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Ron Coote tribute (links to www.centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au)

Coote setting up McCarthy (links to www.centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au)

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Mark Harris 1974 GF Try great lead up by Coote(links to www.centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au)

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Coote Try 1967 test match in the snow(links to www.centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au)

Coote setting up Chang(links to www.centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au)

Stats available only from 1976 on -

South Sydney Dream Team has been Announced

By Jeremy Monahan

The South Sydney Rabbitohs has announced the greatest Club side in Rugby League history, the South Sydney Dream Team, at a gala dinner at the Westin Hotel in Sydney on July 29, 2004.

17 players were selected in position as well as a coach to represent the South Sydney Football Club from 1908 through to 2004.

The South Sydney Dream Team is:

Fullback – Clive Churchill (164 games for Souths between 1947-58, 27 games for NSW, 34 Tests for Australia).

Winger – Harold Horder (86 games for Souths between 1912-19 & 1924, 9 games for NSW, 13 Tests for Australia).

Centre – Herb Gilbert (23 games for Souths between 1911-12 & 1915, 3 games for NSW, 7 Tests for Australia).

Centre – Paul Sait (163 games for Souths between 1968-78, 5 games for NSW, 7 Tests for Australia).

Winger – Ian Moir (118 games for Souths between 1952-58, 10 games for NSW, 8 Tests for Australia).

Five-eighth – Jim Lisle (102 games for Souths between 1962-68, 8 games for NSW, 6 Tests for Australia).

Halfback – Bob Grant (136 games for Souths between 1966-75, 2 games for NSW, 1 Test for Australia).

Lock – Ron Coote (151 games for Souths between 1964-71, 13 games for NSW, 13 Tests for Australia).

Second Row – Bob McCarthy (217 games for Souths between 1963-75 & 1978, 10 games for NSW, 10 Tests for Australia).

Second Row – George Treweek (120 games for Souths between 1926-34, 7 games for NSW, 18 Tests for Australia).

Prop – John O’Neill (150 games for Souths between 1965-71 & 1975-76, 5 games for NSW, 2 Tests for Australia). Hooker – Elwyn Walters (129 games for Souths between 1967-73, 11 games for NSW, 12 Tests for Australia).

Prop – John Sattler (197 games for Souths between 1963-72, 4 games for NSW, 3 games for Queensland, 4 Tests for Australia).

Reserve – Greg Hawick (84 games for Souths between 1950-56, 8 games for NSW, 6 Tests for Australia).

Reserve – Ray Branighan (52 games for Souths between 1968-71, 5 games for NSW, 8 Tests for Australia).

Reserve – Ian Roberts (65 games for Souths between 1986-89, 11 games for NSW, 13 Tests for Australia).

Reserve – Les Cowie (178 games for Souths between 1947-57, 10 games for NSW, 6 Tests for Australia).

Coach – Jack Rayner (Played 196 games for Souths between 1946-57, 11 games for NSW, 5 Tests for Australia. Coached Souths to five premierships in 1950, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1955).

This team of absolute champion players spanning the history of the code of Rugby League in Australia have collectively played 2135 First Grade games for the South Sydney Club, 158 games for NSW, 3 games for Queensland and 158 Tests for Australia.

The players have been immortalised in a fabulous painting featuring the South Sydney Dream Team having just won a premiership played at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Living members of the team as well as representatives of those who have passed on were presented with a South Sydney Dream Team print which features the Dream Team painting, as well as a South Sydney Dream Team commemorative jersey with their named on the back.

- why not share your memories with other members of Team Era, just click here -

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.

- why not share your memories with other members of Team Era, just click here -

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- why not share your memories with other members of Team Era, just click here -

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- why not share your memories with other members of Team Era, just click here -

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- why not share your memories with other members of Team Era, just click here -

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- why not share your memories with other members of Team Era, just click here -