Roarer ‘Ret’ posed an interesting question in my salute to the late, great Reg Gasnier last Monday.
He wondered who would be similar to Reg since he retired.
To answer the question I would have to name one who was pure poetry in motion with the ability to beat a man, virtually from a standing start.
I’ve only seen two in 50 years. They were Ken Irvine, a New South Wales and Kangaroo teammate of Reg’s, and Michael O’Connor.
Irvine was just like Reg Gasnier in so many ways. Not only was he a joy a watch in full flight, but his try-scoring ability to beat a man was extraordinary.
There can be no greater testimony than that he scored 171 tries in 11 seasons for North Sydney when the Bears were a lowly side.
How’s this for season-long, try-scoring consistency in a losing side: 19, 16, 17, 15, 16, 15, 13, 13, 14, 17, and 16.
Six times in those 11 seasons, Irvine scored four tries in a game.
Six times.
There was almost a riot when Ken decided he’d had enough of keeping the Bears afloat and went to Manly for the last three seasons of his career. At the Eagles, he scored 15, 13, and 13.
All up that’s 212 tries from 236 games. He still leads the career try-scorers list in the code, even though he retired 41 years ago.
Add the 24 tries from 30 games for NSW and 31 tries from 33 Tests, as well as being an automatic selection in rugby league’s Team of the Century, and there was one helluva footballer.
So it defies description he wasn’t named an Immortal in 1981 with the original inductees Clive Churchill, Reg Gasnier, Bobby Fulton and Johnny Raper.
And he still isn’t an Immortal which doesn’t say much for the selectors.
Michael O’Connor was no Ken Irvine, nor was he a Reg Gasnier, but he was the most perfectly balanced and gifted athlete who just glided over the turf at speed.
When he switched from rugby after a glittering 13-Test career, he signed with Reg’s club St George in 1983. The Dragon fans immediately warmed to him as another ‘Puff’.
O’Connor spent four years with the Dragons before signing with Manly for two years, then St Helens for another two. He came back to Manly to see out his career from 1989 to 1992.
But his most memorable moment was State of Origin in 1991 when he landed a conversion from touch at the SFS in bucketing rain to beat Queensland 14-12.
O’Connor played 19 Origins and 18 Tests and was a classic dual international.
So that’s what made Reg Gasnier so special – that only two played like him in the last 50 years.
And thanks ‘Ret’ for the question.
WSM58
Guest
Also another Steve who was pretty handy, the late great Steve Rogers.
WSM58
Guest
Whilst not Gasnier status, Steve Renouf was pretty to watch in his prime, with the ability to beat defenders more often than not.
KB
Guest
I dont think so son...different planets. From the old era.. Definitely Changa, Father John Cootes, and later Brett Mullins stand out but not as good as Reg. Possibly Billy Slater today.
Sandy Johnno
Guest
As a queenslander, I'd have mick Cronin in my side as a centre any day. Mr. Dependable. I don't think I've ever seen him play a bad game. He looked like he needed a good feed. I met him after a state of origin at lang park. I didn't recognise him. Centres are supposed to be big strapping lads, we had 2 of them in mal and geno. Here's this bloke who's only a bit bigger in stature than me. But once he was on the paddock, it was bye bye. Great guy. Great centre. Always the first guy picked in any team, club, state, and national if he was heathy. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Tom Daly
Guest
As far as grace in running goes everyone seems to have forgotten Andrew (ET) Ettingshausen at full gallop he was a sight to behold. He did not have the creativity of some others but a great finisher and a very early bloomer into grade and onto international status .On the whole it is Reg Gasnier to my mind and not far away Johnny Raper as an all rounder and we should not forget King Wally who did some amazing things along with "Changa" Langlands, if we can forgive him those white boots, I already have I
bigbaz
Roar Guru
You talkin to me?
Bearfax
Roar Guru
Never saw Puff at his best. Heard he was quite magic.
john badseed
Guest
Won multiple GFs with Parra. Played in the 'Invincibles'. Quick as the wind. Elusive, great hands, all but unstoppable. I dunno, does it ring any bells? Hello? Are you with me?
