HALL OF FAME

From the time the “Cootamundra Kid” first hit Sydney he made headlines with his powerful running and aggressive tackling. Quietly spoken off the field, he never took a backward step on it. The aggression often saw him targeted by the judiciary. For instance, in 1978, he had a suspension overturned in equity court on the basis of being denied ‘natural justice’, only to be retried and found guilty of the same charge. Coming to Wests in 1976, he played 68 games for 24 tries, before transferring to Manly in 1980. An 18 month suspension effectively ended his Sydney career and he had a successful stint at Warrington before coaching at Cootamundra and Harden-Murrumburrah. Magpie supporters will never forget the explosive Boyd. He was rightly named as lock in the Magpies Team of the Century.

In 1972 Roy, while a teacher, was appointed coach of the Australian Schoolboys side that tour Great Britain, undefeated. In 1976 he joined Wests to coach the U23’s to a premiership victory. When appointed head coach in 1978 he transformed the Magpies into a winning outfit, remarkably claiming the minor premiership after years in the wilderness. Noted as great motivator and tactician, the magpies played an exciting and tough brand of football under his leadership. He left Wests in 1982 to coach St George until 1987. During his time he was voted Dally M Coach of the Year in both 1980 and 1985. He has also had a distinguished career as a sports journalist mainly with the Sydney Morning Herald, culminating in an award of the Australian Sports Commission Media Award for Lifetime Achievement. Players such as Tommy Raudonikis, Les Boyd and Dallas Donnelly gave their all for Roy every time he asked them for that extra effort.

Arthur Clues was a product of Parramatta Rugby Union and a very capable grade cricketer. He joined Western Suburbs in 1943 and within three years had established a reputation as a tough but creative forward. He was very tall for a second-row forward but was a powerful runner with a deceptive mid-field sidestep. He was a NSW Representative in 1945-6 and also played in all three Tests against Great Britain in 1946 before becoming one of the first post-war Australian players to sign with a wealthy English club. He played with Leeds for eight seasons (including the 1947 Challenge Cup Final) before seeing out his career with Hunslet (1954-7). In the early 1950s he was regarded as the best forward in Britain.

He played 50 Premiership games with Wests, scoring 17 tries and kicking 2 goals.

“Joe Cool” earned his nickname from never seeming to be under pressure in a game, whether it was fielding high bombs or making try-saving tackles. He was a great kick and chase expert, using his deceptive speed and swerve to his advantage. He was hampered by a lot of knee and neck injuries but from 1974-9 still played 102 Premiership games for 29 tries and 229 goals for 547 points – a remarkable achievement for a player often in pain. When he returned to the Steelers and in four seasons scored 463 points. He finished his playing career with Hull in England.

In a long career, Frank played for Wests 1921-4 and 1926-35, playing one season for Balmain in 1925. He represented NSW 22 times and Australia nine times. He starred in the 1929-30 Kangaroo tour, so much so he was names captain/coach of the 1933-34 Kangaroos. He began the concept of the “running” fullback, often using the scissors movement to great effect. He was a renowned wet weather fullback and a prodigious kicker; often kicking field goals from half-way. He played 147 First Grade games for Wests, scoring 238 points. He was deservedly named at fullback in the Western Suburbs team of the century.

After a great career with Canterbury (1948-53), Neville Charlton came to Wests in 1954, leaving in 1962 to play two seasons with Easts. In those eight seasons with Wests he became a crowd favourite with his rugged up-the-middle runs and bone-shaking defence. His fiery demeanour never saw him backing away from the hard stuff. He played in the 1958 and 1961 (as Captain) Grand Finals in losing teams.

Tedda Courtney is one of League’s legendary players. He played more Tests and more matches than any other player in the pioneering era. He played long enough to win his bet – that he could remain in First Grade long enough for his son to play alongside him. On June 14, 1924 at Pratten Park, the Courtneys created history, becoming the first – and only – father and son to play alongside each other in First Grade in the NSW Rugby League premiership. The opponents were Glebe and Wests won 29-11.

He played for Newtown in 1908 and North Sydney in 1910 but in 1909 and 1911-24 played for the Magpies. He was a member of the first rebel group and was selected for NSW in the second match against Baskerville’s New Zealand All Golds in August 1907. In a stellar International career he played for the 1908-9 and 1911-12 Kangaroos , two Tests against the 1910 English tourists and three against the 1914 English Tour team. He was renowned as a ferocious tackler but was also a remarkably endurable forward. He played 162 First Grade games and 24 City Cup matches for Wests, only missing one game due to injury. The only time he left the field was when he was carried off on a stretcher – a true ‘iron man’ of rugby league.

Harry “Dealer” Wells played with Wests from 1956-61, captaining them in their 1958 Grand Final loss to St George. He was already a Kangaroo before joining Wests and a premiership winner with Souths in 1951. All up he played 37 Tests for Australia and 85 First Grade games for Wests. A renowned powerful and deceptive runner, he was named in the list of Australia’s 100 Greatest Players and easily has the reputation as one of Wests best ever players.

Many good judges from yesteryear will tell you that Vic Hey was the greatest player to ever pull on a boot. He was noted for his vicious defence but was also a dashing attacker when needed. He debuted for Wests in 1933, making the 1933/4 Kangaroos as a late replacement but then playing blinders, combining with Wests team-mate “Mousey” Mead at the scrum-base. The lure of big payouts led him to Toowooba in 1936 and then Leeds in England (two Challenge Cup wins 1941-2). He coached Wests in 1958-9 and had an impressive result as coach of Australia in 1950 when the Ashes were won back for the first tine in 30 years. When Vic Hey pulled on a five-eighth jumper a win was assured more than 70% of the time. He deserved the nickname of “The Human Bullet”.

When Kel O’Shea came to Wests in 1956 he was already an Australian representative. He represented Australia 20 times all-up during his 108 game career with Wests. He was regarded as one of the most difficult forwards to tackle in the history of Rugby League, his powerful frame knocking off would-be tacklers on many probing runs. He was named as a second-rower in the Western Suburbs Team of the Century and also in the list of Australia’s 10 Greatest Players (1908-2007)