General Rugby Leagues Memory Lane

[Hardyman's Yugo]

I played against Ian Bell. He has gone now but was a genuine hard bastard

Different bloke bruce Ian Ball was an ex rahrah centre, think Barrow got him from Wasps RU in that London. Ian Bell was up the coast at Carlisle around the same time

 

[bruce]

He could play abit as well..when did he pass away

Without sounding rude, sometime this century, I am sorry I cannot be more specific.

A really good guy over a beer but hard as nails, the Poms would have loved him.

I could never envisage him lying down after a big hit, put it that way.

 

[Dixpat]

Without sounding rude, sometime this century, I am sorry I cannot be more specific.

A really good guy over a beer but hard as nails, the Poms would have loved him.

I could never envisage him lying down after a big hit, put it that way.

Ian Bell who played for NZ, Carlisle and Whitehaven (Dean Bell being his nephew) died of cancer in 2005

 

[Sup42]

Manu may be the best fullback the kiwis have ever had.

Other contenders?
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

Old timers will tell you no one will ever surpass Des White, one of the greatest Kiwis in any position.

Tough guy, courageous.

I never saw him play but in league circles he is spoken of with the Reverence only accorded to Mark Graham the greatest ever, and Stacey Jones the greatest modern era player.

No one is gonna ever beat Des Whites Four hundred and sixty seven points for the Kiwis, especially since we no longer have long tours overseas.

White was world respected in an era when the international sides were much closer together in terms of skill.

My own top three will be very different to many.

Daryl Williams is the best fullback I have ever seen, he could fly in on defence and chop guys down blades of grass short of the line before that was a thing in Rugby league and single handedly save the day for NZ.

Richie Barnet was like Joey Manu in that he was not a natural fb but when he played there he was pretty amazing as Capt of NZ.

Mathew Ridge was an outstanding defensive fullback that was the most competitive mentally of any Kiwi of our times I believe.

 

[Hardyman's Yugo]

Article on the man who resurrected French RL after WW2 and whose idea the world cup was. Free to read by registering.

https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/rugby-leagues-resistance-man/

 

[Wrighty]

Old timers will tell you no one will ever surpass Des White, one of the greatest Kiwis in any position.

Tough guy, courageous.

I never saw him play but in league circles he is spoken of with the Reverence only accorded to Mark Graham the greatest ever, and Stacey Jones the greatest modern era player.

No one is gonna ever beat Des Whites Four hundred and sixty seven points for the Kiwis, especially since we no longer have long tours overseas.

White was world respected in an era when the international sides were much closer together in terms of skill.

My own top three will be very different to many.

Daryl Williams is the best fullback I have ever seen, he could fly in on defence and chop guys down blades of grass short of the line before that was a thing in Rugby league and single handedly save the day for NZ.

Richie Barnet was like Joey Manu in that he was not a natural fb but when he played there he was pretty amazing as Capt of NZ.

Mathew Ridge was an outstanding defensive fullback that was the most competitive mentally of any Kiwi of our times I believe.

Great post
Thanks. Will remember the name Des White

 

[bruce]

Great post
Thanks. Will remember the name Des White

Des White was the RNZ commentator from Carlaw Park for many years. A lovely quiet guy and in terms of courage right up there, let alone his goalkicking.

He was almost fatally injured in a brutal tackle at Carlaw Park during a match between Auckland and Great Britain in 1954.

This Pom Doug Greenall had made a brilliant run through the Auckland defence and had only Des to beat. So he chipped the ball over Des hoping to retrieve it and score.

Des beat him to it in the air so the prick brought his knees up into Des's groin and ruptured his spleen. I know from old timers who were close to the action that the medical staff wee afraid he would die from the injury.

Just a true legend, quiet and very humble. he had the New World in Papatoetoe for years.

 

[Wrighty]

Thanks for that Bruce a special post. Worth the read definitely.

Do we have any you tube old school footage of darryl williams. I can't remember him being anything more than mr reliable. The Aussies respected him though.

 

[Trugoy]

Thanks for that Bruce a special post. Worth the read definitely.

Do we have any you tube old school footage of darryl williams. I can't remember him being anything more than mr reliable. The Aussies respected him though.

Darrell Williams is definitely one of the Kiwis best fullbacks…fearless!
His last line defence was phenomenal..he’d chop em.
Was also a beautifully balanced runner, and quick!
One of my fav players of the mid to late 80’s era.
Unfortunately injuries limited his career, especially serious knee issues from memory.

 

[bruce]

Thanks for that Bruce a special post. Worth the read definitely.

Do we have any you tube old school footage of darryl williams. I can't remember him being anything more than mr reliable. The Aussies respected him though.

I cannot find any.

There was a good one from years back about the first game Mathew Ridge played for Manly.

Until then Williams had been the rock star of the Manly backline. Ridge came in as an unknown signing and completely outplayed Williams.

I remember one play when a high bomb came into the Manly 22,there were plenty of chasers. Williams climbed to take the ball, Ridge climbed higher and faster to take it.

Darrell was a fantastic player, who should have got to play in the Winfield Cup way earlier.

 

[playdaball]

Des White was the RNZ commentator from Carlaw Park for many years. A lovely quiet guy and in terms of courage right up there, let alone his goalkicking.

He was almost fatally injured in a brutal tackle at Carlaw Park during a match between Auckland and Great Britain in 1954.

This Pom Doug Greenall had made a brilliant run through the Auckland defence and had only Des to beat. So he chipped the ball over Des hoping to retrieve it and score.

Des beat him to it in the air so the prick brought his knees up into Des's groin and ruptured his spleen. I know from old timers who were close to the action that the medical staff wee afraid he would die from the injury.

Just a true legend, quiet and very humble. he had the New World in Papatoetoe for years.

I used to love listening to Des’ commentaries from Carlaw Park on Sundays, when I wasn’t there in person.
I heard some of his commentaries on You Tube - i think these related to a Mr Albert RLC documentary.
Des was the man before Allen Mac and he followed Ray Cody.

 

[Gizzyfan]

The best Aussie dislike story goes to Mark (cowboy) Shaw, All Black Flanker who was known for punching Wallabies players. The Aussie's were not too fussed as he always belted the biggest, ugliest Aussie on the field.

He was part of an invitation team that included All Blacks and Wallabies. They were having a few beer and laughs one night when Shaw slammed his beer don on the leaner and said 'I am getting pissed off' When asked why he was pissed off by one of the Aussies he replied ' I am pissed off because I am starting to like you Aussie bastards'.

 

[Wrighty]

The best Aussie dislike story goes to Mark (cowboy) Shaw, All Black Flanker who was known for punching Wallabies players. The Aussie's were not too fussed as he always belted the biggest, ugliest Aussie on the field.

He was part of an invitation team that included All Blacks and Wallabies. They were having a few beer and laughs one night when Shaw slammed his beer don on the leaner and said 'I am getting pissed off' When asked why he was pissed off by one of the Aussies he replied ' I am pissed off because I am starting to like you Aussie bastards'.

Played for manuwatu in the Npc ?
A child hood favourite of mine

 

[bruce]

Des was the man before Allen Mac and he followed Ray Cody.

Des was the best because he had been a top player, however they all shared an absolute passion for our game.

Some of you guys may not remember Ray Cody, he is worth a story on his own.

He joined with some others to form the Otago Rugby League in 1953. they faced tremendous opposition from the yawnion brigade.

They had trouble getting council grounds and all sorts of carry on. They were treated like pariahs. I think Ray was at Otago University at the time.

 

[bruce]

Played for manuwatu in the Npc ?
A child hood favourite of mine

one hell of a player too