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Reg Gasnier

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Reg Gasnier
AM
Personal information
Full nameReginald William Gasnier
Born(1939-05-12)12 May 1939
Mortdale,New South Wales,Australia
Died11 May 2014(2014-05-11)(aged 74)
Miranda, New South Wales,Australia
Playing information
Height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)[1]
Weight12 st 10 lb (81 kg)[1]
PositionCentre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1959–67 St. George Dragons 125 127 20 0 421
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1959–67 City NSW 17 13 3 0 46
1959–67 New South Wales 16 15 0 0 45
1959–67 Australia 39 28 0 0 84
Coaching information
Representative
Years Team Gms W D L W%
1964 Australia 3 3 0 0 100
1967 City Firsts 2 1 0 1 50
1967–68 Australia 9 5 1 3 56
Source:[2]

Reginald William "Reg" GasnierAM(12 May 1939 – 11 May 2014) was an Australianrugby leaguefootballer and coach. He playedcentrefor theSt. George Dragonsfrom 1959 to 1967 and representedAustraliain a then record 36 Tests and three World Cup games. He was the captain of the national side on eight occasions between 1962 and 1967.

Gasnier was included on theNational Rugby League'slist of 100 greatest playersand the honoraryTeam of the Century.He is a member of theSport Australia Hall of FameandAustralian Rugby League Hall of Fame.He was appointed a Member of theOrder of Australia.

Early life

[edit]

Reginald William Gasnier was born in theSouthern Sydneysuburb ofMortdaleon 12 May 1939. At Sutherland Intermediate High School, Gasnier excelled at bothrugbyandcricket.He later attendedSydney Technical High School( "Tech" ) in the St. George area suburb ofBexley.[3]While at Tech, he became a champion sportsman in both rugby and cricket, achieving junior state representative honours in both sports. He went on to play rugby league for junior club Renown United.[4]

Gasnier was selected in the NSW schoolboys side aged 13, to play in acurtain raiserto the1952 Australia and New Zealand Test.[3][5]

Career

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Gasnier has been described as the ultimate all-round rugby league player. TeammateKeith Barnesrecalled: "He had everything, a body swerve, speed and acceleration. He could stand you up or run around you. There was no better sight in rugby league than when he threw his head back and left them standing."[6]Dave Bolton,who played against Gasnier in international play remarked: "He was a great player. Along withEric Ashtonthe best centre I’ve ever seen. He was very fast and very deceptive. You never knew what he would do next. He'd be running straight and then veer left or right. "[6]Upon Gasnier's retirement then ARL chairmanBill Buckleysaid, "[In] his day, he was the greatest rugby league player I have ever seen. Gasnier had an amazing change of pace and great anticipation. He was also particularly unselfish. He was without peer."[1]

Gasnier was nicknamed "Puff the Magic Dragon" and the "prince of centres" for his high-quality play.[6][7]

St. George Dragons

[edit]

In 1957, Gasnier, aged 18, focused his attention on rugby league, signing with the localSt. George Dragonsfor the 1958 season. After only six games in third grade, he was selected for his first grade debut, and after only five first grade games he was selected for New South Wales.[2]He scored 15 tries in 16 games for his state team.[3]

By 1959, Gasnier had become an established member of both theNew South Wales state sideand theAustralian international team.He was an important member of the dominant Dragons team of the late 1950s/early 1960s that won 11 consecutive premiership victories, of which Gasnier was on the team for six.[6][8]He finished his career with the Dragons in 1967, with 127 tries and 20 goals in 125 appearances and 6 premierships. Reg Gasnier is widely regarded as one of the greatest everSt. George Dragonsplayers.[3]

National team

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In 1959, Gasnier moved up from reserve to Test team, making his international debut for Australia against New Zealand in the 1st Test of 1959 in Sydney.[6]He played in all three Tests of that series, and went on to tourBritainwith theKangaroos.On the tour, he scored a hat trick in the 1st Test 22–14 victory against Great Britain atSwinton'sStation Road(attendance 35,224). Howeverthe Asheswere retained by the home nation after wins in the remaining Tests atHeadingleyRugby Stadium,Leeds(11–10, attendance 30,184) andCentral Park(Wigan) (18–12, attendance 26,089).[9]In 1960, he played in World Cup finals as a member of the national team.[10]He is listed on theAustralian Players Registeras Kangaroo No. 339.[11]

Gasnier became Australia's youngest ever captain in 1962 when he led Australia against England at 23 years and 28 days. The following season, he toured Europe as a member of the National Team for a second time.[10]In 1967–68, he again toured Europe, this time as coach-captain of the Kangaroos.[6]His career ended prematurely, at age 28, when he broke his leg during the first test atHeadingleyRugby Stadium,Leeds,that saw him sit out the remainder of the English leg. He returned to the field inFrancebut in a minor game against Les Espoirs inAvignon,he suffered a further break of the leg. This would ultimately cause him to announce his retirement from playing at the age of just 28. He later told in an interview that he never regretted his decision to retire, explaining that he had been playing rugby league virtually non-stop including juniors, junior representative games, the Sydney premiership, interstate games and international tours since the early 1950s, and felt it was about time that he started devoting more time to his family.[12]

He finished his international career as Australia's most capped player, with a total of 39 caps (36 Test and 3 World Cup), a record that remained untilMal Meningabroke it in 1992.[13][14]Gasnier scored 28 tries for Australia and captained the side on eight occasions.[3]

Media career

[edit]

After retiring from the playing field in 1967, Gasnier was involved in the media side of rugby league, becoming a sports writer and broadcaster.[3]He provided expert analysis on theABC's Grandstand television coverage during the 1970s.[9]

Personal life and death

[edit]

While at Sydney Technical High School, Gasnier met his future wife Maureen (née Sullivan). The couple wed in 1962.[3]Gasnier was the uncle of the rugby league footballerMark Gasnier,who, like his uncle, was a centre and played for both NSW (12 games) and Australia (15 tests).[9]

In 2010, Gasnier underwent major surgery to remove tumours from his neck and brain.[9]On 11 May 2014, the day before his 75th birthday, he died in a Miranda nursing home after a long illness.[6]He was survived by his wife, son Peter, daughter Kellie, and four grandchildren.[3]Maureen died on 30 September 2016.[15]

Honours

[edit]

In 1981, Gasnier was selected as one of the initial four post-war "Immortals"of the Australian game along withClive Churchill,Johnny RaperandBob Fulton.[3]In December of that year, he was inducted into theSport Australia Hall of Fameand in 2002, he was inducted into theAustralian Rugby League Hall of Fame.[3][16]He was appointed aMember of the Order of Australia(AM) in1989.[17][18]He was awarded theAustralian Sports Medalin 2000,[19]and theCentenary Medalin 2001.[20]

In 1989 he was awarded Life Membership of theSt. George Dragonsclub.[21]

In 2007, Gasnier was selected by a panel of experts at centre in the "Team of the 50s".[22]In February 2008, he was selected as one of Australia's100 Greatest Playersby theNational Rugby LeagueandAustralian Rugby Leagueto celebrate the code's centenary year.[23][24][25]Gasnier was also named as one of the centres, along withMal Meninga,in Australian rugby league's 17 playerTeam of the Centuryin April 2008.[26][27]New South Wales also named Gasnier to their team of the century.[26]

Gasnier was made a life member of theSydney Cricket Ground,and a plaque in the Walk of Honour there commemorates his career.[9]In 2010, a bronze statue of Gasnier was unveiled as the seventh at the grounds as part of the Basil Sellers Sports Sculpture project.[28]

A tribute to the life of Reg Gasnier was held atJubilee Oval,Kogarah on 5 July 2014 and was attended by over 12,000 people. Many of his former team-mates attended the hour long ceremony including threeImmortals;Graeme Langlands,Wally LewisandJohnny Raper.The lateClive Churchillwas represented by his wife Joyce and the lateArthur Beetsonwas represented by his son Mark. Other notable former players attended includingEddie Lumsden,Johnny Riley,Johnny King,Dave Brown,Bob Bugden,Grahame Bowen,Tommy Ryan,Brian GrahamandBilly Smith.The Master of Ceremonies for the occasion was noted broadcasterRay Warrenwho read tributes to Reg Gasnier provided by Ian Heads, Robert Raftery and David Middleton plus historical photographs and video footage of Gasnier's career were shown to the crowd. A plaque is erected near the north western sideline ofJubilee Ovalwhere Gasnier showed his electrifying skill and talent during his sparkling rugby league career. The plaque was unveiled by Gasnier's wife Maureen and children, Kellie and Peter.[29] On 20 July 2022, Gasnier was named in the St. George Dragons District Rugby League Clubs team of the century at centre.[30]

References

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  • Whiticker, Alan; Hudson, Glen (2007).The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players.Wetherill Park, New South Wales:Gary Allen Pty Ltd. p. 609.ISBN978-1-877082-93-1.

Footnotes

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  1. ^ab"1960 World Cup Match".i.ebayimg.com.ebay.Retrieved17 September2016.
  2. ^Rugby League Project
  3. ^abcdefghi"Reg Gasnier: Immortal was in a league of his own".The Sydney Morning Herald.12 May 2014.Retrieved12 May2014.
  4. ^"Reg Gasnier, Australian and St George rugby league great, dies aged 74".ABC News. 12 May 2014.Retrieved12 May2014.
  5. ^Donnelly, Marea (12 May 2014)."Puff truly was the Prince of Centres of his time".The Daily Telegraph.Sydney.Retrieved30 November2019– via PressReader.
  6. ^abcdefg"League mourns 'prince of centres' Reg Gasnier".The Australian.12 May 2014.Retrieved12 May2014.
  7. ^Toby Creswell and Samantha Trenoweth (2006).1001 Australians You Should Know.Australia: Pluto Press. p. 669.ISBN9781864033618.
  8. ^Jubilee Avenue Dragons LegendsArchived23 September 2009 at theWayback Machine;accessed 11 May 2014.
  9. ^abcde"Reg Gasnier, Australian rugby league great, dies aged 74 in Sydney".The Guardian.11 May 2014.Retrieved12 May2014.
  10. ^abGlenn Cullen (12 May 2014)."Rugby league Immortal Gasnier dies".The Roar.Retrieved12 May2014.
  11. ^ARL Annual Report 2005, page 54
  12. ^Legends of Australian sport: The Inside Story.Australia:University of QueenslandPress. 2003. p. 79.ISBN9780702234101.
  13. ^Gallaway, Jack (2003).Origin: Rugby League's Greatest Contest 1980–2002.Australia: University of Queensland Press. pp. 177–78.ISBN0-7022-3383-8.
  14. ^Elizabeth Morrison (28 October 2013).Those Were the Days: Australia in the Sixties.Exisle. p. 43.ISBN978-1775591191.
  15. ^Masters, Roy (1 October 2016)."Maureen Gasnier, Reg's wife, dies aged 77".The Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved2 October2016.
  16. ^"Gasnier",sahof.org.au retrieved 27 September 2020.
  17. ^"THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY 1989 HONOURS".Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. Special.No. S192. Australia. 12 June 1989. p. 1.Retrieved29 July2022– via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^"It's an Honour: AM".Government of Australia.Retrieved13 May2014.
  19. ^"It's an Honour: ASM".Government of Australia.Retrieved13 May2014.
  20. ^"It's an Honour: CM".Government of Australia.Retrieved13 May2014.
  21. ^Dragons- Our Proud History website
  22. ^AAP (1 August 2007)."Team of the 50s named".The Daily Telegraph.Australia.Retrieved6 October2010.
  23. ^Peter Cassidy (23 February 2008)."Controversy reigns as NRL releases top 100 players".Macquarie National News. Archived fromthe originalon 25 February 2008.Retrieved23 February2008.
  24. ^"Centenary of Rugby League: Players".NRL/ARL.23 February 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 26 February 2008.Retrieved23 February2008.
  25. ^Century's Top 100 PlayersArchived25 February 2008 at theWayback Machine,livenews.com.au; accessed 11 May 2014.
  26. ^abTodd Balym (17 April 2008)."Johns, Meninga among Immortals".Fox Sports Australia. Archived fromthe originalon 7 September 2012.Retrieved17 April2008.
  27. ^"Team of the Century Announced".NRL/ARL.17 April 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 21 May 2010.Retrieved17 April2008.
  28. ^Ritchie, Dean (9 August 2010)."Reg Gasnier immortalised in bronze".Herald Sun.Archived fromthe originalon 15 June 2011.Retrieved2 October2010.
  29. ^St.George & Sutherland Shire Leader.Reg Gasnier Tribute, by Paul Haigh5/7/2014. 8.42pm
  30. ^"Gasnier joins Immortals in St George Dragons 'Team of the Century'".National Rugby League. 20 July 2022.
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Ian Walsh
1965-1966
 Coach
Australia
Australia
1967-1968 		Succeeded by
Harry Bath
1968-1969
Preceded by Coach

New South Wales
1967 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Coach
Australia
Australia
1964 		Succeeded by
Ian Walsh
1965-1966
Preceded by Captain
Australia
Australia
1962–1967 		Succeeded by
[edit]
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