Tribute to some of the tough men who starred for our Cumbria clubs
Last updated 11:21, Friday, 14 November 2008
AWEBSITE thread on RL’s hardest men got me thinking about the toughest I’ve seen play this most competitive of sports.IN THE last 25 years, they have also employed as coaches, the likes of the fearsome Frank Foster, Spanky McFarlane and Paul Cullen.
First, we’ve got to define toughness. To me, a rugby hardman is not a player who can throw punches like Mike Tyson, though that skill may, at times, come in handy.
On a rugby field, it’s all about being prepared to run in to the proverbial brick wall, to dig deep when shattered, to be fierce and merciless, within the rules. And yes, on rare occasions, to be prepared to stand up to bullying in a way the RFL disciplinary might not approve.
Canvassing the opinions of fans and journalists who have followed the sport since Eddie and Stevo were in short trousers, the general view is that there are fewer ‘characters’ today.
With cameras monitoring every facet of the action, there is clearly less opportunity for foul play than in yesteryear.
When prop Adrian Morley is now sent off making the first tackle of an international clash, or Aussie giant Willie Mason floors Stuart Fielden with a barrage of punches, such incidents live in the memory, as they are so rare.
Veteran reporter Alan Irving has been following Haven since he was a schoolboy in the 1950s. He believes that the rules in those days meant players had to be tough.
“There were more so-called hard men,” Alan recalls. “It was a different game, with unlimited tackles.
“It was before the 10-metre rule came in, and there was closer physical contact, with only a couple of yards between the teams.
“In those days, the first 20 minutes would be a softening-up process between the two sets of forwards, before the backs were unleashed.
“Great wingers of the era, such as Ike Southward and Billy Boston, were scoring 50 or 60 tries a season.
“They were more skilful in those days, with a greater variety of moves and more enterprise. We also had a stronger international team than today.
“There was a lot more give and take with head-high tackles. Referees would turn a blind eye, though there were still plenty of early baths, as Eddie Waring would say.
“There were no subs and you had to play the full 80 minutes, invariably on muddy pitches.
“The greatest ever Whitehaven team of 57/58 had four hard men in the pack. Bill McAlone, Ray Donaldson, Bobby Vincent and Steve McCourt were enforcers before the word came in to common usage.
“Dick Huddart and Geoff Robinson were the stars who did the damage off the back of those players.”
Alan rates the Workington Town pack of the early 70s as tough, collectively, as any to play the game.
“They had the Martin brothers, ‘Spanky’ McFarlane, Bill Kirkbride and later Billy Pattinson. I can’t imagine a tougher set of forwards,” said Alan, who also recalled Big Jim Mills’ stint at Derwent Park.
“He accumulated a record number of sendings-off, but might be considered more sinned-against than sinner.
“He was easy to provoke and retaliated, and he invariably got the red card, rightly or wrongly.”
I’ve no idea where Haven might rank in a list of hardmen. But there would surely be no rival for the title of toughest coaches.
Two of their bossmen feature in an Aussie-inspired list of the game’s all-time top 10 hardmen.
Kurt Sorensen weighs in at No 3, three places ahead of fellow Kiwi Kevin Tamati, who is probably disappointed not to feature higher.
The current incumbent, a third former Kiwi international front-rower, Ged Stokes, carries on the tough guy tradition. Earlier this year he recalled how he had stood toe-to-toe with Tamati on both sides of the globe.
I didn’t ask who emerged on top. But let’s just say I wouldn’t have liked to be the one to jump in the middle to break them up.
In recent years, I struggle to think of many I would call genuine hardmen, though you might argue all pro rugby league players are tough. Town’s Brad Hepi was one such character, loved by his own fans, less so by opposing supporters.
Haven prop David Fatialofa was as tough as they come – a club legend – but I only saw him raise his hands once, in a cup game at Hull’s old ground.
In a feverish atmosphere for which the Boulevard was famous, Haven were losing, and as Fats chased back to retrieve a loose ball he was held back.
In frustration he swung a massive punch, which, if it had connected would in all probability have knocked the offending player over the grandstand and in to the Humber.
They breed them tough in New Zealand, and my favourite hardman is yet another Kiwi.
Step forward Aaron Lester. When the going got tough, he got going. There was no better on-field leader for Haven during a crisis. He led by example. When the whistle blew, watch out.
He could play it hard and fair, and could also hand out a little punishment. And for that all-round game, he will always be admired as one of Haven’s greatest.
What do you think? Let us know about your favourite rugby hardmen and what made them so tough.
