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I have been watching league since about 1940,and to me peter dimond is the toughest i have ever seen.

In 1963 in the semi final against st.george he quitened the whole st.george back line which included,gasnier king lumsdaine clay with bone shuddering tackles

One newspaper the next day quoted diamonds are not st.georges bestfriend..... wests won.

In the grand final 2 weeks later the scores were close i was sitting the noble stand when diamond chipped kicked followed on and dived on the ball under the goal posts,i had a perfect view,i am 73 now still and have no need for glasses, but the referee d.lawler ruled no try,from behind the run of play,claiming dimond had knocked on.. rubbish.

This is something i wiil never forget....the s c g was like muddy lake

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PETER DIMOND MAKES WESTS TIGERS TEAM OF THE CENTURY

From West Tigers website

On the 20th April 1908 the first official game of Rugby League was played in the Sydney Premiership. The combatants were the Western Suburbs Magpies and the Balmain Tigers. Since that time, there have been a total of 15 Premierships won between the clubs and a host of State of Origin, Kangaroo and Premiership stars produced. A wealth of legendary moments played out by some of the true legends of the game. To celebrate the history and prestige associated with two of Australia's most famous Rugby League Teams, as well as embrace their recent unification into the Wests Tigers, it is time to celebrate the. Wests Tigers TEAM OF THE CENTURY

A panel of judges spanning the different eras from both Clubs will select nominees according to strict criteria. The panel comprised Keith Barnes (Balmain), Kevin Humphreys (Balmain), John 'Chow' Hayes (Wests), Rick Wayde (Wests) and Ian Heads (Independent). A Western Suburbs and a Balmain Tigers team has been selected by the panel representing each club, before the unenviable task of selecting the best combined team took place.

Wests Tigers Team of the Century

Fullback: Keith Barnes (c)

Wingers: Peter Dimond, Alan Ridley

Centres: Charles Fraser, Harry Wells

Five-Eighth: Vic Hey

Halfback: Keith Holman

Lock: Wayne Pearce

Second Row: Paul Sironen, Arthur Beetson

Front Row: Steve Roach, Noel Kelly

Hooker: Ben Elias

Reserves: Kel O'Shea, Jim Craig, Tom Raudonikis, Harry Bath

Coach: Norm "Latchem" Robinson

The Western Suburbs Team of the Century was

Fullback: Frank McMillan

Wingers: Peter Dimond, Alan Ridley

Centres: Cliff Pearce, Harry Wells

Five-Eighth: Vic Hey

Halfback: Keith Holman

Lock: Les Boyd

Second Row: Arthur Clues, Kel O'Shea

Front Row: Jack Donnelly, Ed Courtney

Hooker: Noel Kelly

Reserves: Bill Carson, Neville Charlton, John Dorahy, Tom Raudonikis

Coach: Roy Masters.

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About Peter Dimond

I always went to the football with my father during the sixties and remember that you took your autograph book along and collected as many signatures as possible.

Most players did not go in to the dressing sheds to change until just after half time in the Reserve Grade.

One day at Leichhardt an extremely well dressed player arrived and he stood out from the other players. I got his autograph despite the fact he was in the opposing team.

Later that day he king hit my favourite player Keith Barnes knocking him out.

The autograph was ripped out of the book and torn to shreads and I cried all the way home.

Dad said I should perhaps pick a tougher player as my favourite so I moved onto Georgie Piper.

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I followed Wests from when I was a kid in the 60s to the Murdoch takeover since when I have lost all interest in what was the greatest game of all.

In 1970 the ARL decided to have a probables v. possibles trial match prior to the selection team to play in the World Cup in England.

One might have expected that after the sensational crowds for the 1968 World Cup played in Australia and NZ this game played on the RAS Showground would have attracted a large crowd but it didn't.

The teams were named for the sponsor of the game one being called Theiss and the other Toyota.

The game was very indifferent - the players really didn't want to be there - and was only notable for a couple of sensational incidents. The first was accidental when Fr (as he then was) John Cootes somehow managed to knock out Bill Mullins whilst scoring a try. The second came a bit later hwn whilst waiting for the ball to be kicked off Peter D. ran accross the field and king hit Cootes right in front of the ref who had no option but to send Dimond off.

