Inosai Toga

[Greatestgameofall]

Did Inosai and Apasai Toga ever play 1st Grade together?

 

[merahputih]

Late 60's to early seventies they played together, until Apasai cut his foot and died of blood poisoning.

 

[TruSaint]

Late 60's to early seventies they played together, until Apasai cut his foot and died of blood poisoning.

Sad ending.
He had 5 seasons with us.

 

[possm]

Sad ending.
He had 5 seasons with us.

I loved these two players. They loved their football, played very well and both players loved the big red V.

 

[Inisai Toga]

Ap was there first in ‘68 and Inosai came in ‘69 and stayed after Apasai passed. Ap played regular ist grade where Inosai was more reserve grade and some first grade.
In answer to your question, I’m not sure how much first grade games they actually shared including Wills Cup games..I’d be interested to know the answer as well.

 

[Gareth67]

Cannot say with any great accuracy on just how many occasions they played together , however I do recall that a Test match being played up in Brisbane left the Saints short of forward strength ( Wittenberg, Raper and I believe Barry Beath also were in the Australian team ) .

But I do remember Inisai being on the Dragons reserve bench and coming on as a replacement later in the game . The Saints also had Kenny Maddison’s brother ( Colin I believe ? ) play a number of games for the Dragons in the second row .

 

[Inisai Toga]

Cannot say with any great accuracy on just how many occasions they played together , however I do recall that a Test match being played up in Brisbane left the Saints short of forward strength ( Wittenberg, Raper and I believe Barry Beath also were in the Australian team ) .

But I do remember Inosai being on the reserve bench and coming on as a replacement in another game . The Saints also had Kenny Maddison’s brother ( Colin I believe ? ) play a number of games for the Dragons in the second row .

Keith Maddison! Had so many brothers in those days. Maddison’s, Togas and Cox brothers

 

[Gareth67]

Keith Maddison! Had so many brothers in those days. Maddison’s, Togas and Cox brothers

Yes Keith Maddison it was . I believe that he was actually sitting in the crowd watching the match , when an urgent call went out to him on the P.A. system to go to the Dragons change room . Next thing he knew he was all kitted out in the Big Red V and told to get moving pronto onto the field. Just whom was injured I have no idea .

 

[Drakon]

Don't know if the Toga brothers ever played first grade together. Inisai only played 5 first grade games according to Wikipedia.

I remember a story about one of them Probably Apisai - he had a cast being cut off after a broken arm and the saw cut into his arm. The doc asked why he didn't say anything and he said he didn't know that wasn't a normal thing.

Tough indeed.

 

[denis preston]

Apasai was about 6ft 3 or 4 and built like a brick shithouse.Inosi was at least 3 inches taller but had a slimmer build hence i guess why he wasn't so successful.

 

[jak]

i remember him making a great run down the sideline only to find out he was on the wrong side of the sideline cant remember what grade

 

[merahputih]

I vaguely remember seeing Apasai for the first time when we played Souths at the SCG in 1968 in what was then the Saturday "Match of the Day" . Souths had just ended our eleven year run of premierships and there was always a lot of feeling in the encounters. One of the Souths forwards decided to rough Apasai up in a tackle- can't remember who, Sattler or O'Neill maybe, but whoever it was came off second beat and landed on the deck. No send off for punching in those days.

 

[Willow]

An excellent interview with Apisai Toga's nephew, and former St George player, Colin Saukuru.

https://player.whooshkaa.com/episode?id=763576

 

[Inisai Toga]

An excellent interview with Apisai Toga's nephew, and former St George player, Colin Saukuru.

https://player.whooshkaa.com/episode?id=763576

Thanks for that Willo. Fascinating to hear him talk about Frank Facer and ensuring that he was at the airport to sign Apisai and beating Souths to the punch. No player managers bullshit in this those days. Great listen, he left a wonderful legacy Apisai!