The last time Souths and Canterbury played each other in a grand final was 1967, and it was memorable for many reasons.
It was the first of the limited tackles, just four, after years of unlimited tackles.
In the preliminary final Canterbury knocked off St George 12-11, ending the Dragons’ world-record 11-year dynasty as premiers. This game saw the retirement of ‘Puff the Magic Dragon’ – Reg Gasnier – who was to become an inaugural Immortal 18 years later.
And it was the first time the rugby league decider was televised live, and on all four channels.
Memorable as those moments were, the most memorable in my book was Bobby McCarthy’s 75-metre try after intercepting a lob pass from Bulldog Col Brown to winger Johnny Graves.
Burly Bob anticipated the pass while Souths were defending grimly, and 75 metres later he was under the posts, with 56,358 at the SCG on their feet saluting a mighty effort.
There were many footballers faster than McCarthy on the field, but given the break he had on every Bulldog, nobody was ever going to catch him.
It was a game-breaker. In the end it was Souths 12, Canterbury 10 – McCarthy made the difference.
That try gave Souths the lead 10-8 just before the break in a game where no quarter was asked, nor given.
Souths had teak-tough prop John Sattler as captain, plus Kevin Longbottom, with goal-kicking genius Eric Simms and the fastest man in rugby league Mike Cleary, plus hard men like John ‘Lurch’ O’Neill, and hooker Elwyn Walters.
The Dogs had live-wire fullback Les Johns, centre Bob Hagan, Englishman Merv ‘The Pale Whale’ Hicks, and another teak-tough forward in opposition captain-coach Kevin Ryan.
Come Sunday, will it be Greg Inglis to emulate Bobby McCarthy’s 75-metre feat to win the premiership?
That would be the icing on the cake, Bobby McCarthy will be there at ANZ, watching every move.
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