It was Clovelly beach on a sublime Saturday morning, the day after the Kangaroos had defeated the Kiwis at the SCG.
Madame Z was in the water, having her daily swim. I was chatting, as I do most days, with a good old boy, Keith, a former Randwick halfback in the dim distant past and a life-member of the Clovelly swimming club, where he’d been a timer for about 40 years or so.
We were talking about the important things in life, mainly sport. I told Keith I’d never seen a play like that put on by Greg Inglis when he leapt forward over the deadball line and batted the ball back over his head to Mark Gasnier to score.
‘He was feet in the air,’ Keith marvelled, ‘and he was precise about how he got the ball back for the try.’
We chatted about the Test and all the stuff that went with it. I told Keith that I was surprised at how big Norm Provan and Ron Coote were. ‘Even today they’d be big fellows,’ I told him.
Keith reckoned that they’d struggle a bit in skills with the youngsters going around now.
Somehow the conversation sequed to the famous St George side that won 11 straight premierships. I told Keith that I’d seen one of those St George sides play in the early 1960s. ‘Poppa’ Clay took my eye a bit, but the player who stood out was the centre, Reg Gasnier.
‘Gasnier seemed to have a turbo-charged acceleration when he got into a gap,’ Keith said. ‘Other fellows get into a gap and then are chopped down. But Gasnier stepped up a cog or two in his acceleration.’
As we were chatting in the hot sunlight, Bob McCarthy, one of the rugby league greats and a current Kangaroos selector, came down the steps ready to plunge into what Madame Z called the ‘two gasps’ water.
The barrel chest was as massive as in the days of his prime. He walked with an athlete’s rolling gait. He was as bronzed as a statue. He looked as if he could take the field right then and there and destroy the opposition.
‘We’re talking about Gasnier,’ I told him.
‘Mark or Reg?’ he asked.
‘Reg Gasnier.’
Bob McCarthy made his way to the concrete edge of the beach. He turned and said to us: ‘When I was about 17 or 18, they got me to mark Gasnier. When he got into a gap,’ McCarthy made a karate chopping motion with his hand, ‘swoosh, he was gone. Reg Gasnier was the greatest ever.’
And with that he dived into the sparkling waters of the bay.
Max Rawnsley
Guest
Todays players are spectacular gladiators and super fit .Some are even amongst the greats but Reg Gasnier was as gentle and subtle as a hot knife in butter, he was never seen to do anything that would attract a penalty or even the ire of the opposition. Gasnier's defence was classic tackling at speed. His acceleration was literally to top gear in minimum space, that was the secret much as others will confirm. I still dream of the head up, the striding toward the try line with a step off either foot. And Langlands was his peer. Love to see them in the game today. Someone not often mentioned when we talk of Gasnier is Harry Wells, played inside Gasnier in rep games and fed him beautifully. Harry was a big man with ability to stand in a tackle.
Greg
Guest
A year on, I've just seen this delightful piece. I missed the Gasnier era by a few years, but as a young bloke was at every important Souths game in the late 60s- early 70s and can still name the team from each year. (My dad, by the way, filled me in on Gasnier's brilliance -- the old man lauded him but waved a flag for his centre partner Harry Wells). Many a time I watched from the old Sheridan Stand as Bob McCarthy mangled all-comers with brutish up the centre power, his upper body strength and surprising speed, a solid hint at the type of athleticism that would become part of the the rugby's 30-40 years later.... in the same vein, Ron Coote ... his covering tackles unsurpassed and his ability to turn up out wide to thunder through opposition three quarters a thrill to behold. What a team that era's South's side was...truly, Paul Sait, a great athlete who played for Australia, quite often couldn't make the first grade side. There was Satts and his jaw, the hellishly slow but deliberate George Piggins (and his first club rival Elwyn Walters). The unstoppable John O'Neill before he defected to Manly, George Longbottom in second grade because Eric Simms could kick goals and field goals from anywhere for 1st grade. The Branighans, Jim Lisle.... Yeah, I miss Clovelly coffee too. And Maroubra Junction. Greg (New York)
James Edward
Guest
Unfortunately Spiros got it wrong. Gasnier had it easy with Brian Clay at St George, taking all the hits and attracting 2 to 3 defenders at any one time; then he had Raper and Smith playing lock and halfback respectively - these were neatly positioned between the defence line and the fullback. In the Australian team he had a similar situation with Harry Wells as inside centre. No doubt Reg Gasnier was lightning with a bit of room to move (similar to Bobby Fulton) but he was protected from the heat somewhat . Langlands was by far the greatest footballer I ever saw - both in attack and defence but then I watched him with awe fromt he time he was 18 years. However rugby league was much simpler and slower then with unlimited tackles and training maybe three to four times a week. Nowadays, with better nutrition and more scientific training techniques and support, the modern footballer on average is probably fitter and faster than in my day (200 years ago or so ) but the modern skills and abilities are similar to the old days.
