you receive in making this contribution there are also other benefits.

• awarded 10 Scholarships, which have positively impacted recipients’ lives

THESE INCLUDE:

FORMED IN 2002 THE FOUNDATION HAS: • spent more than $2,500,000 caring for the rugby league community • provided more than $500,000 in medical equipment

• donated memorabilia to other charities or co- sponsored events to the value of more than $600,000 • organised over 600 fundraising events • reconnected thousands of people to the game of rugby league • built one of the largest organisations of its type in the world.

• Recognition of your membership annually in the Men of League Magazine and our website • A Gold or Corporate Membership Plaque • A Gold or Corporate Membership Badge • Annual subscription to the Men of League Magazine • Information on Men of League events

Part or all of your contribution is tax deductible HELPING MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE RUGBY LEAGUE COMMUNITY

51

ASHER’S PIONEERS AT WAR WITH OFFICIALS

BY ANDREW FERGUSON

Albert Baskerville’s Kiwi side had just passed through in 1908 on their way home from their historic tour of Britain when a Maori side hit our shores in what remains probably the most drama-filled visit from across the Tasman, led by another Albert – Albert ‘Opai’ Asher.

A

lbert ‘Opai’ Asher was a supremely gifted athlete whose ability on the field was only surpassed by his dedication to promoting rugby league so that it could be more widely enjoyed by future generations.

The visiting Maori were going to thrill the crowds, not just with their on-field performances and the return of Asher, but also with their music, art and dances. The tourists were confident the tour would be a success, on the field and financially.

Asher’s ability as a player was so great he was reported to have made his first-grade rugby union debut for Tauranga aged just 13 years old. At 17, Asher relocated to Auckland and made his debut for Auckland in 1898, possibly the most experienced 18-year-old athlete at the time.

Sydney man Robert McKethney Jack allegedly had been in correspondence with Asher regarding the organisation of the tour as early as October 1907, seeking five percent of the Maori gate takings from each match as payment.

In 1903, he was selected on the All Blacks team that toured Australia, scoring 17 tries in nine appearances, including the first try in the first Test in Sydney, which New Zealand won 22-3.

Asher’s career was unfortunately called to a halt in 1904 after he fell from a ladder while working as a firefighter, and suffered a knee injury that kept him on the sidelines until 1907. The injury also denied him a place on the 1905-06 All-Blacks tour of England as well as the ‘07-08 All Golds tour of England and Australia. But it wasn’t enough to keep him from returning to the field, despite doctors' fears that he would never play again.

But in 1908 Asher became best known for the controversy laden Maori tour of Australia. The Maori set sail for Sydney aboard the Moana on May 25, 1908, with a squad of 26 players as well as four Maori chiefs. They were accompanied by team secretary Tom O’Farrell, a prominent Sydney referee at the time, with Albert Asher the leader of the touring party.

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MEN OF LEAGUE AUGUST 2013

Asher explained, however, that no agreement had been agreed and decided to take up the organisation of the tour with New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL).

The Maori arrived in Sydney on May 29, and were taken to St. James’ Hall by NSWRL president Henry Hoyle and secretary James Giltinan for their official welcoming ceremony. But given they had little experience of playing rugby league, the NSWRL appointed George Boss, another Sydney referee, to teach them the new game.

The Maori tour started off in high spirits, with great sportsmanship, athleticism and crowds. But the increasing fanfare would go on to be of great concern for the tourists. The first game on June 8 against NSW at the Agricultural Ground drew an estimated crowd of 30,000.

The masses flocked so quickly that Hoyle authorised the opening of another gate into the stadium but failed to notify the Maori team management, leaving them unaware of the extra takings on the day.

Hoyle stated that a gentlemen with whom he had the utmost confidence in was looking after the takings but the Maori never saw any of the extra money. They later went to inspect the new counter to ascertain how much they were entitled to, only to find it had been removed.

Maori. It was not to be the last of the hostilities as the relationship between the two parties grew fraught.

The Maori made it clear that they felt they had been cheated, angering Hoyle and Giltinan.

Newcastle was the fourth opponent. Prior to the match, Asher told the NSWRL he had chosen Aubrey Welch as referee, only for Giltinan to overturn the decision, informing Asher he must choose a referee from a panel he had chosen, which did not include Welch.

