Magpie Memoir Magazine - May 2022

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

TRENT PEOPLES TRENT PEOPLES

Congratulations go out to Campbelltown Collegians junior and former WestsMatthews Cup forward, Trent Peoples on making his NRL debut for South Sydney during early May.

Peoples came off the bench against the Broncos during round eight, and despite a heavy loss, he acquitted himself well on the Rabbitohsleft edge

Educated at St Gregory’s College, Trent Peoples played in the semi final bound Magpies Matt’s Cup team of 2014, before being enticed to St George Illawarra the following season. In 2019, former Westsjunior rep star and South Sydney recruitment officer, Ben Rogers convinced Trent to head to Redfern.

A standout in RabbitohNSW Cup teams during the past few seasons, Trent Peoples call up to the big league has been long overdue.

MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE ©Andrew Stark

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

Above right: Trent Peoples as a Magpie in 2014 (Photo courtesy of: Steve Montgomery).

MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE

May 2022: Volume 3 Edition 3

Welcome to a special May-Blingedition of Magpie Memoir Magazine. As after a two decade wait, Westshave once again got their hands on some sparkling silverware.

Thirty years ago I photographed a young flaxen haired back rower playing SG Ball Cup (under 17s) for Westsat Orana Park. Robbie Mears would kick on to become a top class hooker representing a number of clubs in the big league (sadly not the Magpies). Fast forward to 2022 and Mears has overseen the club’s first ever Matthews Cup premiership (under 17s).

Robbie took over the coaching of this talented Matt’s Cup squad from Nathan Lakeman, after Lakemanhad guided the Westsboys into last season’s grand final qualifier against eventual premiers, Manly. Twelve months on, and nothing was going to stop the Magpie juggernaut.

This edition is dedicated to the Matthews Cup team and their great success. It also touches on the struggles of our senior teams, and remembers fondly, a former Westsfirst grade captain.

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

© Andrew Stark 2022 email: 10dollarjpegs@gmx.com ISSN: 2652-4406

front cover: Kit Laulililifts the spoils of victory, the Matthews Cup front coverinset: TajhColquhouncelebrates one of his three grand final tries

-- Andrew Stark Andrew Stark

Photos: Andrew Stark

1991 1991

2022 2022

2022 MATTHEWS CUP 2022 MATTHEWS CUP CHAMPIONS CHAMPIONS

WESTS BOYS CREATE HISTORY

TheWesternSuburbsMagpieshavecompleteda TheWesternSuburbsMagpieshavecompleteda remarkableunbeatenseasonenroutetowinningthe remarkableunbeatenseasonenroutetowinningthe prestigiousHaroldMatthewsCup,under17scompetition. prestigiousHaroldMatthewsCup,under17scompetition.

Twogrippingfinalsvictoriescappedaruthlessrunthroughthepreliminary roundsastheRobbieMearscoachedMagpiesbecametheclub’sfirst premiershipwinningteamsincetheSGBallCuptriumphof2002. ThesuccessmarkedWestsfirstintheMatthewsCuphavingcompetedin thiscompetitionsinceitsinception,53yearsago.

Text & Photos: Andrew Stark

Wests Westshavemaintainedtheirunbeatenstatusinthisseason havemaintainedtheirunbeatenstatusinthisseason’ ’ s s MatthewsCupcompetition,butonlybyawhisker.Aremarkable MatthewsCupcompetition,butonlybyawhisker.Aremarkable extratimevictoryoverCanberrabookedtheMagpiesaplaceint extratimevictoryoverCanberrabookedtheMagpiesaplaceinthis his seasonsunderseventeensgrandfinaltobeplayednextSaturday seasonsunderseventeensgrandfinaltobeplayednextSaturdayat at Bankwest BankwestStadiumagainsttheCronullaSharks. StadiumagainsttheCronullaSharks.

RobbieMears’teamlookedtobeinallsortsoftroublewhentheytrailed 16-14withonlytwominutesofextratimeremaining.TheRaidershad managedtoslotapenaltygoalduringthefirstfiveminuteperiodof overtimetobreakthedeadlockandtheyappearedontracktocausetheboil over.Yetaninspired15metrerundowntheshortsidebydeadlydummyhalfTallynDaSilvaliftedtheMagpiesintothedecider.

