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CRONULLA SUTHERLAND DREAMTEAM ANNOUNCED July 2006

Fullback ... David Peachey
Winger ... Mat Rogers
Centre ... Steve Rogers
Centre ... Andrew Ettingshausen
Winger ... Ray Corcoran
5/8 ... Chris Wellman
Half ... Tommy Bishop
Lock ... Greg Pierce
S/r ... Gavin Miller
S/R ... Ken Maddison
Prop ... Cliff Watson
Prop ... Jason Stevens
Hooker ... Ron Turner
Reserve .... Dane Sorensen
Reserve ... Steve Kneen
Reserve ... Brett Kimmorley
Reserve ... Mark McGaw

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QUOTE FROM CLIFF ON HOW TO BEAT THE AUSSIES...............

In July 2002 the Rugby League Boards from both hemispheres gathered 92 former internationals as part of the promotion of the return to Australia - Lions Test Matches.

Part of the night included film presentation and speeches from different former great players.

It was reported that Cliff Watson gave the audience his simple idea of how to beat the Aussies just after the audience had finished applauding old newsreel of his assorted misdemeanours and sendings-off.

"There is only one way to beat the Australians," Watson said, "You have got to get in there and thump them. If you let them run at you, they'll annihilate you. It's always been the same; if you belt them, they don't like it."

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I was at the 1973 grand final between Manly and Sharks. 80 minutes of mayhem. Bishop hitting and kicking anything that moved and then hiding behind Cliffy Watson.

Manly had Randall, O'neill and Reilly.

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I was brought up in a pub in st helens and cliff watson was a dray man for greenall whitley brewery.

He very often used to deliver the beer, he was a big fella and strong which they had to be back then.

If anyone ever speaks to him ask him if he remembers the new inn in peasley cross in st helens.

He's clipped me round the ear more than once for being cheeky, nice bloke though.

Geoff Appleton St Helens

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I never wore a mouthgard... hated them... too uncomfortable and, besides, you couldn't abuse the referee.
- Cliff Watson

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I said to him "I came here to play football, not run in a bloody Melbourne Cup."
- Cliff Watson

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There was Cliffy leaning against the post. I went over and asked. "What's going on Cliff?" He said: "It's all right... it's all right. They're not playing yet."
- Tommy Bishop

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I've had 12 broken noses, two broken jaws, five broken arms, four rib cartilages, four broken ribs...

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Cliff Watson, the former Great Britain Tesp Prop, had his jaw broken in two places while playing for Cronulla Sharks in a 5 - 2 loss to Penrith at Endeavour Field.

The tough Englishman finished the half out and nonchalantly told officials at half-time "I think you'd better get a replacement. There's no risk my jaw is broken."

Just before leaving for the hospital, Watson said to the man who was taking him to hospital; "Can you wait while I whip up and tell the wife I won't be home for tea."

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I worked at the Greenalls Brewery in St Helens when Cliff Watson was a drayman. What strength, he could lift a barrell of ale, no problem.

Everyone wanted to work in Cliffs team, he did the heavy work .

In those days he never drank or smoked, but on his last visit to Saints a couple of years ago i think he had downed a few tinnies..

I worked on the bottling stores loading stage, with a deaf and dumb lad, who was allways winding Cliff up, but the giant took it in good heart.

Hope one day Cliff sees this, he is sure to remember.

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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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Hope Cliff Watson is reading some of this and just to say top of the morning to yah!

A hard man? sure!

A hero? absolutely!

The kind of guy that when the chips are down (and they often can be as a back packer) he gave you the strength to just keep going and, that things can always be worse.

Thanks for everything you did for me mate.

Andy Bailey (irish sparks at vinnys).

p.s. hope you enjoyed the whiskey!!!!!

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AT THE 1970 AUS V GB FINAL AT HEADINGLY LEEDS ...........MY HARDEST MAN MEMORY IS............ARTIE BEETSON AND CLIFF WATSON HAVING BEEN SENT OFF FOR FIGHTING..............WATCHING THEM WALKING OFF.STILL HAVING A GO AT EACH OTHER................THAT WAS REAL RUGBY LEAGUE...........NOT THE PROTECTED P/C PLAYERS WE SEE TODAY.........

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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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First Test, Lang Park, July 6, 1970

Sydney garbo Jim Morgan scored twice in the first Test of the 1970 tour but it is not for the tries that he is most remembered.

BATTERED hero . . . Jim Morgan after the second Battle of Brisbane. He enjoyed scoring two tries.

It is the photo of him after the match, his face covered in blood and his nose a flattened pulp after he was head-butted by Great Britain forward Cliff Watson.

The match was the second to earn the title "The Battle of Brisbane" and this time Australia won the game, 37-15, although the Englishmen could be said to have won the fight.

The set-to between Morgan and Watson broke out late in the first half. After an all-in brawl had subsided the two stood holding each other's jerseys.

Morgan attempted a head-butt and Watson replied with interest.

When Watson stayed in Australia after a stint with Cronulla in the early 1970s the two men became close friends but Morgan, who died while swimming at the Gold Coast last year, always felt he had the last laugh.

As he said after the match: "They can break my nose in any Test as long as I can still score two tries."

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A few years back Cliff Watson was a customer of mine. Used to come in and drink Gin and Tonic. Pretty quiet bloke really. However one day I had been watching a replay of the infamous test match in Brisbane, where Cliff had landed the Liverpool Kiss in Jimmy Morgan face. That night big Cliff came in and he order his drink and whilst preparing it mentioned to him that I had seen his melon on TV that day and said'Poor old Jimmy Morgan.'

With that a complete change came over him and you could see the anger rising an at incredible rate to a point where I though he was going to jump the bar and belt me. He stood and glared at me for at least a minute without saying a word. Even at his age it was still pretty scary, as he is a huge man. He took his drink, slammed his money on the bar and walked away.

Even the guy working with me that night commented after he had left that he though Watson was going to belt me. He was pretty concerned as well. It really hit a raw nerve with him although I wasn't trying to offend him in any way.

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The 1st test series I remember was as a small boy reading about the 1962 series.

1963 was the first series I saw on TV.

The 1st test was played at Wembley, but only highlights were shown on TV, although I think Reg Gasnier scored 3 tries.

The match at Swinton was the first test I saw live.

It left an indelible imprint on me, which remains to this day.

Australia have never played better in my opinion. Langlands, Irvine, Gasnier, Raper would walk into any greatest team that I could think of.

The abiding memories are of Ken Irvine's chase down of Neil Fox, with John Stopford scoring a try.

But watching Australia that day was like watching the Harlem Globetrotters.

Raper never played better. Chang wasn't far behind. Still the best team I've ever seen.

As memorable was the 3rd test (Battle of Headingley) when the fists flew. Noel Kelly was indeed a very hard man. A scrum broke up and he delivered a couple of beauties on one of the English props.

Cliff Watson got sent off in the same game.

I have highlights of the 63 Tour on DVD and it's a prized possession.

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