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I HAVE NO INTENTION OF BEING DEROGATORY TO DICK THORNETT HERE BUT UNFORTUNATELY DICK WAS ON THE RECEIVING END OF ONE OF THE BEST PUNCHES I'VE SEEN THROWN ON A FOOTY FIELD.

I was a young lad of about 16 at the time and I was sitting on the eastern side of Endeavour oval somewhere between the 22 metre and the halfway line. I was sitting right on the fence and was only about 3 metres from the side line.

It was of course a Parramatta Cronulla clash and at the time Dick was in the twilight of his illustrious career.

Dick was taking the ball up right near the eastern side line and right in front of me. It was like I was sitting at ringside. It was that close. A cronulla player had tackled Thornett low and around the ankles. he was falling forward and towards the ground.

I saw the tough old Cronulla Second Rower John Maguire coming across in cover. As Thornett was heading towards the deck, Maguire dived towards the falling prop. He was horizontal to the ground and I saw his right fist coming up from just off ground level. His knuckles would of been skimming the cooch. It appeared to me like it was in slow motion.

The fist hit Thornett that hard his eyes rolled and I swear he was out before he hit the ground. I guess that Dick did not see it coming, I know the linesman missed it, but I definately did not miss it.

A small footnote to this little incident, when super coach Jack Gibson took over at the Eels he talked Maguire into having another season with Parra. The story goes he wanted Maguire to teach the young guys the "art"

As I mentioned at the top of this story. It is not meant to degrade Thornetts brilliant career, it is that it is the only personal memory I have of Dick Thornett. I have recollections that Dick Thornett kicked a towering field goal from near half way when playing for Parra. It happend at the Sydney Sports Ground. I think it was right on the halftime hooter and it blew everyone out of the water. Can anyone remember it ????

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Dick Thornett was the best forward the switch from Rugby to Rugby league ever.He was big fast and strong he was a ball distibutor,runner and great defender as well as being a top line kicker of the ball.

One match he played when he was in full flight he fumled the ball let it hit the ground and turned it into a drop goal from almost the half way.

In all a great player of both rugby codes as well as water polo.

Well done Dick Thornett
Peter Carver

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Prop John Wittenburg, playing in his first Test, was flattened by British front-rower Brian Edgar early in the match, Australian centre Graeme Langlands laid out little English halfback Tommy Bishop with a copybook "coat-hanger", Dick Thornett and Billy Smith tag-teamed on British forward Jim Mantle, and former Queenslander Noel "Ned" Kelly and fearsome Englishman Cliff Watson fought a running battle.

From Memorable Match No31- click here to read more.

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