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1981 Manly v Newton semi-final

Parra

Referee
Messages
24,900
Just watched this on fox.

Everyone knows the classic blue - Bugden v Broadhurst.

It was a great game of footy. Some standouts, apart from the blue that was very early in the match.

Gould was a very good player. Awesome workrate. Very tough.

Phil Sigsworth was a great fullback. Elusive.

Broadhust was one tough bastard. Played on with the famous closed eye, busted mouth and missing teeth. Finishes the game and is still belting players - notably Gould - in the dying minutes.

Scrums were atrocious.
 

Michael Bishop

Juniors
Messages
287
Was watching the game myself. Brought back some great memories. Manly v Wests, Rex Mossop, Greg Hartley. How I miss the 70's & 80's.
 

soc123_au

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
20,846
It's funny watching games like that 30+ years on. The quality of the game has improved massively. Some of the tackles that didn't rate a penalty would now see players rubbed out for half a season.
 
Messages
479
Rex Mossop was a classic.

After the massive brawl he asks sideline eye Barry Ross as to whether the players were sin binned or sent off.

Barry Ross says that he doesn't know.

Rex's response "Well go and find out"
 

POPEYE

Coach
Messages
11,397
It's funny watching games like that 30+ years on. The quality of the game has improved massively. Some of the tackles that didn't rate a penalty would now see players rubbed out for half a season.

Scream crushers, chicken wings, grapples, shoulders and anything around the head other than a 'stiff' arm at those blokes and they would have given you a slap just for being a pansy
 

soc123_au

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
20,846
Scream crushers, chicken wings, grapples, shoulders and anything around the head other than a 'stiff' arm at those blokes and they would have given you a slap just for being a pansy

Pretty much. Above the horizontal didnt rate a mention. We often harp on about the good old days, and my memories of that era are very fond, I would have just turned 10 when that game was played & I recall watching it at the time. But, I have to say, the game now shits on what was on offer back then from a great height, wrestling included. The toughness on display back then is to be admired, but I would hate for the game to back to that.
 

Jubileeboy

First Grade
Messages
9,259
Just watched this on fox.

Everyone knows the classic blue - Bugden v Broadhurst.

It was a great game of footy. Some standouts, apart from the blue that was very early in the match.

Gould was a very good player. Awesome workrate. Very tough.

Phil Sigsworth was a great fullback. Elusive.

Broadhust was one tough bastard. Played on with the famous closed eye, busted mouth and missing teeth. Finishes the game and is still belting players - notably Gould - in the dying minutes.

Scrums were atrocious.

Do you mean Steve Bowden?
 

no name

Referee
Messages
21,591
It's funny watching games like that 30+ years on. The quality of the game has improved massively. Some of the tackles that didn't rate a penalty would now see players rubbed out for half a season.

The one I noticed was O'Grady grabbing someone around the waist reefing him up in the air and dumping him on his face.
Watching those games as a one off are awesome but having that every week wouldn't be.
While today's game is a better quality game, there are elements from the game back then which would improve today's version.
 

POPEYE

Coach
Messages
11,397
Pretty much. Above the horizontal didnt rate a mention. We often harp on about the good old days, and my memories of that era are very fond, I would have just turned 10 when that game was played & I recall watching it at the time. But, I have to say, the game now shits on what was on offer back then from a great height, wrestling included. The toughness on display back then is to be admired, but I would hate for the game to back to that.

It's the same game by name only, even the 90's are like chalk and cheese which just about makes all records irrelevant as each new era is landmarked by enough change to make it significantly different. Only thing we need to go back to is less interchange, let stamina be a foil for the contrived rubbish that's accompanied refreshed forwards
 

sharknows

Bench
Messages
2,794
I may be a dinosaur but I think that shits on the modern game. Real scrums were only canned because the refs couldn't fairly control them....some things don't change...and the game was a war of attrition not like today's frenetic rush. Back then every player wasn't built like a tank and the dirty shots were punches not chicken wings or attacks to the lower leg trying to snap an acl.... Sure there was plenty of biffo but imo many very clever footballers who wouldn't have the physical build for today's game were stars. It's all for TV now.....the demise of a great game.
 

carcharias

Immortal
Messages
43,118
I reckon even playing the old rules any team from now would destroy any team from then.
Maybe not my team ... But all the others would.
 

thorson1987

Coach
Messages
16,907
And some people want contested scrums back. FMD

It depends on what you mean by contested scrums (which scrums still are btw)

I'd be happy if the halfback had to feed the ball into the middle.

None of this behind the 2nd rows legs bullshit.

But the way they were back then, nope.
 

sharknows

Bench
Messages
2,794
It depends on what you mean by contested scrums (which scrums still are btw)

I'd be happy if the halfback had to feed the ball into the middle.

None of this behind the 2nd rows legs bullshit.

But the way they were back then, nope.

Hello.....what planet are you calling from??
 

BunniesMan

Immortal
Messages
33,815
I reckon even playing the old rules any team from now would destroy any team from then.
Maybe not my team ... But all the others would.

Well yes because of fitness and all the extra defensive training they do. But not because of skill.

The average 2014 team would beat the average 1994 team. But that doesn't mean the footy the 2014 team plays is better to watch.
 

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