That first massive crowd also attracted another individual intent on making money out of the tourists.

The takings were so large, Robert Jack attempted to claim monies the Maori believed he wasn’t entitled to.

Asher refused to back down. Welch travelled to Newcastle with the Maori team and with no time to organise a replacement, Giltinan agreed to let him officiate but forced the Maori to pay his fee.

After the second game drew a crowd of 20,000, the Maori believed they could continue attracting large crowds if they could improve their on-field performances.

As the Maori travelled north of the border, Robert Jack took the Maori team management to the Equity Court for the monies he felt he was owed from gate receipts.

The Maori made it clear that they felt they had been cheated, angering Hoyle and Giltinan.

This coincided with Asher’s announcement that Boss had been appointed as the team’s business manager, while still acting as coach. Boss accepted the position and immediately resigned as a member of the NSWRL Referees Association.

During the third game, against Sydney Metropolis, it was reported that Giltinan left the grandstand to argue with the referee about alleged foul play by the

On the day the Maori played Toowoomba, Jack won an injunction against 18 Maori players, preventing them from receiving any money from the NSWRL.

The NSWRL assumed this meant the tourists were not to receive any monies from them for the entire tour until the case had been settled, and contacted the Queensland Rugby Association (QRA) to inform them of the decision.

As a result, Asher left 10 players and the three entertainers in Sydney to save money. When Giltinan learned there was no Maori pre-match performance for first game against Queensland, he sent the remaining 13 Maori in Sydney up to Brisbane and forwarded the bill the Maori team management.

HELPING MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE RUGBY LEAGUE COMMUNITY

53

The second game against Queensland drew the ire of locals when they learnt that the referee was none other than George Boss, the newly appointed Maori business manager. The tourists won 13-5.

By the start of the third game, the Maori were angry with the QRA for denying them their share of the gate receipts and the off-field dramas started to show onfield. Prior to half-time, Asher, frustrated with the referee, ordered his team off the park. They were eventually convinced to return and but lost the game 6-5 as Queensland scored a try in the dying minutes.

The Maori put forward a proposal to play a 15-a-side game; however Hoyle, Giltinan and the Rugby Union opposed the idea, threating life suspensions to any players who took part in the fixtures against the New Zealand Native Team.

In a shambolic match between the Natives and Metropolis, the Sydney team contained a number of Maori players loaned to them by the tourists; one player wasn’t even wearing shoes. Even the programs had different players named for Metropolis than those who took the field. The Maori were resounding winners.

As the Maoris returned to Sydney they beat a Newcastle team before putting in a splendid display against Australia (which was essentially NSW with the additions of William Hardcastle and Ernest Anlezark) but went down 20-10.

Shortly after this game that Giltinan set sail with the first Kangaroos tour of England and Horrie Miller was appointed NSWRL secretary. Miller immediately paid the fares home for the Maori team, much to the delight of the visitors.

The Maori played Metropolis again and, trailing 13-0 at half-time, put in possibly their best performance of the tour in the second half, scoring 34 unanswered points.

The Maori returned to Australia in 1909 and Asher returned to the courts to put an end to the legal wrangle with Robert Jack.

These last two performances saw the NSWRL hastily organise a second match against Australia before the final game against NSW.

Prior to their fourth game against Australia, Jack claimed he was still owed £213 and issued a court order against Asher until the monies were paid.

On the morning of the second game against Australia, Asher sought legal advice that confirmed the NSWRL had broken its agreement with the Maori team, and informed the NSWRL they would not play because the League was withholding money due to players against whom there was no legal injunction.

The local constabulary arrested Asher. When the NSWRL heard of the ordeal they immediately settled the Maori debt with Jack so Asher could be released in time to get to the game.

George Boss told to the media: “The Maoris decided unanimously to abandon the tour under the auspices of the League and an expression of interest led to the motion that a new team be formed to be styled the New Zealand Native Team, which will include several of the New Zealand natives residing in Sydney.

"It is thought that one or two matches could be arranged here and in New Zealand. At the present time it cannot be said whom we will play but we don’t anticipate any trouble in securing a ground or a team to play against us.”

