| | | St George Dragons Rugby League History
Since
1921 - Our Proud History
2006 |
|
 |
Saints fall short of grand
final berth
 Telstra
Stadium, Saturday 23 September 2006: St George Illawarra have
been defeated 24-10 by minor premiers Melbourne Storm, ending
their 2006 finals campaign. The preliminary final loss sees the
Dragons fall one match short of the grand final for the second
consecutive year.
Saints fans turned up in force and with Sydney's
Telstra Stadium bathed in red-and-white , the visiting Storm outfit ran in two
tries to one in the first half to post a 12-6 lead at the break.
Following
close calls for both sides, the first try came with rookie sensation Greg Inglis
crossing in the 14th minute. The Dragons struck back in the 25th minute with centre
Matt Cooper running onto a tremendous offload from backrower Ashton
Sims. Less than two minutes later, Storm centre Matt King pull down
a precision kick from half back Cooper Cronk to put Melbourne ahead by
six points.
The road to the finals
In a mixed season, the Dragons did hit form with successive victories just prior
to the finals. Wins over the Wests Tigers 46-16 (round 24 at Kogarah), the Sharks
18-4 (round 25 in Wollongong), and the Roosters 36-16 (round 25 at the SCG) set
Saints up well for their finals charge.
A comprehensive 20-4 victory over
the Broncos in week one of the finals followed by an emphatic 28-0 drubbing of
the Sea Eagles the following week had supporters thinking the Dragons were ready
to go all the way. The purple patch was highlighted by the impressive statistic
that the Dragons had not conceded a single point in the second half since round
24.
It took minor premiers Melbourne to end the run and continue their winning
streak over the Dragons, the red and whites last defeating the Storm in 2004. |
LOWER GRADES
Dragons Premier League and
Jersey Flegg sides were also defeated in their respective preliminary finals.
On Saturday 23/9/2006, the Premier League side were bundled out 38-28 by the Newtown
Jets at Telstra Stadium. The following day, the Dragons (defending Jersey Flegg
premiers) ended their season after being defeated 23-22 by minor premiers, the
Newcastle Knights at Leichhardt Oval. A Knights' field goal in the final minute
of play broke the deadlock. |
The second half developed into an arm wrestle as the stakes in
the sudden-death clash were raised. However, quick play-the-balls
and mounting pressure on the back of a solid defensive effort
saw the Storm gain the ascendancy
The turning point came in the 61st minute when
Melbourne winger Steve Turner scored out wide after an overlap developed.
Saints were still in the contest when winger Brett Morris scored out wide,
the Dragons found themselves eight points behind with as many minutes remaining.
But with time running out, Storm forward Antonio Kaufusi scored under the
posts to confirm the result and end the Dragons' season.
Melbourne Storm
24 (G Inglis, A Kaufusi, M King, S Turner tries. M Geyer 1/1, C Smith 3/3
goals)
St George Illawarra Dragons 10 (M Cooper, B Morris tries. A
Gorrell 1/1, M Head 0/1 goals)
Referee: Steven Clark. Crowd: 40,901
SON OF SLIPPERY STAGES SENSATIONAL MATCH WINNER
 Suncorp
Stadium, Friday 16 June 2006: Season 2006 saw the first grade
debut of winger Brett Morris. The son of St George legend
Steve Morris, Brett debuted in round 9 at Toyota Park against
the Sharks but he to wait until round 15 to score his debut try
in first grade. But it was timely effort and one which quickly
elevated the rookie winger to a favourite amongst fans.
In a thrilling encounter,
Morris scored what was ultimately the winning try against the Broncos in Brisbane.
With just 90 seconds left on the clock, and Saints down by four points, Morris
leapt high to a cross field kick from halfback Mathew Head. Morris gathered
the ball in and touched down in the corner, bringing the large Dragons contingent
to their feet.
It was left to hooker Aaron Gorrell to kick the conversion
from the sideline, which he did in fine style, the Dragons winning the nail-biter
by 18-16.