AbizarreendingtothegamesawthreeWestsplayerssentfromthefield aftertimehadelapsed.Anallinscuffleflowedfromaswingingarmbya RaidersforwardwhichlandedflushonthejawoffullbackLukeLaulilii, followedonerucklaterbyacynicalflopontoaprostrateLachlanGalvin. RefereeGageMiles,who’dpenalisedeverythingallday,didn’tdeemeither incidentsworthyofapenaltyandthisinactionsawplayerstakematters intotheirownhands.Havingmarchedthetrio,Milesthenpenalisedthe minorpremiers,givingtheRaidersonelastplaymanyminutesafter everyoneelseatthegroundhadacceptedthegamewasover.Thankfullyfor bothWestsandthereferee,aRaidersbombwassafelydefusedbyLuke Lauliliionhisown20metrelineandtheblack&whitesdulyproceededto savourvictoryforthesecondtimeinsideahandfulofminutes.

MEMOIR MAGAZINE ©Andrew Stark

Text & Photos: Andrew Stark

Photos: clockwise from top: The Lauliliibrothers (Kit & Luke), TallynDaSilva scored the match winner in the semi final, Prop James Folaumoetuisuffered a head knock against Canberra and would miss the Grand Final, Nonplussed Westsplayers watch on as the referee sends three Magpies off after the fulltime siren, Tremendous goal line defence defuses a forceful Raiders surge.

Photos: page 4: TallynDaSilva & Will Craig celebrate the hookers last ditch try, page 5: Luke Keppie & LachieGalvin

Photos

Andrew Stark

MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE

Any other outcome would have created an almighty furore. Chargesof favouritism may well have been hurled. The referee Gage Miles isa Canberra junior having played for the Woden Weston Rams during his teenage years. While I’m not for a moment calling the whistleblower’s integrity into question, his decision not to call the game once time had elapsed and a tackle had been completed, was problematic. His delay ultimately cost two Westsplayers a grand final berth and triggered a week of negative copy for the game’s premier under 17s competition.

ItwasastirringMagpievictory,howeverI’venodoubtthetwoweeksoff priortothisknockoutsemifinaldidWestsnofavours.Theycoughedup enoughballintheopeninghalftosendthecoachingstaffgreyanditwas onlyresoluteon-linedefencethatheldtheRaiderstotheirnarrow8-6 halftimelead.

MEMOIR MAGAZINE ©Andrew Stark

Jordan Miller charges into the Raiders defence.

Photo: Andrew Stark

AtrytotalentedbackrowerLachlanGalvinfourminutes intothesecondhalfhadtheMagpiesahead10-8.LukeKeppiedugintothe linebeforefiringapasstoagallopingGalvinwhoslicedthroughlimegreen defenderslikeasurgicalknifethroughavocado.Itwasaleadtheyhelduntil the48thminutewhenCanberracaptainOwenHromowbustledhisway overforaconvertedtryintheTajMahalcorner.Westsrespondedpositively whenGalvinscrambledacrossinthecornerforhissecondtryofthehalf. Withscoresonceagainlockedup,alleyeszeroedinonthesideline conversionattemptwhichwouldcloselyresembleanApollolaunch.The kickmorethannaileditsaerialobjective,howeverthedistantHframe remainedwellnorthoftheSteeden’sultimatesplashdownzone.

Fourteenapieceatfulltimeandthegamerequiredanextrafiveminutes eachway.WhentherefereefoundreasontopenaliseWestsinfrontoftheir ownsticksduringtheopeningperiod,thislongtimedevoteefeltasharp tighteningaroundthecoitregion,asensationlastexperiencedwhenGreg HartleyinfamouslydisallowedaSnakeO’Gradytrybackin78,rulinghewas infrontofhisownkickduringthePreliminaryFinallosstoManly.Downby acouple,andwithtimefasttickingaway,DaSilvaweavedandstruggledhis wayintothenorthwesterncornertosecureafamousvictoryforthePies.

It’sinterestingtonotethatWestsfinishedwithfourtriestotwo,andthatall fourtouchdownscameviaourleftedge.TallynDaSilva,theLaulilii brothers,andtwotrysecondrowerLachlanGalvinweremystandoutsfor Westsinwhatwasagrab-the-defibrillatorkindofafternoonoutatKogarah.

AllroadsnowleadtothenewfangledCumberlandOvalnextSaturday, wheretheMagpieladsaresettotakeontheCronullaSharksinthedecider.

WhatadayitwastobeaMagpie! WhatadayitwastobeaMagpie!

WestsclaimedtheirfirsteverHaroldMatthewsCuppremiership. Trailing6-2early,Westsunfurledanearflawlesspowergametototally overrunCronullaSutherland42-16atBankWestStadium.Playerofthe match,JordanMiller,alongwithteamcaptainKitLauliiiownedthecentreof thepark.Andwhencombinedwiththefearsomerightsidechargesof JeremyLeatigagaandkickoffreturnsoflightweightpropEwanXuereb,the black&whiteengineroomimpartedupontheSharks,onegiant hammerheadofamigraine.ClassyhookerTallynDaSilvalappedupallthe go-forwardandhecontinuallytookadvantageofabackpeddlingdefensive line.Oncetheir‘up-the-guts’dominancehadbeenestablished,theMagpies lettheballsing,unleashingwaveuponwaveofpotentattackingfootball. Wingers,ColquhounandGallagher(bothpicturedbelow),endedthedaywith ahandfuloftriesbetweenthem.

Andrew Stark

Text & Photos

TajhColquhoun scores Wests first try of the Grand Final

Kit and the boys celebrate their premiership

Photos: Andrew Stark

MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE ©Andrew Stark

©Andrew Stark

Clockwise from top left: Jerry Leatigagalinks with his centre Dan Waqa, Cronulla’s fullback & winger get in a tangle allowing Nathaniel Gallagher to cross for Weststhird try, the flag waving Magpie faithful were out in force.

Photos: Andrew Stark

Westsled18-6atthebreak,havingscoredthreeopening halftries;oneontheleft,oneontheright,andoneupthemiddle. AfrustratedCronullahadnoanswertotheMagpieMuscleandseven minutesintothesecondperiod,thisfrustrationwastoprovefatal.Sharks fullbackandchiefattackingweapon,ChevyStewartdecidedtolampoon refereeBenSeppalaandwassensationallysentfromthefieldfordescent. Themusic,whichbythatpointwasalreadyplayingquitefaintlyfor Cronulla,totallydiedoncethetalkativeSharkhadleftthescene.Trailing 20-6,Chevydrovehimselftothelevee,butsadlyfortheShireboys,the leveewasdry.ItwasabizarresightasStewartwasthirtymetresawayfrom theplaywhenhewasdramaticallypointedtowardthesheds.Fromthat momenton,Westsranriot.Triesraineddownbothedges.Thedeadlyleft sidecombinationofKeppie,Galvin,CraigandGallagher,aparticularly attractivesightforconnoisseursoffreerunningrugbyleague,wascoupled withthetwinkletoedTajhColquhounwhoontheoppositeflankwasbusily rackingupapersonaltallyof26points(3tries,7goals).

EveryWestsplayercontributedtothisgrandvictory.Thesomewhat confected‘offthebench’scandalwhichplayedoutverypubliclyduringthe week,hadnodiscernibleeffectontheteamsperformance.Despitestarting thegamewithakickoffwhichfloatedoutonthefull,andthenconceding theopeningtry,TheMagpiesappearedtobeinthezoneasthey methodicallywentaboutthebusinessofhooking,landingandultimately guttingtheSharks.

Above: TallynDaSilva darts out of dummy half as Luke Keppie, Lachlan Galvin & Will Craig loom in support.

MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE ©Andrew Stark

Duringthepostgamepresentation,MagpiesskipperKitLauliliiproclaimed mostliterallythat, “ “West is the best! West is the best!” ” Athemewhichwasexpandeduponin thefollowupSGBallCupgrandfinal,whenPenrithsensationallyrandown theSydneyRoosterstoensurealloftheafternoonssilverwareheadedhome towardthesettingsun.

MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE ©Andrew Stark

Above: The Western Suburbs Magpies –undefeated, 2022 Harold Matthews Cup Premiers (Photo courtesy NSWRL)

Below: Player of the match, powerhouse Magpie prop Jordan Miller. (Photos –Andrew Stark) MATTHEWS CUP

©Andrew Stark

Photos above (left to right) Ewan Xuereb, Heath Mason, Lachlan Galvin

Photo left: Wests celebrate after the fulltime siren

Photos –Andrew Stark .

