Magpie Memoir Magazine - Issue 17 (April 2022) by Gosford Rugby League: The Eye of the Storm Magazine

MAGPIE MEMOIR April 2022 Volume 3 Issue 2

MAGAZINE One Fans Tribute to the Western Suburbs DRLFC

WESTS BOYS CHASING DA SILVA-WARE

ISSN:2652-4406

Andrew Stark grew up just a hefty punt kick from Strathfield Park, in Sydney’s inner west during the heady days of the 1970s. He was quick to become a passionate supporter of the local rugby league team, the Western Suburbs Magpies. Stark began snapping photographs at the occasional game during the early 1980s and later became chief photographer for Terry Williams’ Sydney League News publication, covering grassroots footy from the mid 1990s on. Stark has captured a myriad of Magpie-centric images over the past three and a half decades, concentrating on the junior representative level, with an occasional foray into the senior grades. This quarterly fanzine series, aims to combine current events with a look back through the photographers vast collection. It is one man’s humble celebration of the mighty Western Suburbs D.R.L.F.C

The photographer as a boy in the backyard at Strathfield, captured discussing team selections with his shadow (Photo: Hugh Stark).

Above:

MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE © Andrew Stark

- UPDATE Brendan O’Loughlin In the last edition of MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE the One Random Photo segment featured Wests 1991 Jersey Flegg Cup five eighth Brendan O’Loughlin. Since the January edition was published we've learned that Grenfell product, O’Loughlin played a number of seasons either side of the turn of the century with The Oaks Tigers in the Group 6 competition. The Oaks were runners up three times inside five years during this period. The 1998 grand final list published here, 1998 Group 6 Grand Final won 23-16 by Camden shows O’Loughlin joining a number of former Wests men including Andrew Willis, Peter Gentle, Cam Blair, Peter Fullbrook, Steve Douglas & Michael Kearney

MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE April 2022: Volume 3 Edition 2

It recently dawned upon me that this season will be my 49th as a Wests fan – hell you don’t get that sort of time for murder – tish boom! Twenty two of these winters have fallen during Wests post merger era and having flicked back over recent editions of this humble zine, I've decided that its probably time to drop the shoulders and breathe a little. I’m not going to suggest that I’ll ever fully embrace the Wests Tigers, yet continuing to marinate in a historical grievance is undoubtedly running counter to my overall mental stability. Obsessing over orange does tend to make Starky a somewhat surly character. It might be time to let go. A genuine Lidcombe Oval character from the 80s & 90s, “Joe” bobbed up on the ABC’s Four Corners recently giving Anthony Albanese the thumbs up (see below). It was great to see that Joe continues to wear his Wests scarf all these years on. Wests talented Matthews Cup squad is chasing history in this seasons under 17s competition. The Magpies have never won the Matty’s Cup and they currently sit atop the ladder heading toward this season’s final series. Robbie Mears’ Magpies are giving the comp’ a hefty shake and here’s wishing them all the best in the big games ahead. - Andrew Stark

MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE is Written, Photographed, Designed & Published by Andrew Stark. All photographs were taken by Andrew Stark, unless otherwise credited.

2022 -- JUNIOR REPS -- NSW CUP -- MASSEY CUP -- 2022

Photos: Andrew Stark

SEVENTEEN’S DARE TO DREAM Robbie Mears’ talented Harold Matthews Cup team have powered through the opening month and a half of competition undefeated, providing a shinning light to Wests older age divisions. The Magpies under 17s are a genuine premiership threat, currently sitting alongside the Cronulla Sharks at the top of the competition ladder. With games to come against Canterbury and premiers Manly, as well as a bye prior to the finals, Wests are almost certainly guaranteed a top four finish. The SG Ball Cup team have not had such a great time of it. Despite a stirring, last-gasp win over Souths in round six, the Magpie 19s face an almost impossible task to qualify for this year’s finals. Two narrow losses to start the season followed by a gutsy draw with the Eels saw Wests craving an ounce of luck. The abandonment due to rain of the round five fixture against lowly Norths did further compound the sides run of misfortune. Matthews Cup stars; Heath Mason, Kit Laulilii and Jordan Miller eyeing off the coveted Harold Matthews Cup. (Photos – Andrew Stark)