Brett Morris continued to impress in 2006, totalling 12
tries in 19 matches. He is set to be joined by brother Josh in 2007, making for
interesting combination should they play on opposite wings, the two brothers being
identical twins.
St George Illawarra Dragons 18 (Tries: C Best, M Cooper,
B Morris tries. M Head 2/2, A Gorrell 1/1 goals)
Brisbane Broncos 16
(S Berrigan, G Eastwood tries. D Lockyer 4/5 goals)
Referee: Tony Archer.
Crowd: 32,914 |
2006
NRL First Grade
Ladder
(top 8 in semis)
| Storm | 44 | | Bulldogs | 36 |
| Broncos p | 32 |
| Knights | 32 | | Sea
Eagles | 32 | | Dragons | 32 |
| Raiders | 30 |
| Eels | 28 | | Cowboys | 26 |
| Warriors | 24 | | W
Tigers | 24 | | Panthers | 24 |
| Sharks | 22 | | Roosters | 20 |
| Rabbitohs | 10 |
p = Season Premiers
AFTER 26 ROUNDS
Minor Premiership
Won-Lost-Draw-Bye
Points For 519 (8th best attack) Points Against 481 (6th best
defence) | | MP Standing
6th
(15 teams) |
FINALS Points For 58 Points Against 28 | | Final
Standing
3rd | 9Sep vBroncos W
20-4
15Sep vEagles W 28-0
23Sep vStorm L 24-10 |
| TOTALS
27 matches |
Points For 577
103 tries
81 goals (116 att)
3 field goals
Points Against 509
88 tries
77 goals (106 att)
3 field goals |
More
> draw and match results for 2006 - click here |
Bailey, Timmins
and Barrett head list of departures
 Club
captain Trent Barrett topped a list of players who
departed the Dragons in 2006. After exercising a clause
in his contract which allows him to leave Australia, Barrett
agreed to three year deal with Wigan, starting in 2007.
Luke Bailey
was another notable departure, the powerhouse prop having already agreed to four
year deal with the Gold Coast Titans some 18 months earlier. Meanwhile, Shaun
Timmins finally decided to hang up his boots, the backrower finally succumbing
to knee injuries which had plagued his career.
Other departures include hooker
Aaron Gorrell and fullback Clint Greenshields, both players signing
with the Catalans Dragons (Perpignan, France) under the guidance of his former
Dragons fullback and second grade coach Mick Potter.
Forward Michael
Henderson will join Bailey on Gold Coast in 2007 and the popular back Reece
Simmonds found a new home with the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
In addition,
Colin Best, Matt Bickerstaff, Darryl Millard, Chris Sheppard, Andrew Price
and George Ndaira were all released. |
Dragons defeat
eventual premiers, three times
Despite the disappointment of falling
short in 2006, the Dragons can take something from a season where they had the
measure of the eventual premiers, the Brisbane Broncos. A bogey team for the Dragons
in the 1990s, Brisbane were defeated in all three encounters when the two teams
met in 2006.
The Dragons defeated the Broncos 26-12 (round 4 in Wollongong),
18-16 (round 15 in Brisbane), and a convincing 20-4 finals victory (finals week
1 in Brisbane).
The Broncos qualified for the grand final (defeating the Bulldogs)
and then watched with some relief as Saints were defeated by Melbourne in the
sudden death preliminary final. The Broncos went on to defeat the Storm 15-8 in
the grand final. | |
REPRESENTATIVE NEWS 2006
 The
Dragons had representation in every fixture on the rep calendar
in 2006.
Centre / five eighth Mark Gasnier led the way, playing in every international
for the Kangaroos and all State of Origin clashes for New South Wales. In Origin
III, NSW selectors followed the club trend and named Gasnier at five eighth.
Gasnier's centre partner Matt Cooper starred in the Anzac Test for Australia but
was overlooked for the subsequent Tri-Nations Test series, thus ending the two
year representative partnership for the duo.
