Title: ... p47 - (p30 & p53) John O'Neill - On the 1973 Grand Final - Manly v Cronulla

courtesy of Tony Adams great book The Hitmen - A tribute to League's tough guys.

"The '73 Grand Final against Cronulla was boots and all. Of all the grand finals I played in, that's the one people always ask me about. It's the game they all remember. And it's not because of the quality of the football; it wasn't a great game as such. They remember it because it was such a rugged affair.



"At one stage their little halfback Tommy Bishop, who was a cheeky bludger, kicked me in the shins. I started chasing him but he ran and hid behind big Cliff Watson. I nearly caught up with him a few times, but he was too slippery. Games like that were hard, but they were great to play in. You knew what was required in those days - you had to get over your opposite front rower. And while it was tough, not too many players got badly hurt. The hard stuff was all part of the game and you accepted it."

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