Upon their return home after the 1908 tour, the Maori team wrote a letter to Horrie Miller, then acting secretary of the NSWRL: “We wish to convey to you our thanks and appreciation for your kindness to our chiefs and boys during their recent visit to Australia. We are specifically pleased at your assisting them home before the completion of their time, and bringing them away from possible trouble.

"They speak highly of the treatment received from you and your league; in fact, from the people of Australia.

We are sorry to learn from our chiefs and boys that some of their party did not observe our good counsels.”

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54

MEN OF LEAGUE AUGUST 2013

COMMITTEE NEWS League, Peter Betros. Sponsors – Bracken Ridge Tavern, Michael White, Broncos Leagues Club, Geoff Keuhner and Dave Mason; Broncos football club, Andrew Gee; Mono Pumps, Peter Rashleigh; Redcliffe Leagues Club, Bob Jones; Hoppy’s Handwash Café, Chris Johns; Struddys Sports, Ross Strudwick, Trawler Fresh Seafoods, Clinton Pearce, Coca Cola Amatil, Paul Stephenson; Infruit Rocklea, Anthony Walker; Crystal Media Group, Gavin Allen; Sportingbet, Wally Fullerton Smith Our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of our recently departed members Neville Barry, Stewart McCallister, Gerry Fitzpatrick, and Norma Coyle, mother of our Brisbane committee treasurer Cliff Coyle.

Valleys Old Boys … good supporters of the Brisbane golf day.

BRISBANE

WESTERN SYDNEY

At our April lunch we had the pleasure of having Jharal Yow Yeh as our guest speaker. And what a determined young man he is after receiving that shocking leg injury.

One week after the luncheon he was on the field playing for Norths in the Queensland Cup.

This is the first report from the newly formed Western Sydney committee. Thanks to the enthusiastic work of inaugural secretary Garry O'Donnell, this vital area of Sydney is now being catered for by the Men of League Foundation.

When asked who his heroes were he had no hesitation in saying it was his grandfather who happened to be sitting with president Ron Atkins and his guests. We hope to be able to get Jharal back later in the year when he has a little more time in his schedule.

We have introduced more than 50 new members and local clubs are well represented with Guildford, Cabramatta, Greystanes and Wentworthville on board either by committee representatives or new members.

By Vance Rennie

By Les Clark

Our golf day was a great success with a full complement of players hitting off at Keperra Country Golf Club. The course was in perfect condition as was the weather for a great day of golf. The winners on the day were the Hutchinson Builders team of Tom Wilson, Shaun Munday, Shawn Godwin and Callum Waddell.

Runners up were Ken Jackson, Dean Pringle, Gavin Maguire, and Sam Barnes.

Derek Nolan was the lucky winner of the new golf bag kindly donated by Mono Pumps. Also in his team were Steve Calder, Ron Atkins and Ian Gatenby.

I would sincerely like to thank all our sponsors for their kind donations and support for making this a very enjoyable and successful day: major sponsor – Hutchinson Builders, Scott Hutchinson; hole sponsors – Sci Fleet Toyota, Steve Duncan; Ray White Keperra, Michael Price; ERM, Terry Maloney; Dare Concreting, Peter Cameron; Queensland Rugby

We have hit the ground running with our first function a sportsmen’s luncheon held at the Coolibah Hotel Merrylands on 2 August. The Coolibah Hotel management and its patrons have been very generous with their support during our start-up period.

Jim Hall and Chris Bannerman were also active in their desire to see a committee start in western Sydney.

In helping us to get started we were asked by Men of League to assist by way of a working partnership in conducting the Cox Plate Race Day at Rosehill in October, and we have grabbed this exciting challenge with both hands.

We have also received encouragement from a couple members of other committees i.e. Steve Winbank (Northern Sydney) who accepted the role of inaugural president and Bruce ‘Bruiser’ Clark who has been instrumental in organising our sponsors and prizes for our first events.

HELPING MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE RUGBY LEAGUE COMMUNITY

55

SUNSHINE COAST

By Tony Durkin

A capacity of 200 members and guests packed Mooloolaba Surf Club for the fifth annual State of Origin luncheon and heard why Mark Geyer refused to hit Wally Lewis in their famous Origin stoush of 1991.

One of the guests, David Manson, was the referee when Geyer and Lewis locked horns and the firebrand NSW forward clenched his fist, but never threw a punch.

