Lets remember that those in the fifties who were Captain coaches relied so much on indigenous players to take rugby league forward… From Edward Green the first to play top Rugby League (Easts 1909) to Tabua-Fidow (Cowboys) 2020 they changed the way the game was played. For myself ,thanks to Tony Mundine Snr OAM who referenced me to John Quayle and assisted me to be the first development manager for the NSWRL, to Darryl Wright AM, who I coached at Newtown is now CEO of Tharawal Aboriginal Health Corp and we have remained friends for 45 years, Dr Thancoupie James AO who during our time at Weipa educated me on how the real story lives in the retelling . In1956 I Captain coached a team that played Tweed Heads All Blacks in the grand final of CRL Group 18. On the wing for the All Blacks was a young Lionel Morgan -the first indigenous player to represent Australia. I met up with him a few years back and he was teaching young aboriginal kids about anger management…wonderful person. To mention just a few from a past era, and accepting those whose names are still on our lips may I mention Lapa Stewart, Kevin Longbottom, Ricky Walford, Sam Backo, RonGibbs,Dale Shearer, Larry Corowa and the man who caused a rule change Eric Simms. If If the game could speak it would be with respect for your contribution
Jul
29