First it was “The Rocket”, Rod Reddy, storming around Kogarah-Jubilee and the SCG in his great big high-ankled boots, belting blokes and being bad.
He was an other-worldly figure, the big Rocket, a super man with a bushy moustache who never saw a hand he couldn’t tread on with his gleaming 3-inch steel studs.
I played golf with an old North Sydney Bear once, Johnny Adam, who told me in his debut game, Rocket gave him a real going over in a tackle – elbows, head butts, the works. Not so strange, you think, given the times? Perhaps. Except Rocket had the ball.
I couldn’t tell you why old Rocket so enamoured the 9-year-old me, but enamoured me he did, as did all the premiership-winning Dragons of 1979.
“Slippery” Steve Morris, Brian Johnson, Craig Young. I wrote to Rocket once and Rocket posted back a bit of paper with his autograph on it, along with Robert Stone’s, Bruce Starkey’s and Graeme Wynn’s, who’d added “Up the Mighty Dragons”.
Kept it bedside for years. Wish I still had it.
At the same time there was Steve Rogers, the magnificent “Sludge” of the Sharks. Dud nickname for a man could move like a Maserati.
Man he could run, Steve Rogers. He was a magnificent mover. Off the mark, over the first 20, the next 20, and every 20 after that, Steve Rogers would smoke them all on searing runs to the line.
Then he’d toe-poke goals and tackle around the ankles. Loved him.
Then came Brett Kenny and his swerve and his moves. Then Big Mal, of course, and Terry Lamb and Laurie Daley who’s older than me by four days.
I could never get over it, this 18-year-old out there playing against famous beasts like Noel Cleal and Ron Gibbs, on Seiffert Oval.
Brad Clyde’s another peer, of sorts. He used to play for Hawker College against our Phillip College and ran through us like a mighty golden ox. He was unbelievable, Brad Clyde, and we had a few very decent players. Paul House could’ve played for the Raiders. Nigel Gaffey did.
But Clyde was something else. Ridiculous human.
And then came Super League and I didn’t have a favourite or even follow the game until Preston Campbell started bopping around for the Sharks.
After him there was Matty Bowen, the magnificent Mango of the Cows. I spent a couple days on his property up in Hope Vale outside Cooktown few years ago. Went fishing, rounded up the cows. Cooktown felt like the frontier of Australia. Hope Vale was an hour and three river crossings north.
And I’ve since loved mighty Greg Inglis and I’ve got a thing for Tyrone Peachey of the Panthers.
And Josh Hodgson and Jordan Rapana remain the only things between the Raiders and bottom four oblivion.
And there’s a few others, just blokes I like, and like to watch.
But my man at the moment and the last few moments has been the everyman of everywhere, Jimmy Maloney.
Jimmy Maloney! It’s a name that speaks to a man’s Celtic roots, evocative of Ireland and pubs and pints and “the craic”, that all-encompassing term for good times.
Jimmy Maloney: He’s that funny red-haired bloke holding up the bar, telling gags, cracking quips, before his wife drags him out by the ear.
“Jimmy Maloney! Away da fook hawm witcha!”
Then he’s laughing, and she’s laughing, and everyone’s laughing.
Ah, Jimmy Maloney! The stories we could tell! Got a thousand. Gotta love Jimmy Maloney.
Our Jimmy Maloney, in the context of our National Rugby League, could be the difference between Penrith Panthers being talented top-four aspirants to out-and-out comp co-favourites.
Forget the Manly game. Maloney has. He’s a NSW Blues man, a premiership-winner with Roosters and Sharks, and a director of the Rugby League Professionals Association.
He’s 32-years-old, a seasoned, senior professional with a wife and three little kids.
And there’s still plenty sap in him. Just as there’s plenty of Irish rogue.
In 2008 he joined exalted company at Melbourne Storm, that year’s minor premiers and grand finalists.
The Big Three were well-established and while Israel Folau had gone to Brisbane, Greg Inglis, Dallas Johnson and Ryan Hoffman had not. It was a red-hot squadron.
And into Olympic Park lobbed this ginger kid from the Central Coast, treating superstars like he’d known them all his life, taking the piss out of senior blokes who didn’t know him.
And they loved him for it.
And today they love him again. And for all the things that got the NSW Blues home against Queensland 2-0, there was no more important factor than Maloney’s impact, game, presence and cool.
He’s a winner. He’s won two premierships. And the Panthers are my second team because of the Peach and the “cousin” from Collaroy, Nathan Cleary, and the flying feet of DWZ who can do many splendid things.
I do wish Josh Mansour would come back, he’s a terrific fellah and a heck of a footy player.
And I also really like Reagan Campbell-Gillard who throws himself around like Frankenstein on a bender.
And if the Raiders go south into the night, I’m gonna get amongst the Penny Panthers to bring it home.
And they’ll do it on the back of my favourite, Jimmy Maloney. He’s a ripper.
kk
Guest
Jack Rayner made me aware of team discipline at a very young age when watching Souths train at Redfern, after school. Before they went onto the paddock one afternoon Jack advised Clive Churchill that " I am the coach here and we will do it my way" My jaw still drops every time I remember it. Jack always took the line kicks and over his whole career averaged a gain of five yards.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Fully agree concerned supporter' 'Gasnier was poetry in motion, no doubt about that! He was probably the best footballer of all time (well, of what I've seen from about 1957 as a kid) he had speed, foresight and was just a masterclass on a RL field.