“Mark was in awe of Wally. He said later he could not bring himself to hit his hero,” Manson explained.

Manson was informative and entertaining as he highlighted that particular incident and several others from a colourful refereeing career.

Other guests were former Maroons hard man Wally Fullerton-Smith and ex-Queensland Test cricketer and funny man Greg Ritchie, both of whom had the audience in stitches. Through auctions and raffles, generous corporate guests and benefactors helped the Sunshine Coast committee raise more than $15,000.

Ten days later the Kick Off Club, with News Limited journalist Robert Craddock as guest speaker, attracted 100 guests. XXXX were unstinting in their backing of both functions held at Mooloolaba Surf Club, which generously supports Men of League.

The major function hosted by the Sunshine Coast committee is the annual golf day at Horton Park Golf Club (Maroochydore) on November 22. Hole sponsorship packages are available for $1,500, groups of four for $580, with individuals $150. Each player receives golf in a motorised cart, lunch, drinks on course and the presentation dinner, as well as a Men of League pack.

For more information, please contact Deanne Hagan – deanne.wynnum@harveyworld.com.au – or Justin Hagan – Justin.Hagan@coogee.com.au or ph: 0421 039 300.

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By Luke Graham The Gladstone committee had its most successful night raising a significant amount of funds from caring members of the community.

With tens of thousands of people in attendance over the three-day event, the Boyne Tannum Hookup had one of its most successful years to date, and Men of League were happy to be invited. The weekend saw Men of League president Ron Coote come to our town to meet the local community and enjoy a spot of fishing with some lucky fans. Shane Webcke spent his time at junior matches and signing a few autographs under the Men of League tent.

Saturday night’s auction hosted by SEA FM’s Banskie and Brad saw some prized collectables go under the hammer. There was a lot of interest in the Australian Legends jersey but a local resident wasn’t letting it go to any other man-cave.

President Mark Graham said; “Men of League Gladstone would like to thank Jeff Amos and his team at the Hookup for their support in allowing us to get our message to the wider community. It was our most successful night for the Gladstone committee, and to everyone that helped, we thank you.”

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Ivanhoes hosted Kangaroos the next day but couldn’t finish the weekend off on a high note, going down to their long-time rivals.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

By James Sullivan

The inaugural Western Australia Men of League golf day was an outstanding event at the picturesque Hartfield Country Club, where 60 or more players enjoyed themselves and all that joined us for the evening.

Congratulations to Shane ‘Bugsy’ Barrett and his Chelsea Flooring team who won the day.

Our WARL Heritage/Men of League round on the weekend of July 13 was a great success, starting with a Kick Off Club function at the South Perth Lions clubrooms on the Friday, followed by a superb round highlighted by the Fremantle Roosters v South Perth Lions clash.

Members of the Roosters' 1997 premiership team assembled for a reunion and the Fremantle Roosters wearing special commemorative jerseys which were auctioned at the evening’s festivities (proceeds from a couple of jerseys went to Men of League). A big thank you to the Fremantle Roosters RLFC. To finish off the weekend we saw an initiative by the Western Australia Men of League that we hope spreads across the country which saw each WARL junior player donate a gold coin to the Men of League, not only creating an awareness of the Men of League here in the west but nationally.

More Kick Off Club events will be announced shortly, just keep an eye on the calendar.

Men of League socks were on show when the Masters over-35s took on the FIGS (Former Ivanhoes Greats) in the main curtain-raiser.

The Far North Queensland committee looks forward to the visit once again of the Prime Minister’s XIII on September 26 as they pass through Cairns on their way to PNG. A special guest at the function will be Footy Show legend “Mahatma Cote” (Greg Ritchie).

Members night 2013 – (from left) Ron Payer, Alan ‘Skeeter’ Sharp, Ray Bennett, Eric Rowlands, Bruce Fitzpatrick and Garry Morris.

CENTRAL COAST

By Dennis Tomsett A members' night was held at the Central Coast Leagues Club on the May 24 with 130 members enjoying the chance to catch up with mates and meet other members.

There were many stories told of past days of rugby league with many tries scored, bone-crushing tackles made and, of course, the involvement of the referees.