Although Cootes had played well all season and also in this this trial uncharitable souls (no doubt all non-Catholics) suggested that Dimond's action ensured Cootes selection. In any event Cootes had a good tour both from a playing point of view and the fact that he was God's gift to the Rugby League PR people in the UK with his chaste good looks and "footballing priest" tag.

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"Mate, I can't tell you how wrapped I was to find another site relating to my childhood hero - Pete - what irks me however is the mispelling of his surname, how can you let "Diamond" go to transmission. Come on, install a virus protection detector to scan future "Diamond" references and ensure that the diamond name of "DIMOND" is preserved so as to avoid any discreditation of the great man!

(From Quigs - Thanks for drawing my attention to my spelling mistakes - my apols - I have now corrected the changes to PD's entry in this page)

I love this name, I love the bloke! I remember waiting back at Lidcombe (post Pratten 'cause I was too young I thought to approach him earlier) long after the pre-season night games at Lidcombe to talk with my hero.

He was tough on the field alright, but through my young eyes, he could do no wrong.I wrote to him and he responded by sending me an autographed photo of him charging down the wing on the way to scoring a try, Dick Thornett in "support" on the record tour of GB in '63.

Alas, where is the photo now?I wouldn't depart with it for quids, it's around somewhere, please ask Peter for a copy.

By the way, I remember seeing PD at the Royal Easter Show pushing Craig around in a pram - Craig would have been 2 or so.Can you tell me Peter's birthday - I really want to send him a birthday card - I'm now 54 but still have great memories of the man.

I was at the Grafton Cup meeting in 1976? (Zammazan Lass) and remember seeing him on the hill....I was still in awe of the great man and regret to this day staying with my mates and not approaching him to ask whether he remembered my letter - I so wanted to thank him for the photo but the guilt from misplacing that treasure prevented me from going up to him.

The next time I saw an image of him was a few years ago when down at Figtree at a relo's place and they had a local publication from the Dapto (I think) Club New Year's Eve party - there was a photo of "PD" and friends. I was wrapped to see how well he and his friends scrubbed up.

Look forward to a response so that I can return a favour with a b'day card from someone (one of thousands) who cherish those Pratten Park, SCG, Sports Ground & Lidcombe Oval memories - caaaaaaaaarn Wesssssssssts!

Cheers,

KC (Up the Maggies)"

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From a Roy Masters article in the Sydney Morning Herald, August 6, 2004

Noel Kelly (Western Suburbs Prop), recalling a game against Souths when he hit George Piggins as they were running to a position on the field where Wests' Peter Dimond had also been flattened.

Kelly said: "Referee Laurie Bruyeres asked me what happened as we both stood over Peter and I said Piggins had suffered sunstroke.

"I've forgotten the name of the Souths bloke who hit Peter but I told Laurie, 'If I was you sir, I'd send him off'."

Bruyeres says: "I took the report from the touch judge and told Kelly, 'If he goes, you're going with him."'

Kelly and Bruyeres agree on what happened next.

Kelly says: "I yelled out, 'Peter. He's going to send me off. Quick. Get up."'

As Bruyeres says: "I was never going to send either of them off.

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Just wanted to add to the Peter Dimond legend and correct what I think is an error in some stories of the Fr John Cootes incident.

The match was at the Sportsground of that I am certain. My recollection is that the great man ran at least 20yds to come in as a late tackle and hung one on the footballing priest.

Peter Dimond was the toughest and most honest of the hard men who played in the real tough era. The Poms could play and knuckle in those days and they just couldn't handle him at all - never bested.

I had the privilege of having a conversation with him some years ago at Campbelltown - a gentleman in every sense of the word, a legend by deed and a champion by nature.

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When dad started to take me to the footy on weekends people thought it strange as I had 3 bros.

But i grew to love the game and when the 63 kangaroos went overseas i sent peter diamond a letter as we were asked to do to support them.

He sent me a postcard from france which i still have

A real gentleman if a tough one!

He is the toughest man i have seen play although arthur beetson and kevin yowyeh in his prime were a tough pair in the backs for redcliffe.

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I followed the magpies since 1962 all through those grand finals that darcy lawler refereed .

i took my fiance now wife of 40 years to see my hero at the time peter dimond play against country we arrived a couple of minutes after the start and she asked me what number dimond was wearing and i told her the fellow that is walking off the field after decking the priest.

If i recall dimond was the first player picked to play against the poms after that

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