What Position Did You Play?

[Blood Shot Eyes]

See some on here played both League and Union.....only ever played union in one school game against our reciprocal school Lynham frrom the ACT....a few of us League boys were asked to fill in for the rah rah mob as they were short....the game was only a few minutes old when I got tackled, what I forgot to do was let go of the pill .....Im sure there were sprig marks over 80% of my body where ths opposition were racking the ball ........first and last time I ever played THAT game.....

 

[gitano]

Centre mainly, and exclusively later in my career. Early on either centre or in the halves. I actually wanted to play hooker as a kid but the coach's son played there.

 

[Blood Shot Eyes]

Great player Ian Martin. Now there’s a tough tackling five-eighth! Hated Manly, but loved watching Martin. A bit like Saint’s Poppa Clay, hard as nails and great link men.
I shudder to think how he would treat some current day five- eighths if he got his hands on them.

Now theres a 5/8 if ever there was one....Brian Poppa Clay.....was fortunate to meet him at his prime....he came to our presentation trophy night...champion player and champion bloke.....as you say there was no fear for Poppa....his tackling style was front on....he would wrap one arm around the opposition players hips and the other arm across their chest and just bury them into the turf....back in those days the SCG middle was like concrete because they used to play cricket there in the summer and the pitches were rock hard....not like today where most fields have the drop in type.......ouch

 

[Gareth67]

Centre mainly, and exclusively later in my career. Early on either centre or in the halves. I actually wanted to play hooker as a kid but the coach's son played there.

Usually the way - the coaches son gets to play at either half or hooker .

 

[Gareth67]

Balmain

I also blacksafake ! Both Dundas Valley and Dennistone were in the Balmain junior competition . We had our matches at Birchgrove Oval and also the old Leichart Oval when it used to run from South to North . ( they changed the field , for unknown reasons ) to run from West to East later in the ‘70s .

We played against teams such as Leichart Wanderers - Codox (? ) Holly Cross Ryde - Ermington Rydalmere and North Ryde and a few more that I cannot recall .

In later years in my working life I actually got to know a chap by the name of Michael Maketo - yes the dad of the younger Maketo who played for the Dragons . Whereas Mick played mainly reserve grade for Balmain , but also quite a few 1st grade games - his nickname was Fred Flintstone and was a renown defender .

 

[Slackboy72]

Centre.
Too slow for the wing.
Too dumb for the halves.
Too smart for prop.
Too small for second row.

 

[brissiedragon]

Outside centre.
Gitano was on the wing outside me but I never passed the ball to him.

Need to change your name to Aitkenado

 

[Objective View]

I played rugby throughout high school at Trinity Grammar, half a season before injury at Macquarie uni, then a couple of seasons with the mighty Briars club based at Concord.

Gosh they were great times. Played in every backline position over the years but my favourite was fullback. My most memorable match was a school game against Cranbrook. Was absolutely peppered with bombs but diffused every one that glorious Saturday afternoon. We are talking about the mighty 14E's though.

If Mary was coach, I would have played soccer instead.

Straight Shooter

 

[Stan Gorton 2511]

Interesting the number of folks in here who have played both league and union, but we’re (mostly) a league mob in here..

Interested to hear rationale why both codes were played..

For me Union was a school thing, league once I got a bit older..

But drifted back to union after uni.. Particularly when I moved to Melbourne as union was more developed than league down here..

Found union the more enjoyable game to play, but league the better game to watch..

Muz, boys schools in the St George area payed union first half of the season then league. I went to Sydney Tech
Ironically when I was at school Warren Ryan was the coach of Belmore high and Brian Smith coach of James Cook - both were merkins lol

 

[Dorothy the Winowhore]

Someone mentioned Holy Cross Ryde, and reminded me of a statewide knockout my team played in ACT late 60s or early 70s. I think we were like under 10s or 12s, and Holy Cross Ryde finished the tournament undefeated. They had a tall rangy kid converting tries from everywhere. I reckon he could've taken sideline conversion from the next field and still got them. His name was John Muggleton (Eels 80s?)

 

[kit66]

Union - Fullback
League - Fullback, wing.
I was skinny as but had a good step and a bit of toe. Couldn't tackle for shit until my mid - late teens.
Retired at the ripe old age of 20.