Cooper was later recalled into
the NSW side for Origin III, filling the centre spot after Gasnier was moved into
the five-eighth position.
2006 was also a standout year for Ben Hornby who
debuted for Australia at half back. He was also called into the NSW side as utility
interchange on the bench. In addition, Hornby was selected at fullback for Country
Origin earlier in the year.
Prop Luke Bailey was named in two matches for
NSW while utility forward Ben Creagh was named in the Country Origin side.
Meanwhile, backrower and hooker Dean Young was named as 18th man for NSW just
prior to Origin III. Young was denied the opportunity to pull on the Blues jersey,
but training with the NSW squad was perhaps a sign of things to come. | SUMMARY
Mark Gasnier - Australia (6 Tests), NSW (3 matches)
Ben Hornby - Australia (1 Test), NSW (1 match), Country (1 match)
Matt
Cooper - Australia (1 Test), NSW (1 match)
Luke Bailey - NSW (2
matches)
Ben Creagh - Country (1 match)
DETAILS
Matches
played and points scored (in brackets) by Dragons rep players in 2006:
Internationals
Anzac Test (5 May): Aus 50 v NZ 12
Matt Cooper (1 try), Mark Gasnier
(1 try)
- TN 1 (14 Oct):
Aus 30 v NZ 18
Mark Gasnier (1 try)
- TN 2 (21
Oct): Aus 20 v NZ 15
Mark Gasnier (1 try)
-
TN 4 (4 Nov): GB 23 v Aus 12
Mark Gasnier (0), Ben
Hornby (0)
- TN 6 (18 Nov): Aus 33 v GB 10
Mark
Gasnier (1 try)
- TN Final (25 Nov): Aus 16 v NZ 12
Mark Gasnier (0)
State of Origin
-
SOO I (24 May): NSW 17 v Qld 16
Mark Gasnier (0)
- SOO II (14 June): Qld 30 v NSW 6
Luke Bailey (0), Mark Gasnier (0)
- SOO II (24 June): Qld
16 v NSW 14
Luke Bailey (0), Matt Cooper (0), Mark
Gasnier (0), Ben Hornby (0)
City v Country
- (12 May): Country 12
v City 10
Ben Creagh (0), Ben Hornby (0) |
|
FIRST
GRADE DRAGONS 2006
| 2006 Stats |
Pic | Notes |
Luke
BAILEY
Prop forward
19 appearances
1t (4pts) |
|
Joining
Gold Coast Titans | Trent
BARRETT (c)
Five-eighth
20 appearances
5t, 1 fg (21pts) |
|
Joining
Wigan Warriors (Super League) | Colin
BEST
Winger
19 appearances
6t (24pts) |
|
Joining Canberra Raiders | Matt
BICKERSTAFF
Second row
25 appearances
4t (16pts) |
 |
Off
contract | Matt
COOPER
Centre
23 appearances
15t (60pts) |
|
Contracted to Dragons >> 2008 |
Ben
CREAGH
Utility forward
23 appearances
1t (4pts) |
|
Contracted to Dragons >> 2009 |
Mark
GASNIER
Centre
23 appearances
18t, 1g (74pts) |
|
Contracted to Dragons >> 2011 |
Aaron
GORRELL
Hooker
26 appearances
5t, 55g (130pts) |
|
Joining Catalan Dragons in France (ESL) |
Clint
GREENSHIELDS
Fullback
18 appearances
7t (28pts) |
 |
Joining
Catalan Dragons in France (ESL) | Mathew
HEAD
Halfback
14 appearances
15g (30pts) |
|
Contracted to Dragons >> 2008 |
Michael
HENDERSON
Prop forward
17 appearances
(0pts) |
|
Joining Gold Coast Titans | Ben
HORNBY
Fullback, halfback
27 appearances
5t, 2g, 2 fg (26pts) |
|
Contracted to Dragons >> 2008 |
Sam
ISEMONGER
Second row
