1995 SEASON

Western Suburbs Squad 1995

Back Row: Brandon Pearson, Neil Tierney, Darren Burns, Damian Driscoll, Andrew Willis, Jim Serdaris, Ken McGuinness, Paul Smith
Third Row: Glenn Grief, Steve Georgallis, Tony Wall, Cherry Mescia, Paul Bell, Kyle White Andrew Leeds
Second Row: “Mark the Magpie”, Brian Cook (Reserve Grade Coach), John Tyson (Trainer), Chris Ford (Strength Coach), Gavan Williams (Physiotherapist), Mark Eagan (Skills Coach), Bob Murphy (Ground C0-ordinator), Peter Di Michiel (Club Doctor)
Front Row: Mark Cannon (Head Conditioner), Bill Dunn, Mark Horo, Wayne Ellis (Football Manager), Paul Langmack (Captain), Tom Raudonikis (First Grade Coach), Jason Alchin, Darren Willis, Dennis Regan (head Trainer)
Ball Boys: Andrew Small, Adam Noyce, James Di Michiel, Corey Small

1995 was the first season with Tommy Raudonikis as coach and he was satisfied overall with the performance. They started very well with wins in eight of the first twelve matches but faded away to only win another two games. An unusual game was played mid-season at a very steamy Darwin, a game Wests won over Easts 44-16. At the end of 1994 the club was on its knees financially but with the influence of Raudonikis and early season form, crowds were up 30% and the club improved its finances. Two new teams were introduced in South Queensland Crushers and the Western Reds.

Paul Bell came from Cronulla and Mark Horo from Penrith but the transfer of Stephen Kearney to Auckland was a significant loss of forward power. Five players; Ken McGuinness, Jim Serdaris, Darren Willis, Glenn Grief and Cherry Mescia, all made the World Cup train-on squad. Mark Horo and Brent Stuart made the New Zealand team. Paul Langmack was voted Dally M “Captain of the Year”.

The season, however, was dominated by the shadow of Super League. Led by Rupert Murdoch and News Corp, there was an attempt to introduce an alternative league. It was eventually repulsed by a legal challenge, but the groundwork had been laid for a future disruption that would rock rugby league to its foundations.

  Andrew Leeds       Brent Stuart