Photos Above:

H. Matthews Cup (U17) Rd1 Rd2 Rd3 Rd4 Rd5 Rd6

… vs. Balmain (H) won 24-14 … vs. Newcastle (A) won 38-20 … vs. Parramatta (H) won 12-10 … vs. Syd Roosters (A) won 30-26 … vs. Norths (A) abandoned … vs. Souths (H) won 30-6

SG. Ball Cup (U19) Rd1 Rd2 Rd3 Rd4 Rd5 Rd6

… vs. Balmain (H) lost 22-26 … vs. Newcastle (A) lost 26-34 … vs. Parramatta (H) drew 16-16 … vs. Syd Roosters (A) lost 6-40 … vs. Norths (A) abandoned … vs. Souths (H) won 18-14

MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE © Andrew Stark

Wests NSW Cup season has begun poorly. A disappointing 20-16 loss to the Mounties at Camden, was followed by a 30-4 thrashing at the hands of the Knights at Kanwal. Former Western Suburbs fullback Watson Heleta nabbed the opening try for the visitors in round one, before another ex Magpie, Ben Seufale scored the second as the men in yellow jumped to a sizeable 20-6 lead at the break. Late tries to William Kei & Jock Madden made the final score a little more respectable for the home team. Round 2 saw the introduction of Early Evening Monday Footy and yielded a six tries to one defeat. Wests trailed 16-0 at the break and were never in it. Photos: Andrew Stark

The Magpies Massey Cup campaign kicked off with a 38-6 loss to Ryde Eastwood at Marsfield. Wests tried hard throughout but were dominated physically by the hefty Hawks. Photos – Above: Puna Fotu passes to Chris Slater-Raptis during the Massey Cup loss to Ryde Below: Greek International back rower Jake Kambos was Wests lone try scorer during round one the Massey Cup. Below right: Kambos is congratulated by Rydge Smith. (Photos – Andrew Stark)

MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE

WESTS CAGE FIGHTING

WORLD CHAMPION

- Liverpool’s Martin Nguyen from Magpies Matthews Cup to MMA World Champion. Back in the Autumn of 2005, the Magpies under 16s boasted a bantam weight halfback with a strong desire to become the next Darren Lockyer. Martin Nguyen was a big Brisbane Broncos fan and played rugby league for his local Liverpool City club, having begun as a seven year old with Liverpool Catholic Club. Captain of his junior club, Nguyen was starting halfback for Wests 2005 Matthews Cup team. Sadly, this league crazy son of Vietnamese immigrants, struggled after injuring his shoulder during an impromptu game of school footy. One lunchtime I went to tackle a mate and I popped my shoulder. And for about two years straight I was popping my shoulder all the time. Some mornings I would wake up and my shoulder would pop out of position. It was very painful. Nguyen’s rugby league ambitions were dashed. A number of years of rehabilitation followed before he began involving himself in jiu jitsu, just to help lose some weight. The discipline through martial arts is on another level compared to contact sports such as rugby league. Into his early twenties Nguyen was a young father and working as a mechanic when he became hooked on the MMA culture. Success in two amateur tournaments MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE © Andrew Stark

“I loved rugby league. I talked, breathed rugby league 24/7” - Martin Nguyen

MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE Photo: Andrew Stark

MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE

Photo: Andrew Stark

prompted the former Magpie number seven to turn pro in 2012. He quickly worked his way through the Australian contenders in the featherweight division, winning a contract to fight in Asia. A superstar in the ONE Fighting Championships, Martin Nguyen created cage fighting history when in late 2017 he became the first contestant to simultaneously win two divisions. The following year he came within an ace of adding a third. The bantam weight division alluding his grasp when beaten in a split decision in a bout for the title. Martin Nguyen was crowned Fighter of the Year at the 2018 Asian MMA Awards. Going under the cage name, The Situ-Asian, Nguyen continues to live in Wests territory. Martin, his wife Brooke and their three children live in Narellan Vale He works long shifts as a mechanic and spends hours training to keep himself in optimum shape. While the diminutive playmaker who hailed from Sadlier never did realize his dream of playing for the Brisbane Broncos, he has forged an amazing sporting career. Within the rich history of Western Suburbs rugby league yarns, Martin Nguyen boasts a truly unique chapter. Nguyen quotes – courtesy: Channel 9, SBS and Athletes Voice