16 appearances
1t (4pts) |
|
Contracted to Dragons >> 2007 |
Charlie
LEANEO
Prop forward
6 appearances
3t (12pts) |
|
Contracted to Dragons >> 2009 |
Darryl
MILLARD
Centre
12 appearances
4t (16pts) |
|
Joining Canterbury Bulldogs |
Brett
MORRIS
Winger
19 appearances
12t (48pts) |
|
Contracted to Dragons >> 2008 |
Wes
NAIQAMA
Winger
9 appearances
4t, 8g (32pts) |
|
Contracted to Dragons >> 2007 |
George
NDAIRA
Hooker
3 appearances
(0pts) |
|
Joining Sydney Roosters | Corey
PAYNE
Second row
12 appearances
2t (8pts) |
|
Contracted to Dragons >> 2007 |
Justin
POORE
Second row, lock
25 appearances
1t (4pts) |
|
Contracted to Dragons >> 2009 |
Andrew
PRICE
Second row, prop
5 appearances
1t (4pts) |
|
Off contract | Jason
RYLES
Prop forward
18 appearances
(0pts) |
|
Contracted to Dragons >> 2007 |
Chris
SHEPPARD
Halfback
3 appearances
(0pts) |
|
Off contract | Reece
SIMMONDS
Winger
6 appearances
2t (8pts) |
|
Joining South Sydney Rabbitohs |
Ashton
SIMS
Prop forward
20 appearances
1t (4pts) |
|
Contracted to Dragons >> 2008 |
Lee
TE MAARI
Lock forward
2 appearances
(0pts) |
|
Joining Canterbury Bulldogs |
Shaun
TIMMINS
Second row, lock
11 appearances
(0pts) | 
| Retired | Danny
WICKS
Second row, prop
17 appearances
2t (8pts) |
|
Contracted to Dragons >> 2007 |
Dean
YOUNG
Hooker, lock forward
21 appearances
3t (12pts) |
|
Contracted to Dragons >> 2009 |
| 29
Players | 27 App | 103 T | 81
G | 3 FG | 577 Pts |
Appearances/games
include interchange, t= tries, g=goals, fg=field goals, pts=total points for season
2006
| |
| SEASON 2006 - BITS AND PIECES
|
 18
Feb: RABBITOHS DEFEAT SAINTS IN CHARITY
SHIELD
The South Sydney
Rabbitohs started 2006 on a winning note defeating the Dragons 14-12 in the Charity
Shield trial at Telstra Stadium.
Since its inception in 1982, the Dragons
have won 13 Charity Shield clashes, Souths have won seven and there have been
three draws. | |
 16
Mar: WIN CORP BUYS INTO STEELERS
WIN Television Corporation purchased
a quarter share of the St George Illawarra NRL club for $6.5 million. The deal
sees WIN Corp acquire a 50% share of the Illawarra Steelers share of the joint
venture.
The money put forward by the regional television network will help
ease the financial burden on the Steelers Club, the Illawarra arm of the Dragons,
which is struggling to pay back a loan of $8 million to its joint venture partner,
the St George Leagues Club. The financial boost, for which WIN will acquire 24
per cent of the joint venture, will see Wollongong maintain its quota of hosting
half of the Dragons' NRL matches at WIN Stadium each year and enable to Steelers
Club to work towards financial viability.
Full
press release - click here | |
 17
Mar: DRAGONS AND WOLLONGONG TRUST EXTEND
AGREEMENT TO 2011
The
Wollongong Sportsground Trust and the St George Illawarra Dragons announce an
extension to the Venue Hiring Agreement for WIN Stadium.
