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Reg Gasnier Tribute(links to www.centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au)

Videos - A tribute to the Seven Australian rugby league immortals Reg Gasnier, Clive Churchill, Bob Fulton, Johnny Raper, Changa Langlands, and Arthur Beetson, includes talk of whether Andrew Johns should become the eighth. To view just click the Link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae4cGeJWVKA

Stats - St George, 1959-67, 125 games, 127t, 20g (421pts).

Reproduced with permission from the Saints Immortals website)

How great was Gaz

Westerns Suburbs had a block busting Test Centre Harry Wells. The year 1959 - and Saints young tyro Reg Gasnier, after only a handful of games in the top grade, was matching up in the Centre for Saints against Big Harry - then for the first time.

This match for some reason was played at Henson Park on a Sunday - although Henson was the home ground of the Newtown Club. I think Wests had been playing out of Pratten Park Ashfield in the past but for some reason this Ground was not available to them in that '59 Season so their home games were spread around to other venues.

The game received a good deal of media publicity in the main because of the then Test incumbent centre Harry Wells - and Saints rising star Gaz and their impending confrontation. Also both Saints and Wests were top class sides and finals contenders down the track.

Subsequently a crowd in excess of 30000 packed into old Henson and it was standing room only at kickoff. I recall the encounter as a torrid affair in the early stages but ultimately The Saints got on top as was their habit and ran out handsome winners.

As for Reg he finished up scoring four tries as his personal contribution . A truly outstanding display against quality and experienced opposition . Clear signs of things to come Mate. I also recall that day that Saints introduced a young half into First Grade. A young bloke called Johnny Stathers who was also a St. George local boy and a pretty handy footballer. He also had a good game and went onto play several years with the Saints in several positions if memory serves me correct. Harry Bath was Saints goal kicker and Harry used to place the ball ' upright ' and kick 'em over from any distance. There was no sand buckets or stuff back in those days - just rake up a bit of dirt for a mound, place the ball and kick it.

Bobby. B. [name supplied]

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The first time i ever saw Reg gasnier on his first tour, it was at wigan...thought he was from another planet...still do!!

Still think he was the best player of any sport that i have ever seen...my best wishes to him and his family, i hear he is not enjoying the best of health right now.

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After hearing these incredible stories of the great "GASNIER" I attended my first interstate clash at Lang Park as a seven year old with my father.

I'd heard about Reg's blinding exceleration, his blistering speed over the first fifty, the uncanny swerve,the vision and the ability the anticipant what was about to unfold minutes before it actually did (in attack & defence.

When the Magic Reg Gasnier lead the NSW's side out of the tunnel you can understand my dismay,for Reg was a human being, not a ten foot tall super robot who flew over the field as my seven year old imagination suggested.

One of a kind was Reg.

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

Reg Gasnier, tells another story of the special bond between Billy Wilson and his former Saints team mates.

"We were playing Norths at Kogarah Jubilee Oval and just before we ran out onto the field, we got word that Bluey had a couple of badly broken ribs," Gasnier remembers. "there was no way he should of been playing but it was a game against Saints and he wasn't about to miss it. When we ran out onto the field to face them, we could clearly see he had rolls and rolls of elastoplast around his ribs for protection. The word was quickly passed among the Saints players to go easy on him. Everytime we tackled him, it was like we were dropping Billy on eggshells."

"It didn't take long for Billy to work out what was going on and he was furious. He hated the thought of getting and special treatment, even though he was obviously playing in great difficulty. He really started getting stuck into us. 'You're a bunch of sissies,' he yelled at us. 'You wouldn't know how to tackle hard.'

'He was hoping his abuse would bring an end to our gentle treatment but we knew him too well. Our forwards looked after him all game and he lasted the 80 minutes without any problems, although his pride probably took a bit of a battering.

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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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In 1963, the 1st test was a night game at Wembley and Gasnier was at his imperious best. He's still the greatest centre I've seen. He never looked as though he was moving, but nobody could get near him. He had class to burn. Then we had the 50 - 12 game at Swinton. The die was cast and I think it gave Australian players the self belief to upset history. Since then of course we've only won one test series (1970), but I believe it was won on the back of my favourite all time player Malcom Reilly; and Roger Millward. They were the difference on that Tour. Many of the series around that time were close and different players stood just above to make the difference. I believe that in 67 it was a John Raper / Ron Coote combination as the game breakers. The test when they won in the snow typified the Australian never-say-die spirit.

In 73 Artie was head and shoulders above the rest.

In 74 it was Ron Coote's famous tackle on Steve Nash that broke our resolve.

In 78 we would have won that series but for the half back combo of Tom R and Bobby Fulton. Fulton was the finest captain of a touring team that I've seen and he lead from the front. Most of the players were young and inexperienced and making their first Tours, but players like Rod Reddy and Craig Young came up trumps. It was also the best test debut I have seen in the decider at Headingley. Les Boyd tortured us for an hour and came off injured, but by then the game and the series were run.

Apart from 1990 when we was within a minute of squaring the series, but for Ricky Stuart's breakout and Big Mal Meninga; since then we've been an embarrassment since 1978. But then we don't have players of the calibre of Reilly, Huddart, McTigue, Millward, Ashton, Murphy, Mick Sullivan.

Personally, I deride the modern game. The scrums are a joke and the 10 metre rule has killed off the great ball playing backs like Murphy and Millward in the British game. Same in the forwards. In those days you had to have the skills to break defences, because they were stood on top of you. Artie was the best ball playing forward I've seen and McTigue wasn't far behind.

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I was a young lad when Oldham played the touring Australian team (1959 I think), hoping to see my team beat these Aussies.

But from the moment that Gasnier received the ball and set off on one of those breathtaking runs I forgot about Oldham and just wanted him to get the ball everytime. He scored 3 tries and gave me some priceless memories.

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I saw reg gasnier first game on tour 1959 it was at widnes  and i seen the best centre display ihave everseen.

The forward i would always have in my pack was brian edger who played for workington and the best in my time before it became a full time profession was alec murphy he could do it all  ps since wally lewis,

I was lucky to play with the great brian bevan on a few occasions at warrington  thank you

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