Glenn Innes
Guest
Hoy - I much prefer the early version. NSW have actually kept Inglis pretty quiet over the last two series prior to that the leaner version pf Inglis was damn near unstoppable just check out the videos of the last few origin series.Also Inglis did little for Souths during last years final series I think he has bulked too much lost some of his his athleticism and while still a very good player not as good as he was. Sure very close to the line he is probably more likely to crash over than Inglis volume one but those long range tries he used to create by using pace and footwork to beat defenders seem to be a thing of the past.. now he just tries to run over the top of defenders. In some ways it is a bit like Meninga... someone above called Mal a "power player" well yes he evolved that way once he went to Canberra and bulked up big time but check out some of those early eighties origin games the young Meninga was lean and very fast and much like the young Inglis.
john badseed
Guest
My idea of the supreme Qld back line Shearer Boustead inglis Renouf Wendell Lockie JT
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Agree with you on Pappy. A wonderful centre in both rugby and league. Sadly he had a very poor run with injuries which swiftly curtailed his career. Easts had similar problems earlier with another ex Wallaby in Alan Cardy.
Bluebag
Guest
Well said Tom
Jo
Guest
My grandfather saw reg gasnier and always said the closest thing he had seen since was inglis?
Rod
Guest
I can't argue with your backlines there, I might have taken Kenny out of your third back line, as you have him in your second and probably put S Rogers in there. Horan is a great selection, how about J Brass, I did not see hem play but the old man reckons he had the best hands he has seen.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
I have to say Steve Rogers came the closest.A beautifully balanced runner,also starting at a young age. He had swerve,speed(perhaps not the grace of Gaz),could tackle the ring off a jetfighter,a great goalkicker and resilient in terms of the receiving end of tackles.Like the great Gaz ,he could read a game,and he timed his runs at the defence to perfection. He too left the game the wrong way after getting his jaw broken ,no names no packdrill. Both now departed to the great stadium in the sky.They brought people through the gates.You could see they were champions in the making . There was and always will be only one Prince of Centres "Puff"
Ret
Guest
Thanks for your response David. Ken Irvine was another player I missed seeing, but like Reg, he was one my grandfather's favourites. Where do you place Steve Renouf in your list of centres? As highly as I rated O'Connor, (in both codes-I heard once that Michael Hawker took years to forgive his centre partner for leaving Rugby!) I still think Renouf was a little better. I certainly take your point about how beautifully balanced "Snoz" was as a runner. Inglis is a unique player who will be talked about forever. His list of achievements right now, at only 26, will place him in the highest echelon. He's probably now the best fullback in the game, but has also been the both the best centre and winger, and managed to win the Clive Churchill medal playing at five eighth!
MikeTV
Guest
"How can you determine what a backline would look like if 95% of the players haven’t even played the sport your selecting them in?" Because the two codes are similar enough to see that these players would excel in either code.
sheek
Roar Guru
Julian, Thanks for picking up that I mentioned Kenny twice. I originally had in 3rds then bumped him up to 2nds, but forgot to remove him from 3rds. But now I'm confused myself! ;-) So I guess outside centre for 3rds might be between Trevor Allan, Cyril Towers or Dave Brown.
Johnno
Guest
86 Roo tour, Gene Miles kept Big Mal in his prime on the bench for the opening 2 tests, and 3rd test Mal got a spot but in the 2nd row coming in for crusher Cleal broken arm, so Gene Miles could play. Miles was 6'4 Inglis is 6'5, but back then that was a man mountain to be that big, big mal was 6 foot.
Johnno
Guest
Centres since 1975-2014 I can think off Bob Fulton,Mick Cronnin,Steve Rogers,Mal Meninga,Brett Kenny Gene Miles (underrated as one of greats but he was one of the greats, big strong such a good player was the best player in the World for 1-2 years, him and Elerry Hanley, a knee injury cut his speed down a bit but Gene Miles was awsome, Ellery Hanley also played centre but mainly was a lock , Gary Schofield, Chris Close,Laurie Daley,Brad Fitler, Steve Renouf,Terry Hill,Paul Mcgregor,Brent Tate,Jarryd Hayne,Mark Gasnier,Folau,Justin Hodges,Greg Inglis,Kevin Iro,Micheal O'connor,ET,Mark Mcaw. Reg is probably still no 1. Maybe Reg Gasnier could claim to be the best ever footy player in rugby league, and maybe the best ever league or Union. Reg Gasnier or Richie Mccaw or Colin Meads, or Campo, i'm going for Puff the Magic Dragon.