Full
article - click here | |
 30
Mar: BROWN EXTENDS CONTRACT
32-year-old Nathan Brown has
signed a two-year contract extension to coach St George Illawarra Dragons until
the end of the 2008 season. | |
 8
Apr: KNIGHTS SMASH DRAGONS 54-6
In a season lowlight, Saints suffered
their worst defeat of the year when Newcastle Knights ran in nine tries to one,
piling on 52 points in 43 minutes. | |
 25
APR: DRAGONS DOWN ROOSTERS ON ANZAC DAY
Dragons win the annual
Anzac Trophy with a solid 22-12 victory over the Sydney Roosters at Aussie Stadium. |
|
 4
May: BARRETT CONFIRMS UK MOVE
Five eighth Trent Barrett confirms
that he will be exercising a clause in his contract which allows him to leave
Australia to the end of 2006. The 28-year-old signs a three year deal with English
Super League club, Wigan. | |
 25
May: GASNIER STAYS A SAINT
Centre come five eighth Mark Gasnier
signs a five year contract with the Dragons. Gasnier, 24, rejected an offer from
rugby union and will remain a Dragon until 2011. | |
 31
May: CHANNEL NINE'S TAIL WAGGING THE NRL
DOG
Trent Barrett was
suspended for six weeks in extraordinary circumstances after a Channel 9 employee,
Rohan Carroll, reported a previously missed high tackle in the Dragons
v Knights clash of 27 May. The Dragons won the match 38-12, going someway to reverse
last April's result. But in an unprecedented event, Barrett was cited by the NRL
judiciary after the TV network employee by-passed normal procedure and reported
a high tackle on Newcastle's Brian Carney. While no one doubted that Barrett's
tackle was illegal, the circumstances which led up to the citing drew much criticism.
The NRL judiciary claimed it was correct in acting on the report from a third
party in the TV network, but no further TV reports were made for the rest of the
season. | |
 2
Jun: SAINTS BEAT PARRA 8-1 AS KOGARAH
LIGHTS UP
First match at
Kogarah under lights since 1999. Heavy drenching rain saw rare 0-0 half time score.
Eels went 1-0 up with 10 min to go. Half back Ben Hornby potted two field
goals for an extraordinary 2-1 score line. Centre Matt Cooper bagged a
late try. | |
 5
Jun: NSW PROVIDES $7M FOR KOGARAH
The ongoing redevelopment of
Kogarah's Oki Jubilee Stadium received a massive boost today with a $7 million
contribution from the NSW Government. | |
 16
Jun: TIMMINS FINED FOR PRACTICAL JOKE
Shaun Timmins is charged
and fined after commandeering a street-sweeping machine in Brisbane.. |
|
 8
Aug: BROWN FINED FOR REF COMMENTS
Dragons coach Nathan Brown
is fined $15,000 by the NRL. Brown is quoted as saying his players are more harshly
treated by referees because of the side's past reputation. | |
 20
Aug: DRAGONS THRASH TIGERS
Scoring 9 tries to 3, the Dragons post
their biggest win of 2006 in defeating last year's premiers Wests Tigers 46-16.
Saints led 20-0 after 19 minutes and put together a faultless opening first half
hour. | |
 23
Aug: TINGHA RETIRES
Super League media (UK) reports that Hull
FC have agreed to release Nathan 'Tingha'
Blacklock.
The former St George
and Australian winger has been plagued by a knee injury during the season and
will retire from the game and return home to Australia.
From 1997-2004, Blacklock
scored 120 tries for the Dragons. He was the competition's top try scorer for
three years running (1999, 2000, 2001) and the Club's top try scorer on five occasions
(1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003).
Blacklock
SOTV website | |
 27
Oct: DRAGONS DROP FLEGG IN FAVOUR OF NEW U/20 COMPETITION
Dragons announce that the Club will not be entering a team in the 2007 Jersey
Flegg competition. Instead, the Club have made moves to join the proposed National
Youth Competition - an Under 20 competition where all NRL teams will have
an Under 20 team to play prior to their matches for each of the 26 weeks of the
regular season.
