Chris Karas
Balmain Tigers are mourning the death of one of its greatest local products, Glenn Stanton, who lost a brave battle with cancer aged 56.
Stanton chalked up four first grade appearances for the Tigers as a skilful five-eighth in 1986 under the guidance of former Kangaroos coach, Frank Stanton. He later had a stint with English club Wakefield Trinity under Canberra’s three-time premiership coach Tim Sheens.
A classy playmaker with vision, speed, fleet footwork, sound kicking game and silky passing skills, Stanton was a product of the famous Leichhardt Wanderers club and still holds several milestone records at both NSWRL junior representative, schoolboy and Junior League level.
Stanton was the son of former Balmain first grade lock and Coaching Director John Stanton, and the elder brother of NSWRL Community Football Manager Stuart Stanton, who was a member of the Canberra Raiders first grade premiership squads in 1989-90.
His uncle Steve Stanton packed down in the second row for Balmain with the great Arthur Beetson in a reserve grade Grand Final; another uncle Bob Sykes junior played Presidents Cup for the Tigers while elder brother Greg Stanton shone in the Tigers’ Junior Cup squads.
His grand-uncle Gordon Sykes was a first-grade centre with the Tigers during the 1930s and his grandfather Bob Sykes senior played minor grades for the black and golds.
Stanton captained a champion Wanderers team to eight Balmain Junior League premierships in eleven seasons throughout the mid-1970s and ‘80s and created history when he led Balmain to a maiden SG Ball Cup Under 16s premiership in 1982.
Just hours later at the same venue, a proud John Stanton coached the Balmain Jersey Flegg Cup side to a 12-10 premiership victory over Cronulla to give the Tigers a unique Cup double.
Stanton guided the Balmain Jersey Flegg Cup team to another title in 1984 – eclipsing Penrith 10-0 in the Cup Final at Leichhardt Oval – to have the distinction of becoming the only player to captain the Tigers to both SG Ball Cup and Jersey Flegg Cup championships.
He was also named skipper of the City and NSW Under 18s junior representative squads that registered emphatic victories over Country and Queensland.
The NSWRL passes on its sincere condolences to his wife Samantha, son Zac; parents Beverley and John; brothers Greg and Stuart, sister Kate; nephews Josh, Jason and Jhett and nieces Ellie and Sarah, sister-in-law Sandy and his many friends.
