Willow | Proudly NSW
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Time traveller
Frank was thought to have died in the 'Great War' of 1914-1918.
A proud Newtown lad and rugby league pioneer, Frank played in the rebel series against the 'All Golds' in 1907. Along with a number of trail-blazers, he turned professional in 1908. He was selected in the second-row to play for Australia.
The advent of war put a stop to Frank's career.
In 1915, he was injured in Gallipoli and was then reported as missing while in Egypt. It was assumed that Frank was reluctant to burden his fellow Anzacs and family back home, and he simply wandered off into the desert to die from his wounds.
But this young digger didn't die.
Truth is, Frank was frozen in time.
In 2008, archeologists uncovered a cenotaph and amazingly found Frank, preserved by the ancients. Upon being awakened, Frank had been cured of all ailments, and he was as fit as any man around him. Governments sought to cover it up but eventually the news leaked out. After much debate, Frank was allowed to return home to Australia and receive a hero's welcome.
After the fanfare died down, Frank decided to check out a past love, rugby league. He was introduced to television and was amazed by the openness of the 10-metre rule... but he questioned the forward play.
“The referee shouldn't have called held!” he exclaimed. “The bloke being tackled was still being forced back!”
After watching just one game, Frank called up his old Newtown club to see if they needed any players. Initially, our time traveller was shocked to learn that his beloved Bluebags had been relegated, but he still wanted to play.
Frank was a stand-out at training. He was fitter and stronger than in 1908 and gave credit to his interstellar saviors. He could run as fast as any modern player. During one set move he ran some 40 metres in near record time. He had all the hallmarks to further his career as a champion backrower.
The Newtown club had no hesitation in naming Frank for their next NSW Cup fixture. They handed him a rule book and told him to 'do some reading'. That would have been OK, but no one thought to ask Frank if he could read. Alas, Frank was illiterate, a not too uncommon reality for the working-class man in 1908. Of course, Frank's pride dictated that he keep this fact to himself.
On match day, a packed house was on hand to see this miracle man from the past.
Frank's first touch of the ball was a success, he ran hard and almost broke the line. He played the ball, but to everyone's confusion, he drove forward in the same movement, knocking a shocked marker on his back. An equally perplexed referee simply called 'play on'.
To their credit, Newtown teammates went to some length to look out for Frank. But when he was stuck with the ball on the last tackle, and ignored calls to kick, tempers started to fray. His captain quickly took him aside and explained that unlimited tackles were a thing of the past.
Frank defended hard and tackled low.
But he had trouble getting back onside and was eventually penalised. He was penalised again for striking at the ball in the play-the-ball area, to which he replied, “Struth! **** that!”
Nevertheless, Frank showed great ability in cover defence and saved at least two tries wide of the ruck, putting some of his less passionate teammates to shame.
In the second half, Frank found his smarts and looked to be getting the hang of the rules. He read the play well and knew the opposition had a habit of delivering up-and-unders late in the tackle count.
Frank readied himself when the ball hit the heavens, and grinned when he thought he was behind his '25-yard' line. He caught the ball on the full, raised his hand and called the mark - a 'fair catch' in the old days - and then relaxed in readiness for the 'free kick'...
Suffice to say, an unsuspecting Frank was smashed by several chasers.
Despite the fact that he was still playing to an old rule book, a number of NRL clubs called Frank with offers of re-education and a new lease of life. But always the gentleman, Frank politely declined, humbly declaring that he didn't wish to be a burden on anyone.
Frank was last seen wandering off into the Simpson Desert... perhaps in search of a greater wisdom.
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|750 words|
REF: Rugby League Laws of the Game
http://www.showroom.com.au/dragons/laws.htm