Full press release - click here
|
 12
Dec: WES PLEADS GUILTY
Dragons announce that winger Wes Naiqama
pleaded guilty in Waverley Court for driving while disqualified last month. He
is due to appear in court again in February 2007. | |
|
 GASNIER
AND RYLES SHARE ST GEORGE BANK MEDAL
Sydney, 6 October 2006: St
George Illawarra Centre Mark Gasnier and Prop Jason Ryles have jointly won the
St George Bank Medal for Player of the Year at the Clubs Medal Award presentation
evening at Sydney Town Hall. This is the second time Ryles has received the club's
top honour, having also won the award in 2001.
Gasnier, 25 was the Dragons
leading try scorer in 2006 (18 tries in the regular season). The award caps off
a tremendous year for Gasnier who was also named the Dally M Centre of the Year,
NSW State of Origin selection and Kangaroos Tri-Nations squad selection.
2006
DRAGONS AWARD WINNERS
Mark Gasnier/Jason Ryles - St George Bank Medal
Ben Hornby - St George Bank Immortals Trophy
Dean Young - Geoff Selby Memorial
NRL Coaches Award
Ben Hornby - Red V Members Player of the Year
Chris
Houston - Mark Coyne Award Premier League Player of the Year
Jason Nightingale
- Paul McGregor Award Jersey Flegg Player of the Year. | |
| |
| Rnd |
Opponent | W/L |
Score | | 1 | Tigers |
L | 24-15 |
| 2 | Panthers |
L | 13-12 |
| 3 | Rabbitohs |
W | 44-14 |
| 4 | Broncos |
W | 26-12 |
| 5 | Knights |
L | 54-6 |
| 6 | Sea
Eagles | W | 26-24 |
| 7 | Roosters |
W | 22-12 |
| 8 | Storm |
L | 24-10 |
| 9 | Sharks |
L | 30-12 |
| 10 | Warriors |
W | 22-16 |
| 11 | Bye |
B | - |
| 12 | Knights |
W | 38-12 |
| 13 | Eels |
W | 8-1 |
| 14 | Panthers |
W | 20-10 |
| 15 | Broncos |
W | 18-16 |
| 16 | Cowboys |
W | 34-14 |
| 17 | Bye |
B | - |
| 18 | Rabbitohs |
W | 38-28 |
| 19 | Bulldogs |
L | 22-16 |
| 20 | Raiders |
L | 31-12 |
| 21 | Storm |
L | 34-24 |
| 22 | Eels |
L | 28-6 |
| 23 | Bulldogs |
L | 26-10 |
| 24 | Tigers |
W | 46-16 |
| 25 | Sharks |
W | 18-4 |
| 26 | Roosters |
W | 36-16 |
| F1 | Broncos |
W | 20-4 |
| F2 | Sea
Eagles | W | 28-0 |
| F3 | Storm |
L | 24-10 |
Dragons
2006 stats, first grade
Aaron Gorrell |
Most games (out of 27):
Ben Hornby (27); Aaron Gorrell (26); Matt Bickerstaff (25); Justin
Poore (25)
Most tries: Mark Gasnier 18 tries (from 23 games)
Most goals: Aaron
Gorrell
55 goals (72 attempts)
Most
field goals: Ben Hornby 2
Most
points for 2006: Aaron
Gorrell
5t + 55g = 130 points (26 games)
More
> full 2006 first grade team list & stats
BIGGEST WINS
2006: 46-16 (v Wests Tigers at Kogarah Jubilee, round 24, 20 August);
44-14 (v Souths at Telstra Stadium, round 3, 26 March)
BIGGEST LOSS
2006: 54-6 (v Newcastle at WIN Stadium, round 5, 8 April)
HIGHEST
TEAM SCORE 2006: 46 (v Wests Tigers, round 24)
LOWEST TEAM SCORE 2005: 6 (v Newcastle, round 5 and
v Eels, round 22)
Woolford confirms
deal with Dragons
 Wednesday
21 June 2006: Following discussions with coach Nathan Brown,
hooker Simon Woolford has agreed to a two-year deal with
the Dragons, the former Canberra Raiders captain stating that
a change of scenery are behind his decision. Utility forward Dean
Young is expected to shift to the back-row to make way for
Woolford.
