Reg Gasnier RIP

[saints4me]

My childhood hero is gone
The reason that I followed the Dragons and my most admired rugby league player of all time. I can't believe it.
Deepest sympathies to the Gasnier family
Rest in peace

Very well said CM!
One of the reasons why I also followed the dragons!
Known as Puff the magic dragon.
Like the famous song says....

"Dragons live forever!" Well they do in my heart!

RIP.

 

[DRAGONSNZ]

Didnt get to See the Great man in action but have heard many a story about how great he was. My father says that if I liked Mark Gasnier then I would have loved Puff, 'he was 10x better than Mark' my father would say.. RIP

 

[Capital_Dragon]

Sad news indeed. Even though I never saw him play my Mum talks about the magic of seeing him play for Australia at the old Exhibition Grounds in Brisbane.

 

[Cagey Mac]

Didnt get to See the Great man in action but have heard many a story about how great he was. My father says that if I liked Mark Gasnier then I would have loved Puff, 'he was 10x better than Mark' my father would say.. RIP

I was lucky enough to have seen him play from '63 onward in a number of games.

The most memorable was the first game that I ever attended. I walked to Henson Park with my dad. It was a sunny day, much like today.

The crowd was small and we were early so we sat on the fence on half way.
The sounds of collisions, the smells of the liniment and the speed of the players still lingers with me. Johnny King flashing down the sideline to score in the corner and do a forward roll seems like it happened yesterday.

That day was May 12, 1963. 51 years ago exactly and Reg Gasnier's 24th birthday.

His brilliance captured my imagination and I became him in every game of tip on the road or tackle in the park that I played with my South's supporting mates.

Rugby league, will for me, never be the same again.

Oh and we won 25-7

 

[TruSaint]

I was lucky enough to have seen him play from '63 onward in a number of games.

The most memorable was the first game that I ever attended. I walked to Henson Park with my dad. It was a sunny day, much like today.

The crowd was small and we were early so we sat on the fence on half way.
The sounds of collisions, the smells of the liniment and the speed of the players still lingers with me. Johnny King flashing down the sideline to score in the corner and do a forward roll seems like it happened yesterday.

That day was May 12, 1963. 51 years ago exactly and Reg Gasnier's 24th birthday.

His brilliance captured my imagination and I became him in every game of tip on the road or tackle in the park that I played with my South's supporting mates.

Rugby league, will for me, never be the same again.

Oh and we won 25-7

Great read mate.

I will put this out there, as I cant think of anything else atm.

The Club should name one of its stands after this immortal
If he hasn't earnt this small recognition, then no-one has

 

[Sent to St Georges]

Never saw the great man play unfortunately. RIP.

 

[jenninga]

Bob Fulton was the best player I saw growing up,never saw Reg,and everyone who saw the great man said he was the best player they ever saw.
He must have been some player.

 

[BigNormProvan]

Reggie maybe sadly gone. But his legacy and his deeds will be part of the fabric of our club forever.

Dad and Reg were great mates at Sydney Tech High. Two lads from Oatley. I've heard some great yarns over the years. Reg was such a humble and charming man.

The number 3 on the back of every player this w'end, I'd like to see that.


Rest In Peace Reggie



Big Norm

 

[RedVDave]

R.I.P Reg Gasnier, unfortunatley never got to witness you play but from what my uncle amongst a host others say you were a true a legend of our game a sad day for a St. George immortal.

 

[Blood Shot Eyes]

Bob Fulton was the best player I saw growing up,never saw Reg,and everyone who saw the great man said he was the best player they ever saw.
He must have been some player.

Mate trust me he was The Best........took this exert from Never Before Never Again and this pretty well sums up the great man

" Puff the magic Dragon as he was known, was an instinctive football genius with a trove of talents. He was a majestic ballrunner who could accelerate from a melee of players into the open and over the tryline in a twinkling. He was a consummate opportunist-drop the ball anywhere near him and it was try time, nothing surer. He could sidestep, swerve, set up supports with precision passes and was lightning over short and long distances. Gasnier was the instinctive genius who could do anything on the football field. In his words " I just think I was blessed with all the skills. They call them skills today, but in my day they were known as fundamentals.....
(Sadly we are very much lacking in this department)

Personally I had the honour of seeing Reg play for most of his career and whilst I think Johnny Raper was the most complete footballer I ever saw, Reg was the Best.

