Rugby League
Your Stories

I was at this match as a 16 year old and it remains the hardest,
roughest match I've seen.

I remember the night before the final, English Prop Dennis Hartley, from Castleford - The hardest player I've ever seen - being interviewed on TV.He was asked if he thought the match would be a dirty game,and he replied "no,we need to keep our composure and not get drawn into dirty play,there is too much at stake."

Very early on in the game something must have got to Dennis but rather than hit out he just took his aggression out on the ball.No doubt he remembered what he had said in the interview the previous night.

However, as the game went on it spilt into a blood - bath and Dennis decided to enjoy himself, sorting out the two Aussie props and anyone else that got in the way.In one incident I remember an Aussie off - loading a ball as he fell down.Play went one way and Dennis came rushing in the other direction kicking the aussie guy right in the face.

(Quigs interrupting here-extract from article by 'History Of Australian Rugby League' :- The Australian props John O'Neill and Bob O'Rielly were bloodied and battered ......

Malcolm Reilly was a Castleford team mate of Dennis's and my Dad knew Malcolm quite well. Malcolm once said to my Dad there was only one guy in the whole of Rugby that he was frightened to play against and that was Dennis Hartley, "thank God he is on my side" said Malcolm.

Dennis was, as I said, the hardest player I,ve ever seen yet one of the gentlest and nicest people you could wish to meet off the field.

(Many thanks to Martin for emailing this "memory" to the Era of the Biff - Quigs)

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

Players name for story: Dennis Hartley and John O'Neill

I always remember a story from John o'Neill about Dennis in the infamous 1970 World Cup final. They had belted the proverbial out of each other all game - no holds barred.

About 10 minutes before the end he felt Dennis tug his jersey in a scrum and say "Hey John want to swap jumpers at the end of the game?".

Dennis was one of the poms I loved to hate but I found a lot to respect in that story.

Obviously a strong exponent of what happened on the field stayed on the field.

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

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

O'Neill was one of Australia's form players throughout the tournament and loomed as a key man in the final. But after being cautioned four times in the lead-up game against England a fortnight earlier, O'Neill was under strict instructions from coach Harry Bath to keep his hands down in the decider. The Englishmen bashed and butted him, stomped and sledged him, but O'Neill never lost his cool and was a hero in Australia's 12 - 7 Win.

"We were lucky to beat the Poms in the final, though," He (O'Neill) says. "They had a top side and if we played them 10 times, they'd probably win eight, but this was our day. We decided the best way to win was to get stuck into them early and, while I was very careful what I did, it worked. Our aggressive play put them off their game. There was plenty of spite right until the end when Eric Simms was punched in the face by one of their players when he tried to shake hands. They had a tough side and fought fire with fire.

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

Hi to all Rugby League fans worldwide.

I would like to add to the 1970 England V Australia final story: I was just 14 at the time and at the game, here in Headingley, where I live. My dog 'Rusty' usually came to the Leeds home games with me.

This being such a massive game, I asked my mum, not to let him out of the house on that day, as he'd know where I was, and make his way to the ground to look for me.

But, she let him out, and sure enough, he travelled the half mile to the ground, where he duly ran past the stewards and straight onto the pitch! I nearly died, as the game was halted, and players, police officers and officials alike, tried to catch him, no chance!

The fans in the South Stand (where we were) knew him well and began to chant his name; 'Rusty' clap-clap-clap, 'Rusty' clap-clap-clap, and I remember thinking 'oh... my... God!'.

There must've been 25,000 people at that game but, I called his name at the top of my voice and incredibly, he heard me and ran straight over, vaulting the wall and up into the stand, to sit beside me!

I would love to know where I can get a copy of that game, of course, with that incident in it?

Can anyone help me?

I've spoken to lots of people over the years, who remember the incident well and still have a good laugh about it.

Rusty was a beautiful dog and a really great character, and although it's been 30 years ago this year that he disappeared without trace, I/we never stop thinking about him, wondering if whoever took him, loved and cared for him, as we all did?

Sorry if I've taken up your Rugby League reading time but, if you can help, with where I might obtain a copy of that famous game? I'd be very, very grateful.

Thank you all for your time,
John Christie,
Headingley, Leeds