The 31-year-old Woolford has played a total 223 career games
in the first grade, debuting with the Raiders in 1994 (v Sydney Roosters, 29 May
1994). He has scored 35 tries and kicked one goal (142 pts). In 2002, Woolford
played one rep game for Country Origin.
In his NRL profile, Woolford has stated
that as a junior player, his favourite club was the Dragons.
More
> full 2007 playing roster
DRAGONS LEGEND 'KILLER' KEN
KEARNEY PASSES AWAY
 18
August 2006: St George rugby league legend Ken Kearney
has passed away following a heart attack at his Gold Coast
home today. He was aged 82.
A ruthless professional
and champion hooker, 'Killer' Ken Kearney instigated revolutionary coaching methods
and was captain and coach during the St George Dragons' premiership reign that
stretched for a world-record 11 years from 1956 to 1966.
His passing comes
only weeks short of the 50th anniversary of his first grand final win, and the
first of the 11 grand final victories, on September 8.
Kearney captained Saints
to six grand final victories from 1956-61 and played in the 1953 grand final as
captain-coach. He remained in the dual role until 1956 before Norm Tipping became
coach with Kearney as captain in that premiership winning year. Kearney took back
the captain-coach role in 1957.
A rugby union convert, Kearney served with
the RAAF in World War Two before representing the Wallabies in seven Tests. He
then switched to rugby league in 1948 whilst in England, playing with Leeds before
returning home to Australia and linking up with St George in 1952.
A giant
in the history of Australian rugby league, 'Killer' led by example captaining
Australia in 1956-57 before a knee injury forced him into retirement in 1962.
During a remarkable career, Kearney also coached Parramatta from 1962-65 and the
fledgling Cronulla club from 1967-68.
NRL CEO David Gallop today joined others
in paying tribute to Kearney.
"Ken Kearney had a huge impact on the way
the game was played and his contribution can never be forgotten," said Gallop.
Australian Rugby League chairman Colin Love said Kearney was a hugely influential
figure in the proud history of St George.
"Ken Kearney was a giant of
Australian rugby league through the 1950s and into the 60s," said Love.
"Perhaps no other player in the game's history has ever had such a profound
influence on a single club as him.
"He possessed a brilliant tactical
understanding of the game and it was Kearney who devised, as captain-coach, the
blueprint that made Saints virtually unbeatable."
FACT FILE
'Killer'
Ken Kearney - St George Dragons
1952-61, 153 games. 18 tries, 2 goals
(58 points).
Hooker. Captain-coach 1953-1955, captain in 1956 and captain-coach
again in 1957-1961. Remained as coach in 1962.
NSW rep (1953 & 1955-58);
Aust rep (1952-58). | RUGBY LEAGUE
COMMUNITY MOURNS LOSS OF HARRY EDEN
Click on pic for larger image | 15
December 2006: The rugby league community today is mourning the passing of
Harry Eden who lost his battle with cancer at St George Hospital overnight, aged
64.
Eden played 81 first grade games from 1969-1975, mainly in the forwards.
Initially a centre with Eastern Suburbs (Roosters), Harry Eden was put in the
front row in the 1971 grand final by St George coach Jack Gibson. Eden put together
a powerhouse display for the Dragons in their 16-10 loss to South Sydney and played
out the rest of his career in the forwards.
A tough competitor on the field
and highly respected off the field, Harry Eden came from a large family of 16
children.
After retiring from first grade in 1975, Eden prided himself on
his physical fitness and was playing as recently as 2004 when he took part in
a fund-raiser for the ‘St George Dragons Allstars’. Proceeds from the
match were donated to the Joanne Mackay Breast Cancer Foundation..
FACT
FILE
Harry Eden
Easts (1969) 9 games, 3 tries.
St George (1971-73)
34 games (including replacements), 7 tries.
Souths (1974-75) 38 games, 17
tries. | | | |
|
| |
Seasons
In Review