 

[Gareth67]

Someone mentioned Holy Cross Ryde, and reminded me of a statewide knockout my team played in ACT late 60s or early 70s. I think we were like under 10s or 12s, and Holy Cross Ryde finished the tournament undefeated. They had a tall rangy kid converting tries from everywhere. I reckon he could've taken sideline conversion from the next field and still got them. His name was John Muggleton (Eels 80s?)

Hello Dorothy , we played them in the sixties and even then they had almost unbeatable teams . No big names that I can recall however they were very well coached sides . Would usually come away with a hiding on the scoreboard plus a few bruises .

 

[LINESPEED]

Muz, boys schools in the St George area payed union first half of the season then league. I went to Sydney Tech
Ironically when I was at school Warren Ryan was the coach of Belmore high and Brian Smith coach of James Cook - both were merkins lol

Played centre at Sydney Tech High too - alongside Greg Pierce for 6 years
- also junior league at centre at Penshurst Public & Duff’s Penshurst RSL.
Loved every minute of every game.

Mum was always on the sidelines with her umbrella, keeping the refs & opposition supporters honest.

She’d be banned now.

Moved West and now regretfully never went on with it

 

[Mr Angry]

As a young tall young one I played centre.

When they caught up, I ended up hooker.

Last game Brisbane Norths Devils @ 19 in 1987 paid $100 for a win $50 for a loss.

Had a kid, got paid $300 for Sunday work.

I played touch for years, too old now.

That said, I was no future Au rep.

 

[Eatons Hill Dragon]

Loved playing number 6 but spent plenty of time at left centre as well.
Enjoyed the short side on the left with some ball playing and could read a defensive line pretty well.
Played Commonwealth Bank Cup years ago.
Realisation then kicked in that I probably wasn’t any good

 

[giboz71]

See some on here played both League and Union.....only ever played union in one school game against our reciprocal school Lynham frrom the ACT....a few of us League boys were asked to fill in for the rah rah mob as they were short....the game was only a few minutes old when I got tackled, what I forgot to do was let go of the pill .....Im sure there were sprig marks over 80% of my body where ths opposition were racking the ball ........first and last time I ever played THAT game.....

I had to play Union at school. I grew up in the GPS system we were taught to believe the Union was the superior game. I had to play a local northern beaches comp to get a run in League.

I didn't mind Union but I loved playing League. I played half for my League team and I had the ball 75% of the time so I was happy lol! most of the time in Union I had to kick or pass. It was boring!

Said it elsewhere in another thread but there are some pretty handy talents in the private schools, and they have access to the best conditioning coaches and facilities. The gyms and facilities at these schools would rival most NRL teams,

Sure there are plenty of other Jospeh Suaali's and Cameron Murray's that would love to make the jump to League.

 

[Mr Angry]

Played Commonwealth Bank Cup years ago.

Last game was in Brisbane. Many games for Fairfield Pats, lost our Quarter final to St Gregorys Cambelltown.

I bleed blue, yet suffer in QLD heat for my girl.

 

[Eatons Hill Dragon]

Last game was in Brisbane. Many games for Fairfield Pats, lost our Quarter final to St Gregorys Cambelltown.

I bleed blue, yet suffer in QLD heat for my girl.

I’m a blue boy too mate. Just life up in QLD now. Originally from country NSW.

 

[blacksafake]

I also blacksafake ! Both Dundas Valley and Dennistone were in the Balmain junior competition . We had our matches at Birchgrove Oval and also the old Leichart Oval when it used to run from South to North . ( they changed the field , for unknown reasons ) to run from West to East later in the ‘70s .

We played against teams such as Leichart Wanderers - Codox (? ) Holly Cross Ryde - Ermington Rydalmere and North Ryde and a few more that I cannot recall .

In later years in my working life I actually got to know a chap by the name of Michael Maketo - yes the dad of the younger Maketo who played for the Dragons . Whereas Mick played mainly reserve grade for Balmain , but also quite a few 1st grade games - his nickname was Fred Flintstone and was a renown defender .

You're right Gareth re Leichhardt oval. We used to play all the grand finals there in the early days.
They changed the direction because of the sun. Birchgrove was a cold morning there when the wind was coming off the water. I started when i was seven with Glebe Youth then went to Leichhardt Coaching Class then Glebe Police Boys.I think Kodox was the name you are thinking of.

 

[possm]

In the days when field-goals were worth 2 points and tries 3 points, I mostly played halfback but filled in at hooker when required. Those were days when contested scrums were to the go and a clip over the ear or a punch in the eye was the norm.

We were brought up tough in those days.