Vale Barry "The Axe" Reilly

[Captain Apollo]

Sad news to hear that Barry "The Axe" Reilly (he's the original Axe, not Trevor Gilmeister) has passed away (source: https://www.roosters.com.au/news/20...77.381932938.1620272489-1450041289.1616978796) -

Vale Barry Reilly
Author: Sydney Roosters
Timestamp: Thu 6 May 2021, 12:19 PM
The Sydney Roosters are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Club Legend Barry Reilly.

Rising through the grades with the Paddington Colts as an Eastern Suburbs junior, Reilly played 195 first-grade games for the Club between 1966-1979, at the time retiring as the most-capped player alongside Mark Harris.

Reilly played an integral role in the back-to-back Premierships of 1974 and 1975, and also took over a caretaker position for the Club as Head Coach in 1990.

A tough lock or second rower, Reilly was known for his devastating tackling abilities - appropriately nicknamed ‘The Axe’ - and was known to friends and family as ‘Bunny’.

A loyal Clubman, Reilly was inducted into the Club's Team of the Century in 2000 and was later named in 'The Centurions', a team of the greatest players to have played over 100 games for the Roosters in celebration of the Centenary Season in 2007.

The Sydney Roosters extend their heartfelt sympathies to the family and friends of Barry Reilly at this sad time.

I only saw the original Axe at the tail end of his career. He was a great tackler with one of the best techniques you could see. On his first grade debut he hit (IIRC) Noel Kelly so hard in a tackle, he got up spitting out grass and said "where's this bastard been hiding?"

Even Ron Coote said of The Axe -

I played with and against 'Bunny' and I can tell you, I much preferred the former," league legend Ron Coote told Wide World of Sports.

"He was only little, but he had this way of driving you under the ribs and rattling your whole body.

"He got me a beauty once when I played for Souths - I think I can still feel it now. "Pound for pound, there probably wasn't a tougher player." - Source: https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/nrl-20...5f2-4566-95e6-a63ec4dd4a11?ocid=Social-9NewsS

Reilly was loved by Jack Gibson, he was one of Jack's favourite players.

For a nice bio on "The Axe" - https://www.roosters.com.au/news/2021/05/04/barry-reilly-the-axe/

Also it was Barry Reilly who helped out at the Roosters when Trevor Gillmeister was there. He helped hone Gilly's tackling technique which is where he started earning his nickname of "The Axe".

 

[The Mad Hatter]

Vale.

Sad to see a few of these stalwarts from the 70s passing on.

Condolences to his family, friends and the Roosters club & fans .

 

[Jim Rockford]

Vale.

Sad to see a few of these stalwarts from the 70s passing on.

Condolences to his family, friends and the Roosters club & fans .

I echo the comment from Mad Hatter.

 

[Willie Ray]

The Axe....RIP champion

 

[GongPanther]

My condolences. Watched both his GF wins from the Paddo end in 1974-75.

 

[Sphagnum]

Never heard of the f**ker

 

[horrie hastings]

Roosters legend, never have i seen a better tackler, earned the nick name the Axe.
Sad day, the ranks from the 74/75 Grand Final winning side are slowly getting thinner.

RIP Bunny.

 

[Mr Spock!]

Sad to here of another legend passing.