Photo: Luke Keppie celebrates Nathaniel Gallagher’s second try during the second half of the decider (Photo –Andrew Stark)

NSW CUP -MASSEY CUP –SG BALL CUP

When the above sentences were first scrawled, British author Grahame Greene may well have been channelling the fortunes of Weststwo senior teams. At time of writing, neither side has tasted victory in 2022 and the prospects of our men playing semi final footy, look about as likely as VladPutin winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

Westsperformances in this years State Cup, given the success attained during last season’s truncated competition, have been disappointing. The strength of Ben Gardiner’s 2021 side was built around the talented spine of; Madden, Simpkin, Cini and Docker-Clay. But alas, this quartet have by now either risen to the NRLor are playing at rival clubs. Last years ream also boasted KelmaTuilagion the left edge and experienced middles in Packer & Amone.

Conversely, Wayne Lambkin’s 2022 squad looks very green and is a year or two away from succeeding at this level. Terrible completion rate anddefensive boo boos hounded the opening two months and despite the round six addition of the more seasoned; Peachey, Seyfarth& Gildart, the team retained a casual vibe with the ball, and a flimsy feel without it.

The Massey Cup side copped a disjointed start to 2022, playing just two games in the opening five weeks. Sadly for the Magpies, they got touched up by both Ryde & Glebe before looking far more solid in Lidcombe Oval losses to St Mary’s & Mounties.

The SG Ball Cup (under 19s) completed an unlucky season. A tough draw pitted the Magpies against four of the top six, however two fine wins and adraw in their eight games, was coupled with a number of very narrow losses. Joe Saukuru’steam finished 12th (of 15), yet unfurled some bright prospects along the way. Queensland duo, Dudley Dotoi& Keenan Tempest looked very promising on the right edge, while local juniors; ZacClarke, OfeleLene, Solo Saukuru& FaaletinoTavana, continue to impress. The campaign was hampered when talented back rower Justin Matamua was elevated to the FleggCup team, while the washed out game against Norths (13th) denied Westsa crack at a very winnable fixture

““The world is not black and white. More like black and grey The world is not black and white. More like black and grey” ”

Photos

(left to right):

Dudley Dotoi, RuaNgatikaura, D’RhysMiller, Tyrone Peachey

Photos –Andrew Stark .

‘Bustling’ Billy Hilliard

Former Wests prop Bill Hilliard has passed away aged 67. Bill played the 1983 season at Wests following in the footsteps of his father, William Hilliard, who’d played for the club in 1949 & 1950.

On a personal note, I vividly recall catching a train with Bill after Wests had been beaten by St George at Kogarah in 83. Lenny Stacker’s bargain basement Magpies had battled hard that afternoon, trailing by just two at the break they had what looked a fair try to Brian Battesedisallowed before the undefeated Dragons notched a few late tries to prevail 18-0. Bill Hilliard toiled hard in the front row throughout the contest, locking horns with Saints hard men, Craig Young and PatJarvis.

After the siren, I plodded my way up to Carlton Station to beginmy journey home. As I was boarding the city bound train, I suddenly noticed a stocky, hairy bloke dressed in Wests shorts, socks and track suit top hop on the train beside me. Clutching his ticket and still caked in Kogarah Oval mud, Bill Hilliard bustled his way into the vestibule area as I did a quick double-take, before offering something lame like, “Bad luck out there today Bill, you definitely pushed them all the way”.

The moment has forever remained with me as it symbolized Wests at the time. While big name players from rival clubs were zipping around Sydney in flashy sports cars, our blokes were clambering onto the next available red-rattler. The haves and have-nots of the competition perfectly illustrated in one post match encounter.

MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE

Above: The upset of the decade. Three weeks after encountering Bill on the train he captained Wests to a remarkable win over premiers Parramatta at a rain soaked Lidcombe Oval.

I would meet Bill more formally nine years later when he booked me to take action photos of the Combined High Schools north-west metro zone rugby grand finals held at Eastwood. Mr Hilliard was rugby master at Ashfield Boys High.I caught another north bound train and was on hand to capture his team of black &white underdogs as they went down 24-0 to Epping Boys High in the decider.