Unfortunately, our president Don Parish was unable to attend as he is recovering after a recent hip replacement. Bruce Fitzpatrick stood in and welcomed the members, emphasising the need to keep the Men of League Foundation going and explained the concept of corporate and gold membership now available.

35s Masters - FIGS (Former Ivanhoes Greats) play Ray White Cairns Beaches & Smithfield FNQ Cyclones Blue team.

FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND

By Kev Maher (OAM)

The Ivanhoes Club celebrated its 90th year with a gala dinner at the Pullman Reef Casino on June 8 with an attendance of over 200 and many wonderful stories of days gone by were told.

Interviews were conducted with 1963 premiership-winning captain-coach John Eaton, Bruce Slade (synonymous with Ivanhoes) and John Skardon Jnr who played with Gold Coast and the Cowboys. Laurie Henley (another famous name) acknowledged Women in League and the part they have played in the club’s history.

Guest speakers were former representative players Michael Buettner, David Fairleigh and Jamie Goddard, who entertained the members by sharing some experiences from their playing days and answering questions from the members. Their contribution to is greatly appreciated.

On behalf of our committee I thank the management and staff of the leagues club for providing an excellent venue, food and friendly service.

A golf day at Shelley Beach is to be held on September 20 from 7.30am to 4.30pm, the competition will be an Ambrose with teams of four. The response to last year's event was excellent, so get in quick and nominate your team early by contacting the golf club direct or any of our committee members.

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ILLAWARRA

CANBERRA-MONARO

Our end of the year finals luncheon is held on Friday September 27 at Wests Illawarra Leagues Club. A great line up of rugby league entertainers have been booked for the show.

The Queanbeyan Blues Club has a very rich history of rugby league in the Canberra Region. On the weekend of June 8-9, they celebrated 85 years with a reunion in Queanbeyan organised by Raiders chairman John McIntyre.

By Peter Fitzgerald

Also mark in your diary, Kick Off Club events • Friday August 23 at Diggers City Wollongong Club • Tuesday December 3 at Steelers Club (Christmas event) • Friday February 28, 2014, Windang Hotel All events 4-7pm Illawarra representative division side defeated Newcastle 38-22 in the CRL championship tier one final at Dubbo on 30 June. Newcastle had won the previous two championships but now Illawarra are back on top thanks to a determined and committed input from all the players and coach Gavin Clinch.

Group Seven broke a 100-year drought by claiming their first NSWCRL crown on the same Saturday, taking on Group Two in the tier two final. The South Coast boys came from behind twice to prevail 30-22. Fittingly Group Sevens breakthrough victory coincided with the competition’s centenary season.

The Illawarra Steelers acknowledged the achievements of their NSWRL junior representative side at the annual presentation at the Steelers Club on June 11. Jackson Hastings received the Rick Posetti Memorial Trophy as SG Ball Cup’s player of the year; Blaine Rozs took the coaches’ award. The Stanlee Trophy for the Harold Matthews. Cup player of the year went to Blake Lawrie and the coaches’ award to Isitolo Collier. Dragons premiership player Dean Young and Daniel Lacey coached the Steelers SG Ball Cup team while Adam Bezzina and Michael Stone had charge of the Harold Matthews Cup. If you are a local member please ensure your details are up to date: email Barry Harle on barryharle@y7mail.com.

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By Noel Bissett

The Blues were first established as Masons Blues in 1928 and throughout their proud history have produced many rugby league internationals.

Johnny ‘Feathers’ Hawke became the first Blues Kangaroo in 1948 and was followed by Ian Thompson, Glenn Lazarus, Ricky Stuart, David Furner, Brent Kite and Terry Campese, plus rugby union internationals David Campese and Saia and Anthony Faingaa. Also former international Don Furner, OAM, coached the Blues to many premiership wins in the late 1960s and 70s and was the Raiders' inaugural coach in 1982.

Our Goulburn colleagues are organising their annual golf day on October 11, to be held at the Goulburn Golf Club. This will be the fourth year for this event, which has always been well attended.

The function held after the game has become a great gathering and certainly produces a lot of stories from the past where many tries are scored, tackles missed and passes that went astray.

Plans are also in progress in organising our fund raising bowls day which will be held on 16 November at the Canberra Bowling Club Forrest.

