Bulldog Ring of Champions Inductee John Greaves has paid tribute to friend and Rugby League Immortal Reg Gasnier.
Gasnier lost his battle with a long illness on Sunday May 11, 2014.
He was one of league's Immortals and was recognised as one of the greatest players to have played the game.
John Greaves who played alongside him at the Dragons and for Australia, says he will be be sorely missed.
"The game has lost a chmpion footballer, but more importantly a champion bloke," said Greaves.
Many regard Reg as the prince of centres and doubt whether they will see another centre like him.
"I have never seen a better centre and I don't think I ever will. The term prince of centres, justifies him," said Greaves.
REG GASNIER
Born: May 12, 1939, Sydney, NSW
CAREER OVERVIEW
Games Trs Gls F/G Pts CLUB CAREER 1959-67 St George 1959-67 125 127 20 - 421 v. touring sides 1962-63 2 3 5 - 19
TOTAL 127 130 25 - 440
REPRESENTATIVE CAREER 1959-67
CITY-COUNTRY 1959-65 City Firsts 1959-65 5 3 - - 9
SYDNEY 1960-64 v. touring sides 1960-64 3 4 - - 12
NEW SOUTH WALES 1959-67 v. Queensland 1959-67 16 13 3 - 45 v. touring sides 1959-67 5 4 - - 12 TOTAL 21 17 3 - 57
AUSTRALIA 1959-67 Tests and World Cup 1959-67 39 28 - - 84 Tour matches 1959-67 38 37 3 - 117 TOTAL 77 65 3 - 201
GRAND TOTAL All senior matches 233 219 31 - 719 |
Gasnier captained Australia in eight Tests and was captain of the 1967-68 Kangaroos.
He played third grade with St George in 1958 from junior club Renown United and played first grade and Test football the following season; he played four games in reserve grade and then five in first grade before being chosen for NSW in 1959.
Gasnier played President's Cup (junior reps) in 1957-58.
He scored three tries in his second Test against New Zealand, three tries in his first match on the 1959-60 Kangaroo tour, three in his second and three in his Test debut against Great Britain.
He played in six of St George’s grand final winning sides (1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965).
Former Sydney Sun sportswriter EE Christensen chose Gasnier as the NSW Player of the Year in 1959, 1961 and 1964 (with Johnny Raper). Injury ended Gasnier’s career prematurely in France in 1968.
With Clive Churchill, Johnny Raper and Bob Fulton, he was named as one the original “Immortals” in Rugby League Week in 1981.