Photos - Above & Previous Page: Martin Nguyen Wests vs Newcastle Matthews Cup 2005, Right: The champion cage fighter (courtesy of YK Tang Photography), Far Right: The boy from Liverpool is dedicated to a healthy lifestyle (courtesy SBS)

One Random Photo From The Files … Jersey Flegg Cup – June 1996 – Kogarah Oval Darryn Ellison represented Wests at Jersey Flegg level during 1995 & 1996 before pushing into the club’s Under 20s side in 1997. A powerful centre/winger, Ellison won the Jersey Flegg team’s Best & Fairest Award for season 1996.

Photo – Andrew Stark

The above photograph was taken during Wests 38-16 loss to eventual premiers St George during round eleven of the 1996 Jersey Flegg Cup competition. After a slow start to the season, the Jason Alchin/Tim Logue coached Magpies went undefeated in their final eight games to ultimately finish 12th. Team halfback Willy Newton progressed to first grade late in the year and was awarded the Jersey Flegg competition’s player of the year award. Darryn Ellison (pictured above) was at season’s end described by Wests Development Officer Mick Doyle as showing “outstanding potential to go all the way.” MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE © Andrew Stark

One Man’s Black & White Enthusiasm Continuing on with the series of letters sent between Stark and the Wests Football Office back during the 1990s. I evidently fancied myself as something of a talent scout back in the day, and recently uncovered pieces of correspondence sent to hard working Magpie secretaries, Gordon Allen and Steve Noyce, where any number of prospective Magpie recruits were discussed. I was covering junior footy at the time in my capacity as a photographer/journalist. I guess I figured my hours put in on the sideline and the gifted young players I was seeing first hand, may have morphed into information deemed useful by the Wests Footy Club Office. Of course the Magpies, like all the clubs, had people far better credentialed than ole Kodak to handle the spotting and sifting of potential recruits. Reading back over the letters today, I must admit to feeling a tinge of embarrassment at my forthright naivety.

MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE © Andrew Stark

THE SNAIL MAIL PEST

So belated apologies are owed to both Gordon and Steve for creating them extra work, way back when. Having to respond to rabid season ticket holders who seem to think they have the league insight of Jack Gibson and the footy smarts of Craig Bellamy, must be the bane of all football club offices.

When it came to trying to get Mal Peckam to Wests, I just couldn’t leave it alone. I sent off letters to Gordon Allen & Steve Noyce spanning over two years trying to get the club interested in enticing young Malcolm to Campbelltown. As mentioned in previous editions, Peckham was a powerhouse three-quarter from Moree who I’d first spotted at Woy Woy playing on the wing for the Northern Division U17s at the 1990 Country Championships. He subsequently represented Country U17s in 1991 and by 1994 was a member of the NSW Country senior side. The kid was an absolute natural and yet no club recruitment officer could entice him to Sydney. With the passing of time, and with his rugby league playing days now passed, the label bush footy legend sits very comfortably next to the name of Malcolm ‘Sunboy’ Sunboy’ Peckham. Peckham

Malcolm “Sunboy” Sunboy” Peckham circa 1995 (Photographer unknown)

I’ve no idea whether Wests ever pursued Peckham, however listed below (and on subsequent pages) are snippets of the correspondence sent between myself and the club during the early 1990s.

Andrew Stark to Gordon Allen (21-5-1990)

…my list continues on to include a further 4 names, inc Darren Treacy

Gordon Allen to Andrew Stark (28-5-1990)

MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE © Andrew Stark

Andrew Stark to Gordon Allen (6-5-1991)

Gordon Allen to Andrew Stark (8-5-1991) Andrew Stark to Steve Noyce (10-9-1992)

MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE © Andrew Stark

Steve Noyce to Andrew Stark (23-9-1992)

Mal Peckham scoring for Redcliffe in 1995.