This is the fifth year this successful function has been held and we are hoping to have some VIPs and a guest speaker in attendance as in the past we have had Jim Hall, Leo Toohey, John Peard and Ron Costello.

The Canberra/Monaro committee welcomes any visitors and members of all committees who can see their way clear to attend the above functions.

NORTH COAST

NORTHERN RIVERS

Our committee is celebrating its fourth year and all our members can be proud of their involvement. We thank Jim Hall for his advice in getting it started. Memberships have grown, welfare visits are appreciated along with fundraising events.

Former ARL general manager Bob Abbott, AM, has been honoured by the Northern Rivers committee. Bob has been instrumental in the establishment of Men of League on the Northern Rivers, and the trophy for the Northern Rivers’ annual golf day will now be known as the Bob Abbott Shield.

By Peter Barrett

By Barry Cheadle

Our successful TAB race day luncheon at Coffs Harbour is a credit to all our members and attracts over 450 guests each year. It is on December 6 this year and will double as a Christmas party.

Neil Pringle will host with guest Roy Masters, so get in now.

Men of League supported the Jake Kedslie memorial night (grandson of Tom Raudonikis who passed away this year) at Sawtell Golf Club. Special mention goes to host Neil Pringle, Gold Coast Titans coach John Cartwright and former Origin and premiership-winning player Martin Lang, who gave up their valuable time.

Our next events are the beginning of our Kick Off Club at Coffs Harbour Hotel and a bowls and golf day.

The annual event is held at Ballina in October and is popular, with capacity fields taking to the course each year.

In other news, the committee is monitoring the progress of former Australia player George Smith, of Grafton, who recently had a back operation. George captained NSW Country in 1962 and was chosen for NSW, and then was called into the Australian team for the second Test against Great Britain.

When George’s back problem became evident several years ago, Men of League presented him with a walking aid to help improve his mobility.

NORTH WEST

By Kevin Robinson

BUNDABERG

By Terry Dodd At our last Kick Off Club, we handed out proceeds from our sportsmen’s night to members whose homes were inundated with floodwater earlier this year. Ten recipients received assistance, which we hope helped in some way.

Our next meeting at Salter Oval is set for July 26 at 5.30pm and we would like to see more members come along. Contact a committee person to nominate your team. The event is a three-person Ambrose with plenty of food and drinks. Our committee is joining with the Bundaberg Rugby League to host the Men of League Heritage Day on August 11, where all A grade clubs will wear Men of League socks, so come and enjoy the day.

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West Tamworth Rugby League Football Club will be celebrating its centenary, and all players officials and supporters past and present are welcomed on the weekend of October 18-20. There is a meet and greet on Friday night, dinner Saturday night and farewell barbeque on Sunday morning. Also a re-enactment of the first game played by the club will be played on Saturday afternoon.

Any monies raised will be donated to the Men of League.

We congratulate Wests on this achievement and wish them every success for their celebrations.

The North West committee will be holding a bowls day in Tamworth in September, either the 21 or 22 (yet to be confirmed). There will also be a golf day on the 19 October in Narrabri.

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MELBOURNE

SOUTHERN SYDNEY

We had a packed house at the Limerick Arms Hotel in South Melbourne for the function to coincide with State of Origin 1, with the entire Melbourne Storm player and officials group among the 150 people in attendance.

Vice-president Roy Masters acted as MC.

After a slow start to the year, we managed to get moving with a very successful lunch at JD’s on Friday, 10 May, where we entertained a crowd of over fifty.

By Peter Foreman

Once again the night was well attended, and we thank the management and staff of the Limerick Arms for allowing us to partner with them with these events.

Thanks to the strong relationship that has been built with the Melbourne Storm since our inception we were invited to conduct fundraising activities as part of the game day program.

The day also coincided with the Storm “Old Boys” reunion that starts on the Friday and goes through until Sunday night.

So for our committee members and Storm legends Robbie Kearns and Danny Williams it was a long weekend of reminiscing with their former teammates, as well as our activities on the Sunday.

The Melbourne Storm were fantastic in coordinating on-ground interviews for local media with our president Peter Foreman.

We wanted to raise greater awareness about our support for the Altona Roosters and to raise some much-needed funds ($10,000) following a fire that sadly burned down their club house and which unfortunately resulted in the club losing all of their essential equipment including jerseys and training gear.