 

[Blood Shot Eyes]

Reggie maybe sadly gone. But his legacy and his deeds will be part of the fabric of our club forever.

Dad and Reg were great mates at Sydney Tech High. Two lads from Oatley. I've heard some great yarns over the years. Reg was such a humble and charming man.

The number 3 on the back of every player this w'end, I'd like to see that.


Rest In Peace Reggie



Big Norm

Great post......

 

[TruSaint]

Great post......

+1

 

[bottle]

Bob Fulton was the best player I saw growing up,never saw Reg,and everyone who saw the great man said he was the best player they ever saw.
He must have been some player.

Sadly I have to echo this post almost word for word.
I missed the magic in real life, by the slimmest of margins.
Retired too early, from football and life.

 

[Stan Gorton 2511]

Reggie maybe sadly gone. But his legacy and his deeds will be part of the fabric of our club forever.

Dad and Reg were great mates at Sydney Tech High. Two lads from Oatley. I've heard some great yarns over the years. Reg was such a humble and charming man.

The number 3 on the back of every player this w'end, I'd like to see that.


Rest In Peace Reggie



Big Norm

Nice post Norm i went to Sydney Tech with his son Peter they were a very nice family Reg was a real gentleman

 

[dragondad]

Reggie maybe sadly gone. But his legacy and his deeds will be part of the fabric of our club forever.

Dad and Reg were great mates at Sydney Tech High. Two lads from Oatley. I've heard some great yarns over the years. Reg was such a humble and charming man.

The number 3 on the back of every player this w'end, I'd like to see that.


Rest In Peace Reggie



Big Norm

That is a great idea. The special Hillsborough memorial game played recently at Anfield in Liverpool had every player wear 96, I think, to commemorate the number who died. The trouble is, The Big League program is coming out tomorrow.

 

[Black Forest Dragon]

Reg Gasnier. What a great man who had a great career with the greatest club.

Immortals are just that.

Never before, never again, never forgotten.

 

[stg666]

i was lucky to be invited into reg and maureen's house on 2 occasions. i first rang out of the blue and enquired if reg would be out and about during ORIGIN and would i be able to approach him to sign my jumpers. in a flash i was invited to stop by his house and meet properly. we had a bus full of tragic supporters from all different clubs, yet everyone there was just like a little boy meeting superman. i went back once more and had a cuppa , saw his first test jumper and had a couple more jumpers signed. reg was one of the nicest men i have ever had the honor of meeting. A TRUE GENTLEMAN AND A DRAGON IMMORTAL . FOREVER TO BE LOVED BY SAINT GEORGE supporters.

 

[Blood Shot Eyes]

i was lucky to be invited into reg and maureen's house on 2 occasions. i first rang out of the blue and enquired if reg would be out and about during ORIGIN and would i be able to approach him to sign my jumpers. in a flash i was invited to stop by his house and meet properly. we had a bus full of tragic supporters from all different clubs, yet everyone there was just like a little boy meeting superman. i went back once more and had a cuppa , saw his first test jumper and had a couple more jumpers signed. reg was one of the nicest men i have ever had the honor of meeting. A TRUE GENTLEMAN AND A DRAGON IMMORTAL . FOREVER TO BE LOVED BY SAINT GEORGE supporters.

Nice .....

 

[stg666]

sure was blood shot. if only every dragon supporter had the
chance to talk to someone so humble . damn sure reg wouldn't be whinging and whining about his club . he wouldn't say a bad word about anyone .

 

[Drain the Dragon]

I was lucky enough to have seen him play from '63 onward in a number of games.

The most memorable was the first game that I ever attended. I walked to Henson Park with my dad. It was a sunny day, much like today.

The crowd was small and we were early so we sat on the fence on half way.
The sounds of collisions, the smells of the liniment and the speed of the players still lingers with me. Johnny King flashing down the sideline to score in the corner and do a forward roll seems like it happened yesterday.

That day was May 12, 1963. 51 years ago exactly and Reg Gasnier's 24th birthday.

His brilliance captured my imagination and I became him in every game of tip on the road or tackle in the park that I played with my South's supporting mates.

Rugby league, will for me, never be the same again.

Oh and we won 25-7

A shade before my time but I managed to find a news clipping of that game which may interest some, including Cagey I'm sure: