Woodsy’s Club Tour | Aaron Woods & Steve ‘Blocker’ Roach | Footy Talk League

This week Aaron Woods is joined by one of the greatest front rowers of all time Steve “Blocker” Roach! Blocker talks the toughest opponents he’s ever faced, takes us down memory lane of the great kangaroos tours, slams Shane Richardson over the Leichhardt fiasco & his new beer with Gorden Tallis!

Check Out Blocker’s New Beer Here – https://blockandgrapple.com.au/ 

Subscribe! https://bit.ly/LiSTNRSportSubscribe

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@listnrsport
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/listnrsport/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/listnrsport

and welcome to another edition of
woodsies footy Club tour oh mate I’m
that excited today I haven’t be a to
sleep too much got me me Big Mate blocky
roach how you going Big fell I’m going
good mate what did the kids keep you up
or something oh please mate you know how
you going I’m going really good mate you
know I’ve heard a lot of stories about
you mate but I can’t wait to get into a
couple stories about you today you know
what happens mate as you get older it
sort of stretches out a little bit mate
I sometimes i’ I’ve been guilty of
stretching the truth no you haven’t mate
no you haven’t there’s nothing better
and coming to block his house after a
game of footy with his young Blake Liam
and sitting on the couch and just asking
you a thousand questions talking about
the greatest game of all that’s it but
before we go to that we’ve had some sad
news obviously in the in the world of
rugby league especially the B Tigers
Keith Barnes what did he mean to you
mate mate a legend uh what did he mean
to me he was the first BL he actually
took me to Sydney yeah there’s a there’s
a good story I think it’s a good story
and interesting story um there was a BL
named n yans that bought me with Keith
Barnes made us a 7 and a half halfy old
yeah he knocks on my door and I answer
the door there Keith Barn stand there
going mate you want to come to the
Tigers I said what when are we going
look it’s like a boy and you know he was
that much of a
gentleman that my mother and father
didn’t worry about me going I had to
play a couple of years in the Juniors
before I call so you’re 17 I’m seven I’m
seven and a half packed your bag and he
said come with us M do you want to yeah
do you want to come up and play with a
tigers and I was like wow man let’s go
um you know um noie yman was was a was a
was a great it turned out to be a great
mate of mine took me to Sydney but I
played footy with his with his stepson
so what was his role well mate he
coached he coached Graham langlands and
and and he coached Keith Barnes and all
that sort and he was a great 58 in the
Wong area yep and um as I said I was I
was playing with his young bloke and you
know Keith because of their connection
with the Tigers and all that um no love
the Tigers and because of their
connection maybe Keith just asked him
and said man you got any young bles down
there that you know that you think might
be all right when they come to Sydney
yeah and uh mate I got the opportunity M
they sign Gary Jack too Gary Jack
firstly went to where was Gary from
Gary’s from Wong we were both from theil
Red Devils we were both from the Red
Devils and Gary first went to western
suburbs so he played with the magp first
and then Keith Barnes got onto him after
he’ played there a year uh and because
of no Yan’s connection too and Gary Jack
ended up coming there so mate um uh we
we ended up playing together for made
over a decade W yeah it was it was a
freaky sort of story you know that you
know all of a sudden him and I come to
Sydney um it wasn’t handed us on a plate
we lived in a hostel to start where at
oh mate in Ashfield oh mate it was that
was rough back then well it was and but
it was good it was good learning because
mate we’d get up in the morning we
didn’t have we didn’t have jobs but we
got up and we lined up in this line in
the city and they pick laborers for the
day okay and they’d say right are you
you and you you’re coming to lay brick
or you know throw around bricks all it
was a great it was a great grounding
because the expectation of of trying to
play grade football you had to earn your
stripes mate you know I was only I was
only telling a story this morning about
you know front row play and kry Hemsley
my great mate he was the best man at my
wedding and we played for a decade he’s
not real well at the moment but that
that’s another story and uh I remember I
remember coming in the grade I played 15
15 games in reserve grade I’m straight
into the first grade and I remember cuz
I was always on the balls side yep and
uh I lined up the guy on the balls side
and he said what are you doing I said M
I’m going on stries so that’s where I
play said hey mate it’s all about
seniority here mate you’re on the other
side of the scrum oh mate you know which
was which
was it’s the right it’s the right of way
it’s a passage of way that that’s how
you learn but mate I uh I grew up
watching you know Dallas Donley you know
Craig young was my hero M I watched all
those guys play and I I’d seen him go
the beff and that all the time and I man
I didn’t know any different I thought
that’s how you play well and you you got
to be the
protector front R well last Benny hasn’t
got a mark on him M he’s worth billions
and I’ve heard a story that his mom
loves you his mom loves me yeah she used
to say Ro you look after my Benny I give
you to bully I love to bully but we uh
she still be making it to bully now like
what a what a magn what you talk about
great tigers and Keith Barnes and all
that mate Benny a li mate I’m telling
you if anyone gets the opport to get
some footage and some highlights of that
BL play he changed the game he was
magnificent what made him change how how
made it change the game like mate he was
just speed out a dummy half players in
motion now you know you and I talk footy
all the time you know everyone plays
flat and fast and all that numbers at
the line I’ll tell you who does it the
best now the Warriors but anyway getting
back that whitean genius great but you
know whether you get that that Latitude
in origin if they picked him in origin
you don’t get that Latitude as you know
um mate Benny was just a genius mate he
he could uh M it was a half that he was
a halfback playing dummy half but man we
had five Internationals in our pack and
he was players em motion he used us up
he’d run out a dummy half and dummy
inside and dummy out and duck under
tackles and mate so he he he he
virtually changed the game but getting
back to kth M what I I I don’t think the
best gentleman I’ve ever met in the game
and this is no disrespect to anyone else
yep is Keith Barnes Ron coot yeah Ronnie
cot Ronnie coot and the great Bob
McCarthy you ever meet those guys you
know one one of the greatest things that
happened to me in footy and I was a
footy P I’m like you mate you followed
the game you know you follow the game
right back to when it was you know a
long time ago I followed the game with
all those guys too and M one of the
greatest things ever to happened to me I
can’t believe I’m in the same room as
Bob McCarthy or Ronnie [ __ ] that I’m
like I’m still like a kid you know eight
years old looking at those guys going
like they More Heroes and I went to a
men of League function once and I was
satting on the table next to Ron coot
what I couldn’t I couldn’t believe it
and and other BS that i’ played with
like the same age as me going who’s that
old fell there really I’m like you’re
kidding really well you know what if
you’re a rugby league supporter and you
don’t know who those guys you need to
slap in the back of the A and what
they’ve done for the game as well unb
unbelievable but you know and and and
going back to Keith mate a great
gentleman um mate his word was his honor
if you if you shook his hand he uh that
that was that was it you know like you
know I I can’t remember ever really I
remember signing a contract but I’ve
heard I’ve heard a funny but the
contract wasn’t even there you know what
I mean like we check hands all the back
you I know what you’re going to talk
about talk to us about the your contract
when you when you and your manager
walked in the well at the I never had a
manager and the back end of my career
Tony molon who used to run two we um God
rest of his soul he’s a lovely lovely
man he used to control you know he used
to run John laws and and and you know
Alan Jones and all that guy he was a guy
that produced and did all their stuff
anyway um you know he he said to me um
he said to me uh mate I’ll come in and
do your last contract this will probably
be your last contract I said mate no
worries and he was a great negotiator he
negotiated all the deals and did all
that sort of stuff and I said oh yeah M
that that’ll be all right let’s come in
until he comes in in the suit and he’s
got the bloody briefcase and all that
and he says to me before we go in M when
I’ll open me briefcase when we open
negotiations with KY Barnes he said um
when he makes you an offer I’m going to
say thanks very much for the offer close
me case and we’ll walk walk out I said
good as go t good as go man that’s sweet
so anyway we walk in there and Keith
offers me this deal to finish my career
I can’t believe and I’m going to become
a one Club player so off is this a thing
Tony closes his case and I said to ke
I’ll take
it t just looked at me and went what are
you doing what are you doing what you
didn’t need me in here and I said ah
mate I didn’t want to go anywhere I
wanted to be you know you know I thought
it was a big thing being a one Club
player I remember just quickly I
remember Timmy Brasher coming to me one
Timmy Brasher what a what a player mate
we had some great fullbacks Gary Gary
Jack Timmy Brer Timmy Brasher and um you
know Timmy said oh make the super league
and all that D and he said um I’m
thinking of um I think he went to sou
and then he went to North Queensland and
he and I said mate please whatever you
do stay at the taret become a one Club
player I said because for 30 years after
it you know you’ll be remembered you
know what I mean but he didn’t he didn’t
he went he went to see us and and maybe
he would come to me and say you know
what you’re right I wish I the Tigers we
all think that like yeah wish I you know
you look back now in heinstein go you I
wish I had a stay but then just stay
there for 100 years you yeah it’s just
part but then mate you know the biggest
thing did you ever see the Bain West
merger coming no I didn’t no no no and M
you know I you know I’ve been I’ve been
stated of saying it before like I I feel
sorry for western suburbs 100 Years of
them as the magp I’ve said it before and
I feel I feel bad for the Bal main
Tigers 100 years and the the club and
mega mates and then all of a sudden you
lose this Rich history don’t you we got
200 years of History yeah and then we’
got BL saying oh we you know we’re
formed a new club it’s got nothing to do
with the the the old players mate if you
lose what you’re all about the history
of what you’re all about mate your more
your mors well just to me it’s you BL BL
talk yourself you know um bar all of
them even Lori Nichols like you just
laid the foundation for say goodbye to
your cat I love it mate how what does he
say about Dave Brooks David Brooks
spoils their good looks Wayne Pierce
he’s so Fierce s the alarm at Al mcmah
oh see these are little things kids this
day age wouldn’t know like I remember
when we played es B how mats at lock at
overal one of our thing was you had to
touch the plaque on the wall yeah yeah
because he laid the foundation for his
Club he made unbelievable you obviously
didn’t play games but he was there he he
come to Kangaroo TOS with you didn’t he
he did he did and he was a last BL every
time I run out at lart we’ play mostly
there wasn’t all this Friday night footy
and Thursday night it was a Sunday
afternoon with the Sea of gold black and
gold on the hill mate packed the last
bloke I’d see running out would be Lori
and whether it was hot cold he’d be
wearing that Singler he’d be wearing the
Singler may he wor in England when we
played in England freezing my M went one
day she’d come over to England we
playing in a test match she went and got
her hair done spent about 300 quid I
didn’t know at the time but any spent
about 300 quid and he saw her and he
ruffled all her hair up
and but she loved it mate she loved it
you you he was good sound the alarm it’s
M man you know he was a mate he was a
legend mate he
is the greatest supporter in any code
I’ve ever seen I’ve never seen
unbelievable but he he meant it he was
that close to the players but if anyone
M he was getting a pizzza up at remember
across the road from the light from um
the Leagues Club there used to be a
Peacher shop on the corner was that near
the what is it right up on the corner of
the traffic lights and Darling Street
yeah anyway there was a black baging the
Tigers one day and made may he punched
on with them really you can’t bag my
blacks way where where did Lori live was
he he’s up in the Blue Mountains oh no
way yeah yeah so drive down but he but
no he’ come down the train in the
Rattler so he he’ come down the train
and M he would uh so how did all this
start with Lori how did he get he was
great mates with Arthur beatson yep CU
When Arthur Arthur beats him and then he
eats him that was he’s saying for Arthur
Arthur beats him and then he HS him but
Arthur Arthur was a great mate of of
Lor’s when Arthur was playing at uh at
the Tigers Kevin yoi yeah y you know and
so he just stayed there that whole
period just stayed there the whole time
mate he loved he just loved the Tigers
black and gold never F that’s
unbelievable yeah and uh you know he was
a he was a great supporter but mate the
the from if if you’re going into WS the
city from the left hand side right down
Darling Street that Bal main area in
those days mate you know you went to the
local butcher and you know and you went
to the local grer and it was it was a
community thing yeah like everyone M
everyone in that area you know love
their team you know say now like you
look at teams right like when I was at
the Tigers so we were West Tigers
obviously we had BLS that lived in
parata BLS that lived in konala BLS that
lived in you know Campbell town penth
there’s no real like sense of identity
sense of belong belonging like and even
like now if I’m a manly like it’s a bit
different at M when I’ve been at crella
they generally go for those clubs in
those areas but if you’re like with the
tigers or the Bulldogs you know param
because everyone’s from all over Sydney
you got sou Sydney supporters live in
parata it would never be like that when
you were coming through was it no well
mate we mate you have a look at our team
and like a lot of other sides mate there
was a lot of one Club players you know
it’s a big business now but yeah you
know it’s a big business and but M the
sense of you know when someone firstly
it’s a sense of opportunity someone
that’s going to give you an opportunity
right mate mate all of us had plenty of
uh opportunities to go to other clubs y
do you know why we never win cuz you
love playing with each other that’s it
yeah and we felt we felt like we were
part of the community yeah why am I
going to go and play someone else m mate
did blocky have any offers from any
other clubs I had a few yeah I could
have went I could have went to a lot of
clubs but um yeah but I never I never
went yeah yeah I mean speaking of your B
main team mate some of the players you
had like s Benny s is a hero yeah and
and I know how close I know how close
you oh Junior Pierce Wayne Pierce he’s
so Fierce it’s unbelievable Eller Henley
comes out mate ery mate in in h you know
you you followed the game then mate in
1988 Eller
Henley the Tigers don’t make the Grand
Final if Eller Henley doesn’t play on
the Le on the lead in the last I reckon
the 10 games he was the best player in
the competition don’t worry about the
best player just for the Tigers right he
he got us to the Grand Final in 88 um
I’ve said it before I don’t know I can
say it to you like um talking about that
sea of orange on the hill there’s only
two BLS I’ve ever seen the whole crowd
stand for when they get the ball y one
was Larry John corer yeah M what a
player good made 78 he was Untouchable M
he was unbelievable once he got no one
knew how fast Larry was he was
unbelievable Larry Carl went away with a
78 Kangaroos and the other one was Ill
Henley ill Henley would get the ball and
the crowd would make the CL the crowd
would stand but he had this unbelievable
Knack of being able to run as far
sideways and he’d pick a gap and he’
explode straight mate he was
unbelievable uh unfortunately for us in
1989 so we made 88 89 we beat in both
Grand finals
um ill plays with 88 he’s our best
player mate he’s the best player in the
league come 89 we wanted him back so
what happened there but he he took the
money he took you can’t blame me for
that he took the money at Western
Suburbs he he went to the mag poys they
offered him mate it would have been Mega
he didn’t have an injury plague year
that year too yeah he did but uh you
know you you know you have a look like
you have a look at his career in England
and that I saw you know I saw some
highlights of his tries and all that in
it mate the was a superstar oh mate but
to come out here absolute Superstar so
did he only play with you guys at the
back end of that year yeah I think I
think he I think he came about Midway
through the season yep and and then uh
yeah and then you know got him the Grand
Final obviously got knocked out by Terry
lamb who got on a got on a step lad and
got him but mate but that was um that
was a bit of well that was a bit of the
rules in those days that’s how mate you
get got everyone got got that was the
way it was you mentioned Junior Pierce I
know was a kid coming through the grades
out like May never used to drink he take
salad sandwiches everywhere was he that
professional back in that day yeah he
was unbelievable yeah my junior junior
junior is one of those guys that was
born to be a leader M mate him and I
complete chalk and cheese on the field
bit of a psycho just whatever whatever
you had to do and had a bit of white
line fever but junior junior was always
the calm uh you know calm sort of BL and
everyone respected him in the whole game
and he was a BL that could talk to the
referees and do all that sort of stuff
Cameron Smith mold yeah yeah M you’re
right but but mate a fierce mate he cut
Blakes in half mate he was a fierce
competitor unbelievable not the biggest
of bles we were talking about that last
night and just getting back you know to
you know brownie last week we talked
about BLS coming off the off the back
fence so we’ll sh mate he did change the
game off the bench and that’s what you
want from your bench players
unbelievable it might it might not have
been AIG thing but you know what he did
he brought the crowd into the game yeah
yeah no you’re right and we and the ref
the refs get rattled yeah he he was unre
and then which brought us to a lot of
BLS who played above their weight now
Wayne Pierce was one of those massively
