parra pete
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Sad news today on the passing of St George great Monty Porter age 76.
Monty was a champion bloke, a great Rugby League man through and through and one of nature's gentlemen.
Monty's son, Michael, played over 100 first grade games with Cronulla.
"When we drink at the well, it is good to remember those who dug it".
Porter is honoured
BY BRAD FORREST
09 Sep, 2008 05:00 AM
IF they eventually triumph with a first premiership victory, the Cronulla Sharks, steaming ahead in the NRL finals race, will owe plenty to first captain Monty Porter and the men who paved the way.
In a moving few moments in the new Southern Stand function centre before their weekend victory over the North Queensland Cowboys, the Sharks paid tribute to Porter and those who had gone before them over more than four decades.
The tough forward, who has battled Parkinson's disease for some years and is now confined to a wheelchair in a shire nursing home, managed to stand unaided as he accepted, with a wave of his hand, the applause of about 100 players and officials, at the biggest player reunion in the club's history.
Beside him was his proud son Michael Porter, himself a former long-serving Sharks forward.
``That was just great,'' said Monty. ``Really a big surprise.''
Originally from Tamworth, he played for Southern Division club, Thirroul and Wests in 1955, before playing in six winning grand finals for St George during its mighty 11-season reign (1956-66), also playing for NSW, and was unlucky not to play for Australia.
Like Ken Kearney, a young Warren Ryan and a few others, Porter happily moved over from ``big brother club'' St George to captain the first Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks side in 1967, playing out of the facility-bare Sutherland Oval (the Sharks moved to Woolooware in 1968).
``Killer'' Kearney coached the side for the first three years.
When his playing days finished, Porter joined the club administration, becoming club secretary, and in 1983 also became one of the original members of the nine-man NSWRL board of directors.
Porter has seen both the good and the bad.
He witnessed his club survive the difficult times (twice going broke), saw it make the 1973 and 1978 grand finals, then later the Super League grand final with Brisbane (1997).
Former long-serving player Gavin Miller led the applause when chief executive Tony Zappia told past players that they were ``welcome'' back at Sharks games any time they wanted.
For the first time, each player was presented with a tie, a club number and key ring.
Monty Porter was No. 1.
``It was a very proud moment for Dad,'' said Monty's son, Michael, a police officer.
http://www.theleader.com.au/news/lo...e/porter-is-honoured/1266482.aspx?storypage=0
Monty was a champion bloke, a great Rugby League man through and through and one of nature's gentlemen.
Monty's son, Michael, played over 100 first grade games with Cronulla.
"When we drink at the well, it is good to remember those who dug it".
Porter is honoured
BY BRAD FORREST
09 Sep, 2008 05:00 AM
IF they eventually triumph with a first premiership victory, the Cronulla Sharks, steaming ahead in the NRL finals race, will owe plenty to first captain Monty Porter and the men who paved the way.
In a moving few moments in the new Southern Stand function centre before their weekend victory over the North Queensland Cowboys, the Sharks paid tribute to Porter and those who had gone before them over more than four decades.
The tough forward, who has battled Parkinson's disease for some years and is now confined to a wheelchair in a shire nursing home, managed to stand unaided as he accepted, with a wave of his hand, the applause of about 100 players and officials, at the biggest player reunion in the club's history.
Beside him was his proud son Michael Porter, himself a former long-serving Sharks forward.
``That was just great,'' said Monty. ``Really a big surprise.''
Originally from Tamworth, he played for Southern Division club, Thirroul and Wests in 1955, before playing in six winning grand finals for St George during its mighty 11-season reign (1956-66), also playing for NSW, and was unlucky not to play for Australia.
Like Ken Kearney, a young Warren Ryan and a few others, Porter happily moved over from ``big brother club'' St George to captain the first Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks side in 1967, playing out of the facility-bare Sutherland Oval (the Sharks moved to Woolooware in 1968).
``Killer'' Kearney coached the side for the first three years.
When his playing days finished, Porter joined the club administration, becoming club secretary, and in 1983 also became one of the original members of the nine-man NSWRL board of directors.
Porter has seen both the good and the bad.
He witnessed his club survive the difficult times (twice going broke), saw it make the 1973 and 1978 grand finals, then later the Super League grand final with Brisbane (1997).
Former long-serving player Gavin Miller led the applause when chief executive Tony Zappia told past players that they were ``welcome'' back at Sharks games any time they wanted.
For the first time, each player was presented with a tie, a club number and key ring.
Monty Porter was No. 1.
``It was a very proud moment for Dad,'' said Monty's son, Michael, a police officer.
http://www.theleader.com.au/news/lo...e/porter-is-honoured/1266482.aspx?storypage=0
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