Saus
Guest
Up there with Chika for great Raiders wingers was Nao Nadruka. Not just for his try scoring exploits but also his efforts at the South Sea Islanders club.
concerned supporter
Guest
Matt, I am older than you. The best footballer I have EVER seen, League or Union was Reg Gasnier.Poetry in motion, speed, acceleration, great passing game. He had everything. Once in the 1960's the Kangaroo three-quarter line consisted of Ken Irvine, Reg Gasnier, Graeme Langlands & Michael Cleary. Try and beat that. Below is a short clip, Kangaroo Tour 1963, showing 3 of those champions. Note the English crowd spilling out on the sidelines. Definitely worth a look. ''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob8GGGy3G_A ''
Larry1950
Guest
Memory trick, must have been 71 or 72, as you see from my moniker I'm old.
Larry1950
Guest
Played a fun scratch match in the 60's in rocky after footy season & the opposition roped in Rocket Reddy who was there on post season break, he was scary even then with elbows & head in every tackle. Close as I'd ever come to footy royalty.
Larry1950
Guest
For you sydneysiders who don't realise there was footy in Qld before the Broncos, I'd nominate Brett & Ian French who played plenty of Brisbane footy before stints at North Sydney bears (enough to destroy any player) and both played origin. Not bad for siblings. Think Brett won a challenge cup with Castleford. Also, Joe Kilroy was a character back in the day, not the best winger around but knew how to play.
Fish
Guest
Matt we must be of a similar vintage. I remember coming across Brad Clyde in school footy as well. I was playing for Campbell High and was opposing him in the centres. I scored three tries that day but will always remember a hit he put on me, shook me to the core. We shared a coke after the game. The good old days. I also remember Chris O’Sullivan and this nobody named someone Bellamy were assigned as mentors for our team and would run through some sessions with us from time to time. Always good at a BBQ to drop the old, “ yeah I was coached by Craig Bellamy in the day”. You have sent me down memory lane Matt. I once played soccer for the Phillip Gunners on the oval in the shadows of the Woden Hospital. Long time ago. Thanks for the read Matt.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
I remember him. Better than Langlands and churchill by far.
Arcturus
Roar Rookie
Loved watching Rod Reddy, Robert Stone, John Jantzen. All big men who could run fast. Loved watching Terry Randall chop someone in half with a tackle. David Grant who seemed like the closest thing to the Incredible Hulk on the field. And George Rose just to prove you could be fat and still play good footy.
Griggso
Guest
+1 Barry Dig it out and republish please Matt - he is one player whose career cannot be celebrated too much.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Growing up and playing in the 60s, the fondest memories were of Len Diett grubber kicking to the corner for Kenny Irvine to pick up and score.These were the days according to modern pundits where the game was all head down, bum up and into the oppostion. Another fond memory was Bob Fulton before he became a bit conservative. He was brilliant and good enough to play against the All Blacks as a nasho.
Nat
Roar Guru
Good story Matt (seems a common thing to write today), Growing up in regional NQ, I didn't get to watch too much NSWRL (until the late 80's) but we did have BRL on ABC. Wynnum were the Glamour club with a young Gene Miles tearing up the backs, Bob Lindner and Greg Dowling in the middle and all being guided around by The King. A teenage, skinny but equally terrifying Meninga for Souths. However, my team was Valleys. A proud club and still the most successful professional RL club in Aust, Est 1908, 24premierships and only 4 spoons. This club produced 19 Aust reps, most notably Wally Lewis and Immortal candidate Duncan Hall. Today they are still a small but honest club supported by the community with no pokies money. The beer is no more than $5 a tinny, regular meat tray raffles and a fair bit of "get em onside ref" coming from yours truly.
Josh Jordan
Roar Rookie
Sharing the same jimmy maloney sentiments, been loving the bloke for years. Plays the game as good as anyone out there and has more fun than anyone else out there whilst doing. A legendary champion larrikin.
Nat
Roar Guru
I met Wally for the first time only a few years back ironically at a Qld Reds function at Ballymore. Wally was there covering it for Ch9. Bored as buggery during their speeches I start looking around the room and there was Wally was right behind me. We spent the next 15mins talking league while, on the inside, I'm shaking like a 12yo fanboy.
Stu
Guest
I watch the Roosters through the late 70’s - loved watching the original axe, Bunny Reilly.
Matt H
Roar Guru
Sign up and write one RandyM, anyone can do it. Although for that game it might be more appropriate on a touch footy website. 14 tries!
RandyM
Guest
he's not the most popular person right now but the youtube highlights of Hayne's 2009 season are amazing to watch. Benji's career highlights reel is probably the best of them all though.
RandyM
Guest
why is there no article about last nights game? someone trying to protect the dragons??
The Barry
Roar Guru
Bowen's highlights reel on YouTube is incredible. Some of the things he did over such a long career were mind boggling. I think Barba's 2012 season edges him...But Mango did it for 10 years. Matt - it would be great if you could provide a link to your Bowen story or re-publish it here if you can...