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Brian Poppa Clay Tribute(links to www.centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au)

Stats - 1957-67, 183 games. 33t (99pts)

NSW rep (1957& 59).
Aust rep (1957& 59-60).
Newtown junior played in no less than eight Grand Final victories for Saints during their golden era.

HOW BRIAN CLAY WAS NAMED POPPA.

According to the History of Australian Rugby League Clay was tagged "Poppa" by the then Newtown Coach Col Geelan.

At training one night, Clay dropped a few balls, and Coach Geelan called out to him: "What's up Pop, getting a bit stiff in the joints?"

Helped along with the fact that Clay was prematurely bald, the name stuck.

He played for Newtown from 1953 to 1956, then went back to the bush and played for Griffith. Then in 1957 returned to Sydney to link up with St George and as they say, "the rest is history". Played in8 Grand Final winning sides, could of been 10 but missed the 62 and 63 GF with broken arm injury.

Footnote: If my memory serves me correct I remember as a kid Poppa Clay used to live in a house in Huntingdale Ave, Miranda, and we walked past the mighty mans house on our way to train play league for Gymea Junior Rugby League in the Cronulla Sutherland Junior League competition. Gymeas home ground was Corea Road Oval.

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I had been converted, christened and baptized as a Saints fan

My first trip to the 'big smoke' came about because of Dad having to attend a union meeting at the Sydney town hall. We travelled up to Sydney in Dad's old Ford Mainline Ute. We slept overnight near a beach 'somewhere in Sydney'. Dad and Mum in the front of the Ute and my brothers and I under the canopy in the back.

Dad was a pretty keen Rabbitoh's supporter and with the match of the day being Saints and Souths we boys were pretty sure we'd get to see some football. We were disappointed when Dad drove to the town hall, but we needn't have worried because as soon as he had his ticket checked he was out the side door and we were off to the game.

I was a bit of a Souths supporter up to that time. Dad and a couple of my brothers supported them so it just seemed the natural thing to do. I was seated on Dad's shoulders when I saw the teams run out. John Sattler was pointed out (easy because of the headgear), and Dad even had praise for Norm Provan, which was a big statement for him. I can remember Dad telling me how tough Provan was even when Souths had come on 'hard' earlier in the year.

The game was the closest thing I had ever seen to grown men fighting up to this point. The Saints and Souths players had scant regard for the rules and the crowd lapped it up. I remember Pop Clay (who remained a favourite of mine from that day on) tackling everything that wore a red and green jumper. He was as tough as teak and had ball skills a generation ahead of his time. He never stopped directing the Saints around the paddock and whenever he tackled the Souths forwards you could hear the wind being knocked out of them. When he was sent off I felt robbed because the Saints were losing not only the game but also most of the fights.

I remember Gasnier striding on to a ball from Billy Smith and almost gliding over the ground. The entire crowd erupted and for a kid like me (who was usually timed with a calendar, not a stop watch) it seemed as if he was running over the ground, not on it. He was pulled up short of the line in a great cover tackle that had Dad whooping with delight and nearly throwing me off his shoulders and into the crowd behind. Billy Smith and Chang never stopped trying but the game belonged to Souths.

Dad was happy, my brothers ecstatic, and I had been converted, christened and baptized as a Saints fan. I thought the Saints were dynamic in taking so much punishment and to keep coming back for more. Clay had done enough to win me as a fan for life and the sight of Langlands, Gasnier, Raper and Smith throwing themselves into attack and defence stayed with me long after we went back bush.

From that moment on I was Clay or Gasnier in the back yard with my brothers, Sattler, Coote and Branighan usually dishing out similar punishment. But, I had the last laugh that year watching the mighty Saints win another grand final against Dad's rabbits.

PDM - Kindly reproduced with permission from the Saints Immortals website - I recommend you pay a visit to that site. Link appears above

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THE LEAGUES CLUB JOURNAL PAGE OFF THE SAINT GEORGE LEAGUES CLUB WEBSITE.
BRIAN ‘POPPA’ CLAY A SAINTS LEGEND

2 November 2003

Poppa joined St. George in 1957 as a lock, but switched to five-eight in 1959, a move that "made him the fulcrum of a magical attack" and the spearhead of a sturdy defence. Former Super Coach Jack Gibson once said in respect to Clay"s tackling power: "When Clay was on the left the inclination was to detour right".

For this Poppa - a jibe at his balding head - was also known as "The Baron of Bruise". Arguably the greatest five-eight to wear the red and white, Poppa played for the Saints from 1957 to 1967 and scored 33 tries in 200 games.