MALCO LM “SUNBOY PEC KH ” AM

NSW Country Rep

Redcliffe Dolphins

Goondiwindi Coach

From those lucky enough to have seen Peckham play in the north-west of our state, the superlatives are never ending. Steve Walker writes, “Sunboy Peckham was hands down the best bush footballer ever seen”. Rep footballer Graeme Dixon adds, “Sunboy was a freak player”. Sean Handsaker describes Mal Peckham as a “total genius”, Gareth Payne who played alongside Peckham in Northern Division & NSW Country teams describes him as, an unbelievable player, while Brett French claims, “Sonboy would of played for Australia, without a doubt, absolutely brilliant”.

Facebook July 2021

Fred Mac

Sadly, Mal Peckham never warmed to the idea of heading to the big smoke. He was however enticed to play the single season at Redcliffe in the Brisbane competition, scoring 15 tries in 23 games for the Dolphins during 1995. One video clip from this time shows the barnstorming centre firing a bullet, 30 metre pass to his winger for a Redcliffe try, in a play that would have done Johns or Thurston proud. Unabashed Peckham fan, the Goondiwindi farmer Dave Beare, describes Sunboy as, “an aboriginal Wally Lewis”. During his year at the Dolphins, he gained selection in the Queensland Residents side. Word has it that while coaching Cronulla, the great Artie Beetson tried very hard to get Malcolm Peckham to the Sharks after spotting him playing for the Toomelah Tigers at the Koori Knockout. Having failed to convince him, it’s said that Artie plumped instead for a kid from Dubbo named David Peachey.

Wests have forged a useful connection to the Moree Boomerangs over the years. NSW winger Phil Duke, Dennis Kinchela and the McGrady brothers, Ewan & Ricky all hailed from the north western club. Sadly, the legendary Sunboy never got to pull on the famous black & white jersey. And yet from one old Magpie fan’s perspective, it wasn’t for the want of trying … MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE © Andrew Stark

ST JOSEPH’S COLLEGE

MAGPIES During the mid 1970s - early 1980s, Wests enjoyed a burst of talent which arrived via the famed rugby nursery, St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill. Dashing Wests winger of the late 1970s, Steve Broughton played in the St Joseph’s College 1st XV of 1974. Despite conceding only three tries that winter, Joey’s would have to make do with runners-up status having fallen to the Alan Jones coached Kings School 13-8. Four seasons on, and Broughton was making his first grade debut for the fearsome, minor premiership winning Wests team of 1978. Broughton was a classic winger and having watched him glide down the sideline at Lidcombe Oval over many seasons, it comes as no shock to learn that he ran the 100, 200, 400 & 800 metre distances with aplomb at the St Joseph’s College athletics carnivals. Steve Broughton didn’t cement his place in the Wests first grade team until 1982. Under the coaching of Terry Fearnley, he played 25 games that season, crossing for 17 tries. A regular on the flank at Lidcombe for the following two seasons, he ultimately racked up 43 tries in 77 appearances spanning seven seasons at Wests. A St Josephs team mate of Broughton’s was Greg McElhone. McElhone The classy back rower played in the College’s 1st XV in 1973 & 1974, and represented the Australian Schools Rugby Union team against English Schools during the latter season. Upon leaving school he became a key member of a famous Randwick team, the Galloping Greens of the late 1970s were coached by Bob Dwyer and boasted players of the calibre of; Ken Wright, Gary Pearse, Bruce Malouf and the Ella brothers. Seemingly bored with winning Shute Shield titles at Randwick, McElhone switched codes in Photo: Andrew Stark

Photos – Below: Steve Broughton races away against Cronulla at Lidcombe in 1984 (Photo – Andrew Stark) Opposite Page Left to Right:

Matthew Wurth, Jimmy Sharman, Greg McElhone Photo: Andrew Stark

Matthew Wurth’s incredible field goal, magnificently kicked with his left foot while he was in full flight. – James Gray (The Tradition) recalling a moment in the 1977 GPS season

