THE rugby league world is in mourning following the news that St George and Australian great Reg Gasnier had passed away, a day short of his 75th birthday.
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His record said it all — he played in seven of the Dragons’ world record 11 winning premierships in succession, and it goes without saying he was an integral part of that all-consuming success, as he was for NSW and Australia.
His try scoring feats saw him play 125 games for the mighty St George scoring 127 tries.
He represented NSW 16 times scoring 15 tries and Australia in 39 games scoring 26 tries.
Lithgow has an affinity with the famous centre with our own ‘Kangaroo’ Barry Rushworth having the honour to play alongside him in the 1963 Kangaroo tour of Great Briton and France and later as an opponent.
After returning to Australia, Barry was signed up by the Parramatta Eels in 1964 and during his stay with the Eels had many a battle with Gasnier who opposed him in the centres.
Barry said: “There will never be another like him.
“He was a freak of a player and a gentleman off the field.
“His speed and elusiveness was second to none and I feel that even in today’s game he would have been a star.
“I have vivid memories of his back and his famous No 3 running away from me,” he joked.
“I kept in touch with him over the years and enjoyed his company at the Kangaroo reunions.
“I was really pleased when he was made an immortal, if anyone deserved the honour it was him.”
There was another Lithgow connection in the 1963 Kangaroo tourists with Brian Hambly, who since passed away, playing in it.
Hambly was a teammate of Rushworth’s at Parramatta for nearly a decade before moving to Lithgow in 1968 where he was the Lithgow Shamrocks captain-coach in 1968 and 1969.
Like Rushworth, Hambly was a publican and was the licensee of the Lithgow Hotel in Main Street.
The 1963 Kangaroos were the first Australian team to win the coveted rugby league Ashes trophy in England.
There had been 10 previous Kangaroo tours of Great Britain and France prior to 1963 and no Australian side had won the Ashes in Great Britain.
The achievement was even more creditable when the quality of the British side is considered.
In the British team were some of their greatest ever players, underlining the merit and importance of the series win.
As a further indication that this was a pivotal moment in rugby league history, Australia has not lost a series in England since the 1963 Kangaroos showed them what could be done.
Barry joined a multitude of other league stars — both present and past — to honour Gasnier at his funeral on Thursday.