He represented NSW and Australia and was a member of the 59-60 Kangaroo Tour, on which he played the second Test against Great Britain with two broken ribs.

In 1969, as third-grade coach he suffered a heart attack. Thus began the heart disease that eventually claimed him in September 1987.

Now Poppa will always be remembered along the Legends Walk at OKI Jubilee Stadium, where Clay joins the following honour list: Norm Provan, Kevin Ryan, Billy Smith, Ian Walsh, John Raper MBE, Reg Gasnier AM, Graeme Langlands MBE, Johnny King, Eddie Lumsden, Ken Kearney, Noel Pidding, Matt McCoy, Graig Young, Rod Reddy and Mark Coyne.

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The Directors of the St George Rugby League Football Club have recognised the invaluable service of Brian “Poppa” Clay and in an acknowledgement of respect, have made him the Dragons' Sixteenth Legend.

Poppa came to St George in 1957 as a lock, but switched to five eighth in 1959 when John “Chook” Raper joined the club. This switch from lock to five eighth would see Poppa as the fulcrum around which Saints would produce that magic football and all so see him as a roundabout and/or brick wall for the opposition.

Former Super Coach Jack Gibson once said in respect to Clay’s tackling power “When Clay was on the left the inclination was to detour right”. Ian Walsh commented, “If we had an opposition player who was causing us trouble, one of Poppa’s specials would generally bring them back to the field”. Poppa was also known as ‘The Baron of Bruise’. He also gave incredible service to his outside team mates enabling them to revel in his service.

Arguably the greatest five eighth to wear the red and white, Brian Clay played for the Saints from 1957 to 1967, scoring 33 tries in 200 games, he represented NSW in 57 and 59 and Australia in 57 and as a Kangaroo on the 59-60 Tour to Great Britain. He was renowned for his toughness, especially the second test against the Poms when he starred and played with two broken ribs.

In 1969 Poppa was third grade coach at St George and in August of that year, he suffered a heart attack and was hospitalised. It was to signal the beginning of a long battle with heart disease for Brain “Poppa” Clay whose life ended prematurely in September 1987 .

His name is raised frequently by Saints supporters who witnessed his unforgettable on field feats and his peers in rugby league discussions. Now it will never be forgotten as he has been honoured with Legendary Status and will join his former team mates, Norm Provan, Kevin Ryan, Billy Smith, Ian Walsh, John Raper MBE, Reg Gasnier AM, Graeme Langlands MBE, Johnny King, Eddie Lumsden, Ken Kearney along with Noel Pidding, Matt McCoy, Craig Young, Rod Reddy, and Mark Coyne in the Legends Walk at OKI Jubilee Stadium.

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I read the story and it is correct Pop Clay lived in Huntingdale Ave Miranda until he moved up the far north coast to a place called Mullumbimby where he purchased a school bus run and was semi retired driving the kids to school, being the first to introduce the sin bin on the school bus.

He soon after got crook and died in surgery whilst getting a heart transplant from Dr Chang.

I think back and cant imagine how great those times would have been all I can remember as 7 year old is waiting at the back of the Cricket ground or The Cauliflower Hotel or running around the fish pond at the front of the leagues club....

His Son

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I just found your website and as usual I went to check out my all-time favourite hero and player - Poppa Clay. What a thrill to see that his son Greg was a contributor. My story pre-dates Greg by a bit...I was born in 1952 and in 1956 Brian was playing in Griffith NSW - I guess as captain or coach but in any event my dad was the club secretary (?) at Griffith and over the course of the year Dad and Poppa became life-long friends. One of my earliest memories as a child is being at the local footy field in Griffith marking the field for the afternoon game with Dad and Poppa. I remember a huge (for me at the time) footy and kicking and playing with Poppa. When Brian went to Saints it was only natural that they became my team and have been ever since.

Dad went to most of the Grand Finals with Brian and Esme and attended the celebrations on a number of occasions - i still have the programs to prove it !

The big event for me was the 65 G/F with Souths which we won 12-8. I went up with dad and we stayed with Brian and Esme and their children - I actually got into the SCG as one of Brian's kids ! What a game - I was so excited, remember there were 78,000 people there - but I spent most of the game out behind the Members Stand throwing up through nerves and just sheer anticipation. I found a spot where I could see the score board and hope and hope and hope.

The rest is history but I did get to go back to the club in Johnny King's car. I also shook hands with some of the other legends including Johnny Raper

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