RIP Mark Harris

[black cat]

For the older league boys here sad to hear of the passing of mark harris. Big solid player. Rip and condolences to his family.

 

[TheRam]

He was a neighbour of mine when he was playing and I was a little tike. Nice guy. RIP.

 

[bad boy bubby]

One of my earliest memories of rugby league was Mark Harris throwing a gridiron style pass after a stint over In the Canadian football league .
RIP big fella

 

[Babyface O'reilly]

I remember there was a (78?) one-off League Olympics held at Leichhardt Oval when the Amco Cup season had ended. Mark Harris smashed it in the kicking contest. Had the biggest boot in the game. RIP big fella.

 

[taipan]

Geez that news hit me like a bombshell.One of the toughest ,meanest looking players going around ,but a real gentleman.A solid feared centre.
RIP Mark.

 

[horrie hastings]

Mr Spock has posted a couple of videos featuring Mark in the Sydney Roosters forum and also in the in memoriam section of music and movie thread.

 

[macnaz]

I remember there was a (78?) one-off League Olympics held at Leichhardt Oval when the Amco Cup season had ended. Mark Harris smashed it in the kicking contest. Had the biggest boot in the game. RIP big fella.

He used a place kick to compete against the late Allan McMahon who was punt kicking.

 

[League Unlimited News]

 

[Babyface O'reilly]

He used a place kick to compete against the late Allan McMahon who was punt kicking.

was it 1977 or 78?

 

[bazza]

His memory will live on whenever there is a rugby league trivia night

 

[Captain Apollo]

It was only publicly reported on Sunday he was battling cancer.

Following is the report on his passing from the Wide World of Sports website -

Rugby league legend Mark Harris passes away

By The Mole
13 hours ago

Mark Harris - one of rugby league's superstar players of the 1970s - died today after a long battle with cancer.

Wide World of Sports revealed earlier this week that Harris was diagnosed with throat cancer last year and the disease then spread to several of his organs.

Harris was 72.

"He fought a brave battle with a lot of dignity," former Easts team-mate Kevin Junee told Wide World of Sports.

"He didn't want any fuss or fanfare made about him and died quietly at 5pm surrounded by family."

Harris was discovered by the Roosters playing in Papua New Guinea in 1970 and within 12 months he was in the Australian Test team.

In 1974, he scored the try that won the Roosters the grand final against Canterbury, ending a 29-year premiership drought.

Big, strong and fast, he was the prototype of the modern day centre and at one stage, tried his hand at American football.

He was signed by Philadelphia but traded to Montreal in Canada before he played a game.

He played for the Montreal Alouettes but was used only as a kicker despite his dynamic attacking skills - so returned to his beloved Roosters after one season.

He was the gentle giant and a lovely bloke. RIP.

 

[macnaz]

was it 1977 or 78?

I couldnt tell you to be honest , nor can I find anything on the net about it .

 

[horrie hastings]

was it 1977 or 78?

It was 1978, I think they did it with the team's that didn't make the semis that year to keep players fit for the up coming Kangaroo tour, I could be wrong about the last bit but I'm sure it was for the team's that missed the semis but it was definitely 1978.

 

[horrie hastings]

Geez that news hit me like a bombshell.One of the toughest ,meanest looking players going around ,but a real gentleman.A solid feared centre.
RIP Mark.

He formed one of the most lethal centre pairings with John Brass.

 

[taipan]

He formed one of the most lethal centre pairings with John Brass.

Both gents an ornament to the game.

 

[PARRA_FAN]

RIP Mark Harris

It wasnt that long ago Fox League showed an interview of him on League Legends. Sounds like he had a great career and seemed like a very humble, down to earth bloke.

 

[Captain Apollo]

One story that one of his former team mates (iirc John Brass) told about Mark, they were at training at the Sportsground on a Thursday, and they were sitting in a huddle in the middle of the field whilst Jack Gibson was going through the plays that the opposition team usually used on each tackle (this was because Gibson and his staff used to watch video of taped games to break down the plays). This talk had been going on for about 20 minutes when Harris turned to Brass and said "Hey Brassy, who are we playing this weekend?"

 

[League Unlimited News]

 

[Captain Apollo]

The other story John Brass told about Mark Harris related to his punctuality. He said Mark quite often just made team deadlines by the skin of his teeth as he always seemed to be running late. Anyway in the lead up to game against the Bears at North Sydney Oval, Mark was determined he would get there nice and early and not be late in anyway for the game.

The game was a 3.00 pm kick off, he got to North Sydney Oval at 12.30 pm. He was astounded that he was able to get a parking spot right outside the oval, which he was chuffed about as he got out of the car with his wife.

As he got his kit bag out of the boot he looked up at the sign at the Ground "Sunday 3.00 pm North Sydney v Easts" it proclaimed. That's when Mark realised his one small problem. It was Saturday.

 

[TheDalek079]

Watching highlights from the 70s, he was devastating. Pace of a winger and the size of a prop. Just steamrolled opponents but just as easily could outpace them on the outside