Albert Ross
Guest
As a boy I saw him play in the 1960s. He wasn't bad but mind you he had a great set of forwards in front of him and the halves weren't half bad either. It has to be said also that the rules at the time, to paraphrase John Howard, suited him. And one cannot underestimate how much the style of refereeing of the likes of Col Pearce assisted, shall we say, the techniques and tactics of the St. Geo sides. It also should be noted that he was a very fair player and one never saw him loose his cool despite the attention paid to him by his opposition and the invective hurled at him by other teams' supporters.
Jeffrey Phillips
Guest
I agree that Clovelly on a nice sunny day is a patch of paradise.Since my divorce I have moved to the lower North Shore of Sydney,it's nice too, particularly the walk from my place in Spofforth Street[named after the Australian fast bowlerFred "The Demon" Spofforth] down the hill to Mosman Bay to Cremorne Point and back past Shellcove Bay.However it doesn't match Cloee as described so poignantly in Spiro's word picture. I agree Reg Gasnier is firmly in the Pantheon of Australian sports stars.Why not name a street after him?
Greg Russell
Guest
Spiro, In my father's pantheon of sporting heroes, Reg Gasnier, Trevor Allan and Keith Miller were all tops. Perhaps coincidentally, they were all ABC commentators in the 1970s as I, an impressionable boy, watched sport on TV. My father was adamant that Reg Gasnier was the greatest oval-balled footballer of any code of all time, and simply used to say to me that it was impossible for me to imagine how good he was. However I don't think even Reg could match up to Keith Miller. From what you have written over the years, I suspect the top echelons of your sporting pantheon are similarly populated (although no doubt with a few All Blacks in there too).
sheek
Guest
"Reg Gasnier was the greatest ever"..........what exactly? Certainly the greatest centre to play rugby league for Australia. But also the greatest player of any position? Of both rugby codes? While we're supposed to understand McCarthy's statement, it is a little non-specific. Anyway, if McCarthy meant Gasnier was the greatest ever centre to play rugby league for Australia, no arguments from me. I would even agree he was the best centre to represent Australia in either rugby code. I never saw Gasnier play, but I respect the opinions of those many people I've read & listened to over many years. 'Puff the magic dragon'.
Darryl
Guest
Nice story Spiro. I suspect many of the old greats would be successful today, especially the natural atheletes like Reg Gasnier. A lot of people seem to believe Johnny Raper would be a great player today, as one of the immortals, but I'm not so sure. Back when he played, and they had the unlimited tackle count, it was much easier for forwards in a team like St George who didn't give away possession easily. I think Ray Price would have been my pick for lock. The 6 tackle rule increased the need for aerobic fitness and heart, plus with his success in rugby union, Ray Price was my immortal. Darryl
John D
Guest
Spiro I have just read and re-read your story several times. Despite agreeing completely with the opinion that Reg Gasnier was probably the best ever, I fear you have completely ruined my day. It was not the story or the way it was told, in fact the very reverse. It was the picture you created in my mind and the memories that came flooding back. To be able to go to a real beach and sit in the sun and enjoy the surf without travelling 400 miles. To be able to meet in a beautiful environment and discuss recent games of League and Union. To chat to a true icon of the game and get his opinion on the modern day game. (Pleased to hear he looks so well). God I miss Sydney! I am in my office in Melbourne, the sun is shining and the birds are singing. It is a beautiful day. I work with terrific people but they think of Sydney a a glitzy, hectic merry-go-round where everyone is out to make a quick buck. Your story provides, in my opinion a much truer picture of the city and the people who live there. This post will probably initiaite a few replies along the lines of "If you like Sydney so much get your arse back up there!". They are missing the point. That is like arguing that Aussie Rules is better than League or Union or Football or vice versa. It is a fallacious argument. We all have our favourite, sports, places and people - enjoy them all while you can. John D