From goalposts made out of gum tree branches to trucks driving around properties to pick up players for games, a new book ‘Rugby League History – Western and Southern NSW 1920-1976’ has it all.
Author Greg Riach spent over three years trawling through newspaper reports and photographs of players and teams throughout the decades from Groups 9, 10, 11, 14 and 15.
“It was a labour of love but a very worthwhile one,” Riach told nswrl.com.au
“I started to really love delving into what they did and how they did things out in the bush.
“My brother-in-law played out in the country years ago, in Western Division back in the 1970s, and I started putting an article together on his career.
“And it just blew out from there … got bigger and bigger.
“So many things changed like the boot styles, footballs, the rules of the game – it’s all in there.
“Why I pulled up at 1976 is because that was right in the middle of the golden years of country Rugby League – and I had to end somewhere.
“I’ve got teams mentioned in there that no longer exist … premiership winners, record breakers.”
Riach has already sold copies of the book in England and the United States.
“So far the feedback has been really good but I’d like to get the message out there for others to read and enjoy some great Rugby League history.”
The 350-page book is divided into three sections. The first is a summary of each decade and includes the great moments for teams, players and coaches such as Ian Walsh, Herb Narvo, Bob Weir, John Hobby, Leo Nosworthy, Don Parish, Tony Paskins, Barry Beath, Norm Brown, Earl Harrison, Norm Armstrong and Ken McMullen.
The second section highlights representative players in Southern and Western Division teams, who held matches against England, New Zealand and French touring teams from the 1920s-1970s.
Country trials were also held to select the country Firsts and Seconds teams to play their City rivals each year. Great players emerged from the country teams with some selected to play for Australia. Also highlighted is the 1974 Amco Cup.
The third section focuses on the Maher Cup, which had its roots in the Southern region and the Jack Hore Memorial Gold Cup, which was founded in the Western area. The Johnnie Walker and Clayton Cups are also detailed.
The Maher Cup produced some of the greatest Rugby League players including True Blues Eric Weissel and Jack Kingston, who were Australian teammates from 1928-1930.
‘Rugby League History – Western and Southern NSW 1920-1976’ can be purchased from The Book Connection in Dubbo, Gateway Bookshop in Wagga, Collins Books in Orange, Glee Book Shops, Amazon, Bookshop.Org, Barnes & Noble.
