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RIP: Harry Bath

xofstgeorge

Juniors
Messages
1,375
LEGENDARY rugby league player Harry Bath died on the eve of the NRL grand final at the age of 83 following a long battle with illness.
Considered one of the nation's greatest players never to have represented Australia, Bath was a brilliant second-rower who revolutionised forward play in Australia and England.

NRL chief executive David Gallop said there would be a tribute to him during grand final day with Melbourne and Manly playing off in the premiership decider.

“He made an enormous contribution to the game,'' Gallop said.

“Champions are masters of timing and for a man who played in as many premierships as Harry Bath, the deciding day of the Centenary Premiership seems an appropriate time to say farewell.''

His first premiership came in 1945 playing for Brisbane Souths before title wins in Sydney with Balmain in 1946 and 1947.

A knee injury put him out of contention for the 1946 Australian team and, with no Tests in 47, selectors missed their chance as Bath headed to the big money of England.

With Warrington he won Challenge Cup Finals in 1950 and 1954.

At the age of 32 he headed back to Australia and to St George for the 1957 season.

Despite a chronic knee problem Bath played a key role in the second, third and fourth premierships of the Dragons' historic 11-year run.

He coached the Tigers from 1961-66, reaching grand finals against St George in 1964 and 1966, Newtown from 1969-72 and Australia in 1962 and from 1968-1972.

Then in 1977 Bath guided the Dragons to victory over Parramatta in the first grand final replay before downing the Bulldogs in the title decider two years later.

His death comes as St George were due to honour the 1958 premiership winning team at their grand final day function.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24448969-23214,00.html
 

Willow

Assistant Moderator
Messages
110,058
Harry Bath 'The Old Fox' passes away

Rugby league legend Harry Bath has passed away. Nicknamed 'The Old Fox' during his long career, the former St George, Balmain and Warrington forward was 83-years-old.

Bath's passing reached the St George club today where the 1958 premiership winning team are due to gather at their grand final day club function. Bath had been battling illness for a number of years.

A Hooker, second row, prop and goal kicker, Bath revolutionised forward play during a playing and coaching career that spanned four decades, in both Australia and the UK.

Bath was graded with Brisbane Souths when only 16-years-old, and won a premiership with them in 1945. He played for Queensland (1945) and NSW (1946-47) before turning 21. After moving to Sydney, Bath played in two Balmain Tigers' premiership winning sides (1946-47). A knee injury denied Bath a spot in the 1946 Australian team prompting him to take up lucrative offers in the UK.

After shifting to England, Bath played briefly with Barrow before playing over 500 games for Warrington in nine seasons. The highlight of his UK stint being the 1950 Challenge Cup Final when he captained Warrington to victory in front of a then record crowd of 106,000 people. Rated as a prolific point-scoring forward, Bath holds a Warrington club record of 363 points in the 1952-1953 season.

In 1957 and aged 32, Bath returned to Australia to link up with Saints after Balmain rejected him because of his age.

Bath then played in three grand final victories (1957-59) thus posting the unique record of never playing in a premiership losing side in Sydney.

Before hanging up his boots, Bath was sent off in the 1959 grand final, along with Manly forward Rex Mossop.

Arguably best player not to represent Australia, Harry Bath posted a number of point scoring records in the first grade and for St George:

Most goals in a grand final 1957 (8 goals from 8 attempts).
Most points in a grand final 1957 (16 points).
Competition top scorer 1958 (225pts).
Competition top scorer 1959 (205pts).
St George most goals in one season 1958 (108g).
St George most points in one season 1958 (225pts).
St George top point scorer 1959 (205pts).

Bath coached Balmain (1961-66) to grand finals against St George (1964 and 1966). He also coached Newtown (1969-72) and Australia (1962 and 1968-1972) where he became the sole selector of Australia's 1962 Ashes side and coached the 1968 and 1970 Australian sides to World Cup wins.

'The Old Fox' carried his aggressive forward influence into the next generation when he successfully coached a young St George Dragons side - known as 'Bath's Babes' - to two premiership victories in 1977 and 1979.

He retired from coaching in 1981.

In 2004, Bath was inducted into the Rugby League Hall of Fame. This year, he was named as one of rugby league's '100 Greatest Players'. This morning, NRL chief executive David Gallop said there would be a tribute to Harry Bath during today's grand final programme at Homebush.

http://www.leagueunlimited.com/article.php?newsid=17094
 
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LOYAL DRAGON

First Grade
Messages
5,654
he was a dead set legend, rest in peace harry and thank you for the 1977 gradnfinal
 
Last edited:

nadine

Juniors
Messages
457
Vale Harry. You'll definitely be missed.

My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
 

DragonPunk

Live Update Team
Staff member
Messages
6,876
R.I.P Harry Bath. I've only heard of his exploits off the parents but R.I.P none the less.
 

gunnamatta bay

Referee
Messages
21,084
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/when-bozo-snubbed-beaver/2008/10/05/1223145175053.html


Young loved Bath time
Former St George captain Craig Young has paid a stunning tribute to the legendary Harry Bath , who passed away after a long illness on Saturday. Bath was the last coach to steer the Dragons to a premiership in 1979. "He was before his time," said Young, who captained the side in '79. "I see stuff that happens in the game every day and I know it started with techniques Harry taught us in the 1970s. You see how the game's evolved and know it came from him. I started at the club in 1977 when Harry came in as coach, and I would not have achieved what I did without him".
 

saint-colesy

Juniors
Messages
2,110
I did a peice on the dragons back in year ten for a history essay

was basically just a history on the club and what not

a large part of my essay was about Bath and the way he changed the way forwards played for ever.

A true saints legend

R.I.P Buddy
 

Drew-Sta

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
24,743
Rest in peace Harry.

Your contributions to St George will forever be remembered.
 

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