Matthew Wurth played in three consecutive premiership winning Joey’s 1st XVs between the years 1976 & 1978. Lured to Wests in 1981, the wiry haired Wurth would play six Reserve Grade and 27 Under 23 games at the Magpies before linking with Norths in 1983. He played 11 top grade games for the red & blacks across three seasons. Sadly Matt Wurth battled cancer in his early sixties and passed away in September of 2021. Former Bears great, Greg Florimo noted, I remember him being a larger-than-life character and someone I immediately connected with ... his character and humour were infectious. The St Joseph’s – Wests connection can be traced back to the 1930s. Skinny McMillan’s understudy for the black & white number one jersey for much of this decade was Jimmy Sharman. Sharman He played 59 top grade games for Wests across half a dozen seasons leading into WW2. Sharman had played for champion Joey’s teams in 1931 & 1932 featuring in a backline which also boasted future Eastern Suburbs centre, Jack Beaton. Sharman would go onto become famous courtesy of his father’s boxing tent which toured up to fifty shows each year, most notably the Sydney Royal Easter Show. Jimmy Sharman took over the business in 1955 and the cry of, Who’ll take a glove?, continued to echo the show scene until 1971. A further Joeys connection can be found via Wests hulking centre of the 1970s, Stephen Knight. Knight A phys ed teacher by trade, Knight taught at the College in the early 90s and was assistant coach to Tony Boyd for three straight premierships from 1990-1992.

Photos – Top: Stephen Knight Above: Liam Scolari (photos courtesy of the internet)

The latest connection is to be found via impressive young winger, Liam Scolari. Scolari The South Dubbo Raiders junior, and son of former Dubbo Kangaroos flyer, Peter Scolari, Liam was a key member of Joeys GPS winning 2018 team. The lad known to his team mates as Leapa has played Jersey Flegg for the Wests Tigers in recent seasons. His elevation to a Magpies NSW Cup jersey this year has been temporarily put on hold due to injury. MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE © Andrew Stark

ST JOSEPH’S COLLEGE MAGPIES

1982, heading to Lidcombe to join the semi final bound Magpies. He played three top grade games in his initial season, including the 11-7 semi final loss to Easts Across the following two seasons, years that weren't kind to Wests, McElhone added half a dozen first grade caps.

One Random Photo From The Files … H. Matthews Cup – March 1998 – Shark Park Raymond Cummings

MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE

Photo: Andrew Stark

Back during the late 1990s - early 2000s I was a big rap on Wests junior rep second rower Ray Cummings. The Ashcroft High School product combined a tremendous on-field work rate with an exciting ability to offload. In 1998 Cummings represented the Magpies in the Matthews Cup competition, before playing SG Ball Cup in the ensuing couple of seasons. Disappointingly, the rangy back rower never kicked on from there. Wests Matts Cup side of 1998 was coached by Wests star half of the late 1970s, Alan Neil. The Magpie U16s finished equal eighth, having recorded three wins from their six games (defeating Norths, Canterbury & Cronulla). Sadly, they were edged out of quarter finals contention by the Bulldogs, who finished with a better for & against differential. On the afternoon the above photograph was taken, Wests recorded a tidy 20-12 win. At season’s end, Ray Cummings was awarded the Magpies Matt’s Cup Best & Fairest Award for 1998. Ray is pictured right during more modern times. Given his clobber, he is evidently a supporter of the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs (photo courtesy of Facebook).

Wests Tigers:

Time for a Knock-Down Rebuild Story by Andrew Stark (first published on The ROAR – September 2021)