Roy Masters was the guest speaker at the Melbourne Storm's corporate luncheon. This event provided much needed exposure for the Men of League Foundation and will result in an increase in our membership base.

In what was a fantastic result, we raised in excess of $4000 on the day.

By Terry Hughes

Our thanks to John Quinlan and the management of JD’S for making the venue available at short notice and the excellent service provided.

The 1973 grand final tribute lunch at the SUS Club was held on Friday July 26. As the magazine went to press the majority of the past Sharks players were set to attend along with Fred Jones, Peter Peters, Max Brown and possibly Graham Eadie from Manly. MC for the afternoon was Tim Gilbert (details will be in the next magazine and on the website).

Further negotiations are taking place for another luncheon at Oatley RSL, most likely in August as it was last year.

NEWCASTLE HUNTER

By Ross Gigg

The Newcastle Hunter committee had a strong hand in the annual golf and dinner weekend at Nelson Bay on the May 25-26.

John Peard did another excellent job keeping the crowd entertained on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon and special guest Les Johns relived some great memories for the crowd on Saturday night.

Over 150 golfers enjoyed a good day out on the Sunday.

A big thank you to Dave Crossley, Jim Hall, Peter Arnold, Chris Kelly, Greg Hennessy, Charlie Haggett, Max Pride and all the team at Nelson Bay Golf course and all other volunteers who helped organise and run the event. Our next big event is the Bowls day at Nelson Bay on the September 29.

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Ron West. We thank Mitsubishi, North Queensland Cowboys and the Cowboys Old Boys for their support and especially appreciate the hospitality provided by Brothers Leagues Club staff headed by Debbie Keelan who always looks after us so well.

Graeme White Interviewing jockey Glyn Schofield at the Wagga Gold Cup brekkie fundraiser

RIVERINA

By Ian Lloyd The Riverina committee has been very busy over the past few months. Amongst a host of action members manned the gate at a fundraiser at McDonalds’ Park Wagga for Jayden Kelly’s (Lake Cargelligo/Wagga Kangaroos) son who is suffering from leukaemia.

We also donated memorabilia for a Lake Cargelligo injured players fundraiser.

Our June 21 Kick Off Club was held for the first time at the Townsville RSL, which have been so very supportive of Men of League over the years through our race days and event auctions.

We had two guest speakers, brothers Aaron and Dean Payne, who talked about life after playing the game, especially their roles with the North Queensland Cowboys. Aaron also trains a few race horses, which keeps him busy in his spare time.

We wish him the same success as Sydney trainer, John O’Shea, who played rugby league for North Queensland in his junior days.

Many thanks go to RSL marketing manager Paul Bailey and Lions Glen Cummins for their support of an enjoyable evening.

In May the Riverina committee conducted our annual Wagga Gold Cup breakfast, which was a huge success with $6000 raised. Local trainer Bede Murray and leading jockeys Glyn Schofield and Peter Robl were the guest speakers and kept the audience of around 150 enthralled.

The committee also conducted its regular ‘coathanger night’ at Wagga’s Ashmont Hotel, which gave members a chance to catch up with old teammates and opponents.

A bowls day was held at Tumut where the Men of League donated $500 to a fundraiser for ex-Tumut footballer Gary Dowell.

Gary and Peter Flanagan flank Queensland legend Shane Webcke.

In October this year (Caulfield Cup day) we will be conducting a Men of League race day at the Murrumbidgee Turf Club. As part of the festivities there will be a reunion of all past Riverina representative players. If you played for Riverina and are interested in attending details can be obtained from Gary Burns on 0427 314 621 or Don Tuckwell 02 69214862.

TOWNSVILLE

By Barry Buchanan Heritage Week was celebrated in Townsville with a lunch held at Brothers Leagues Club on April 9. State president Steve Calder brought special guests Wally Fullerton-Smith and Adam MacDougall with radio and TV personality Peter Psaltis, who hosted the event. The occasion was used to honour members of the Townsville District team that played the touring St George Dragons in 1964.

Special guests were two of the team members, Graham Charles and Lyle Humphreys, as well as the referee

SOUTHERN DIVISION

By Andrew O’Brien

Our committee had its annual meeting and changed its name to Southern Division (Toowoomba) as our area covers Lockyer Valley, Warwick, Dalby and St George.