Bill Hilliard’s dad, William Hilliard (pictured right) played five first grade games for Westsat hooker across two seasons before accepting an offer to captain-coach Kurri Kurriin 1951. He also represented Newcastle against the touring French side before returning to Sydney in 1953.

William’s son, Bill began playing rugby league at Christian Brothers Lewisham. Upon leaving school he featured prominently in the University of NSW teams, starring in the Metropolitan Cup competition during the early to mid 1970s.

He progressed to the Eastsunder 23 side in 1976 before linking with his old Uni teammate Bill Annabel at Souths. He made his top grade debut in round 2 of 1977 when Souths defeated Balmain 16-14 at Redfern. Hilliard ultimately played five games in the Ones for the Rabbitohsbefore accepting an offer to join the Tigers. He was employed as a teacher at Balmain High at the time, so opting to head to Leichhardt was an easy decision to make.

Renowned as a crafty, scrimmaging prop, Bill Hilliard played 14 top grade games for Balmain across four seasons. He also captained the Tigers Reserve Grade team to premierships in 1978 & 1982.

Bill joined Westsin 1983. His highlight was undoubtedly captaining the first grade team to the upset of the decade. I was one of 5061 hardy fans huddled on the Lidcombe Oval hill that afternoon as the rain kept falling and the two time premiers Parramatta were driven to despair by the eager beaver Magpies. In an interview with journalist Tony Adams, Bill Hilliard recalls the victory over the Eels.

“Our regular captain Warren Boland was out injured that week and l went up to Len Stacker (coach) and told him I had a lot of captaincy experience and he gave me the job. Steve Edge was Parra captain, and beforethe game he laughed and said, ‘we are going to flog you blokes’. I guess we had the last laugh! Terry Lamb was just a kid and had a blinder for us that day …and I still remember I made the Rugby League Week Team of the Week!”

Westswon the day 9-2, extending the Lidcombe Oval hoodoo they held over the Eels to a dozen seasons. To put the remarkable upset into context, before the game Footy Tab were offering punters 20.5 points start to back Wests. By years end Parramatta had added their third premiership in a row, while Westspicked up the wooden spoon.

Warren Boland returned the following week and Bill never captained the Magpies again. Phil Tresidderwriting for Rugby League Week observed that, “Westsset up a brick wall barrier of black jerseys to smother every attack Parramatta could mount”.

“Bill Hilliard led a Westspack that gave no quarter with their fierce tackling, stern scrummagingand strong back-up running”.

Photo: Westsskipper Bill Hilliard rumbles forward during the first half of the famous victory over Parramatta at Lidcombe Oval in early April of 1983.

Photo courtesy of PrattenPark Magpies

“He led from the front, steady as a ship’s skipper but rousing when he had to turn the tide. Everyone liked and respected him”.

-Warren Boland, a team mate of Bill’s at both Wests and Balmain

©Andrew Stark

Retiring at the end of 1983, Bill returned to Balmain to coach the club’s Third Grade team while Wests, along with Newtown, were booted out of the competition.

Bill Hilliard is pictured right as a 21 year-old playing for the Uni of NSW against Liverpool in Second Division action. The bustling prop would finish runner-up in the prestigious Buckley Medal for Player of the Year in the Metropolitan Cup on three occasions. His prize during each of these years was a boxed set of cutlery. During 2020, Bill offered, “I was runner-up three times, so I’ve got three sets of cutlery. I use one and the other two are in their display cases. I would have liked just one medal”.

Bill is pictured below right holding aloft the Reserve Grade premiership trophy after Balmain defeated Saints in the 1978 grand final at the SCG.

vale

Bill Hilliard

1951 -2022

MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE

©Andrew Stark

All photos on this pageuncredited and found via Facebook

Bill Hilliard Bill Hilliard Bill Hilliard Bill Hilliard Bill Hilliard Bill Hilliard Hilliard Hilliard

I was saddened to hear the news of Bill Hilliard’s death during late March of this year. I met Bill in his capacity as rugby master at Ashfield Boys High School during the early 1990s and had previously cheered him on when he played for Wests in 1983.

Wests vsSouths–Redfern Oval 1983

(Photo (Photo –– Andrew Stark) Andrew Stark)