While the tradition and history of foundation clubs, Western Suburbs and Balmain, must forever remain in the DNA of the Wests Tigers, the joint venture club is in urgent need of a knock-down-rebuild. The current incarnation has surely run its race. Nineteen ninety nine’s crude stapling together of two under threat entities, has been an abject failure. They’ve played semi final football on just three occasions across 22 winters. Beleaguered fans cling to the club’s 2005 ‘My Sharona’ moment. Beyond those two months of Benji brilliance however, the Wests Tigers have totally lost the knack, and for over two decades they’ve been consigned to one-hit-wonder status. The Wests - Balmain divide has never been adequately papered over and continues to fester below everything the club attempts. Former Balmain fans blame the 90% ownership of Wests Ashfield. Former Wests fans blame the full tigerization of the club’s identity and bemoan Wests Ashfield for not addressing the imbalance. Meanwhile the burgeoning league communities of Liverpool-CampbelltownMacarthur and down to Group 6, have been largely left behind. The major problem is that the club’s financial life force, Wests Ashfield is just a hefty punt kick away from Leichhardt, but it’s a cut lunch and long drive away from the Magpies post 1987 heartland. During a halftime address delivered to nonplussed teenagers one windy Saturday afternoon in Sefton, former Berala Bears D-Grade coach, Alby Einstein observed, Boys; insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. The Bears had no idea what their coach was trying to say and continued on to yet another heavy defeat; however the Wests Tigers need to listen. They need to start again. They need to forget the emotional and financial pull of the inner west and move holus bolus out to Sydney’s burgeoning south-west. Wipe the slate clean and rebrand. It’s time to introduce - the Macarthur Rugby League Football Club. Nickname: The Afterthought. Colours: Black, White & Gold (not garish orange). Home Ground: Campbelltown Stadium (for all home games).

The Liverpool-Campbelltown-Macarthur region has over the years, produced a hall of fame list of footy talent; James Tedesco, Brad Fittler, Jason Taylor, Tim Sheens, Jarryd Hayne, Junior Paulo, Israel Folau, Jamie Ainscough, Ryan Hoffman, John Skandalis, the Minichiello brothers, etc … it’s so fine, the salary cap gets blown many times over.

Photos (left to right):

James Tedesco (Camden), Brad Fittler (Ashcroft), Steven Bradbury (Camden) (Photos courtesy of the internet, SMH, Reuters)

The newly branded Macarthur Afterthought will aim to embody the passion and spirit of foundation club legends, Tommy Raudonikis and Laurie Nicholls, while mixing in the unerring drive and will-to-win of Steven Bradbury. The local Camden hero battled past the world to claim Olympic speed skating gold at Salt Lake City back in 2002. Bradbury was a classic afterthought who simply refused to lie down. And like Steven Bradbury in those years leading in to his famous victory, the Macarthur region has been battered, bruised and discounted for far too long. The combined inner city interests of the Leichhardt Oval Appreciation Society and Wests Ashfield Leagues Club has consigned the areas footy fans, and junior league nursery, to that of a second tier concern. Macarthur RLFC shall provide a full and heartfelt focus on the region. It will aim to become a genuine community club, taking an obvious lead from the neighbouring powerhouse, the Penrith Panthers. The Afterthought also provides the club with the most uniquely existential nickname in the league. Built upon an historical ache, the Afters will feed off this wound, having risen to big time footy not through any fuss or fanfare, but via a begrudging reconsideration. It offers up a psychological position not dissimilar to the fibro culture introduced so successfully by Roy Masters back in the firebrand days of the late 1970s. After twenty two years of drifting about Sydney like a homeless Uber driver, the newly crafted club will put down roots at Leumeah. They will play their hearts out for the people of the south-west region and in doing so, they will inspire the next generation of Fittler’s and Tedesco’s to want to play for their local club – The Mighty Macarthur Afterthought. Carn the Afters!

MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE

Ian Naden Wests vs. Balmain Leichhardt Oval 1987

Photo:

Andrew Stark

Ian Naden played 35 top grade games spanning seasons 1986 & 1987. A powerful three-quarter from the 1985 premiership winning Dubbo Macquarie club, Naden’s time at the Magpies fell either side of the tumultuous move from Lidcombe to Campbelltown. A talented all-round sportsman, he once clubbed 228 of a team total of 310 for his local cricket club, Peak Hill. During 1987, Ian Naden slotted seven field goals. It was the third highest single season tally in the club’s history, behind the Magpie’s drop kick king, Barry Glasgow who slotted 13 in 1968 and a remarkable 29 in 1969.