We recently held a fund raiser at Shane Webcke’s Leyburn Hotel which was well attended. John Peard, Shane and Jason Smith were the guest speakers. John ‘Pogo’ Morgan and Alex Tennant stole the night.

Heritage round in Toowoomba was a great opportunity to spread the message. Pittsworth held a Blues Brothers function in aid of Men of League. Our annual fund raising dinner is to be held with our volunteer of the year to be announced.

The award is named the Johnstone Star award after Brett Johnstone, the initial recipient of care from our division. Brett’s business, Full Noise Boilys, has kindly sponsored the trophy.

Don’t forget our annual golf day at Gatton on August 23 featuring Barry Muir and Michael Hancock.

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Pirates back to

‘The Graveyard’

BY BARRY ROSS

T

he Old Bar Beach Pirates club, the club that produced one of the NRL’s most exciting young players in Sydney Roosters lock Boyd Cordner, are eying a possible premiership in the Group 3 competition despite experiencing a horrendous 16 months since a fire started in a bin saw their clubhouse destroyed.

Playing jerseys and training gear all went in the fire and without a canteen, dressing room and toilet facilities, the Pirates had to move from Old Bar Reserve to another ground, which was substandard, for their home games.

It was seven months before work began on rebuilding the clubhouse and a new and larger building was completed in June, financed by the local council’s insurance, while Tooheys provided new bar facilities. The first match at ‘The Graveyard’ since September 2012 saw the Pirates win 40-10 against Wingham Tigers.

“It was great to play on our own ground,” said committeeman and former North Sydney junior Steve Collings. "During our time away, we had no canteen, so we had very little money going into our bank account.

But things are good now and we will finish the season with a lot of home games, allowing us to improve our financial status.

“There are many people and organisations who have helped us get through our bad situation. Tooheys and the local council have been great, while the NRL have

LATEST NSW Blues recruit Boyd Cordner gives the ‘Pirate salute’.

also done a lot for us, giving us two pie ovens and an ice machine. The Ironwood company generously gave us $15,000 worth of recycled timber and that looks terrific in our bar area."

“Our major sponsor, Club Old Bar, have been right behind us and we are lucky to have their support.”

A hard working landscaper, Collings works hard for the club and it was one of his many initiatives that resulted in NRL CEO, David Smith, accepting an invitation to attend a Group 3 semi-final last year.

The Pirates, located 16km east of Taree, were formed in 1991 when they were accepted to play in the mid North Coast Hastings League. NSW State of Origin rookie Cordner often gives the Pirate symbol when he celebrates a try, depicting his allegiance with his roots.

Building a better future

C

raig Campbell was brutally assaulted in October 2012 and after being air lifted to Royal North Shore in a critical condition, was hospitalised for four months. He still has to visit the Hunter Brain Injury Clinic Newcastle every week and has been unable to drive or work since, meaning it will be some time before he can return to his former employment as a carpenter.

His wife also ceased her employment to care for Craig.

Craig played with Erina and under-17s, under-19 and reserve grade with Terrigal where his late father Brian was president and a life member.

When Central Coast committee members Les Pearce and Dennis Tomsett visited Craig and his wife Jo Craig indicated that he would like to do a small work project 62

MEN OF LEAGUE AUGUST 2013

to assist him with his rehabilitation. The project was to build a floor to provide an external covered area where he could undertake his daily physio exercise program (he later added a roof).

With the help of mates and Jo, and Campbells Building Materials of Woy Woy who supplied timber at a significant reduction in price, Craig completed the project which was an outstanding achievement that boosted his confidence.

Also, to further assist with his rehabilitation Les organised for Craig to meet Bill Ide from the Men’s Shed at Umina. Craig attends at least once a week and thoroughly enjoys being able to use the tools of his trade again.

Men of League, we’re on your side.

The Men of League assists rugby league families who have fallen on hard times. Just like the Men of League, Simplicity is an active member of the communities it serves. Both believe in providing help and support to Australian families in need.

Speak to a Simplicity Funeral Director about the options for a prepaid funeral, because we all know you can’t predict the final score.

1300 556 222 simplicityfunerals.com.au

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