wasn’t a massive bloke but he would cut
BLS in half he unbelievable he a him
like yeah he just got up under their
ribs or up under the ball and made it
was it was all over M he get hit like a
sledgehammer but um a Silent Assassin
yes never never said much on the field
you know oh really so just a real Qui
just m just a do
like you know you know he he used to
embarrass bikes to run the ball on on
our on our own goal line he was at you
know that’s the toughest run in the game
you’re caught in a corner and you got to
run the ball Junior had push bles out of
the way to take that run may he was May
he wouldn’t have been may he wouldn’t
have been third on
Stone young kids this day and age how
big would that be blocky 85 Kil not not
even that mate he was mate he just say
pushy out of the way mate in the end we
go mate hey hell Feller just have a
little bit of a rest let us have you
know we make the Wingers do that now
yeah let us have a carry you know me
yeah yeah and he grew up in the house
right behind lock coval as well he
pretty muches he saw hot dogs at he saw
hot dogs at the ground you know years
ago you to make a quid you know so he
was destined yeah he was destined to be
you know the tiger Skipper and it’s a
great story and you spoke about car
Hemsley obviously not doing too well at
the moment with his sickness but I
remember speaking to you the other week
he used to drive the training every day
with each other yeah yeah what what what
happened there was and I reckon it’s a I
reckon it’s a great thing for BL and but
but you mentioned before about everyone
being all over the place um we had a
great we had a great partnership that
you know I’d go and pick him up for
training we’d dve to trainer and talk
about footy all the time and do whatever
we were going to do but it buil a great
Bond on the field because if you tried
to take him on you took us both on
that’s it and that was the the the bond
and the pack that we had there was a
great story about the 89 Grand Final he
I get suspended in ‘ 88 I go to England
to try and beat the beat the thing yeah
my best mate here takes my place cuz he
was you know he was at the back end of
his career he takes me place in the 88
Grand Final so you didn’t play the 88
Grand Final I got suspended I was over
in England trying to beat the beat the
four-week suspension for a high tackle
on Chris Mortimer yes yes yeah I got
there as quick as I could anyway he’s a
great M ofm Louis too and a tough man um
but but what happened was um in in ‘
89 we’re beating camber with 36 seconds
to go this is a true story Carrie is
that excited CU he’s been playing with
the Tigers for a decade he’s retired
right he goes up into the sheds to get
the Magnum you know the big Magnum and
he’s shaking it up cuz 36 seconds go
chick Ferguson scores right he comes
back down shaking the magnet ready to
pop the cork extra time oh no I know oh
no and that’s uh yeah that was a a lot
of things a lot of things happened that
day you know what I mean crossbar
crossbar Junior got MC new got ankle tap
yes just short mate mate if he’s you
know he’s 2 cenm taller him and Benny we
win you know but anyway that’s by the
wayside that camra side went on to be
some of some of the alltime greatest
players ever oh mate and then same game
you and mo well I was the first one to
go so you were the first to go I was the
first to go um yeah filthy don’t know
don’t know mate we’ll win in 12 to
that’s what I mean has he did you ever
speak to you about it ah mate years and
years m i mate I respect he’s the
greatest coach I’ve ever had M him and B
Fon they were brilliant about you know
tactically and all that sort of stuff I
liked I liked I thought I knew a bit
about footy until I met Warren Ryan he
was a genius
but he had no uh the way the way that he
was with people he was abrupt straight
to the point mate yeah you know what I
mean so no beating around the bush no
beating around the bush so yeah no you
know he’s a coach mate he didn’t have to
apologize to me yeah yeah you know we
got beat fair and square by a great side
in extra time um M of course was I dirty
my bloody I’m still hurts today yeah we
only wanted to win like camber went to
win four or five couldn’t they just give
us one they can win they can win
whatever they want you know does it hurt
you when they say it is the greatest
Grand Final ever yeah I would have
rather played in the worst Grand Final
ever and won than play in the best one
and lose oh mate but anyway M you know
time goes on I mean that’s people don’t
get opportunities I’ve never played in a
grand final 30 years ago yeah
opportunities but you think mate or
there’s a perfect example I was talking
about Tim Brasher y Tim Brasher plays in
the Grand Final I think he was 17 or 18
never played another one so he would
have thought oh how easy is this I’m
here I’m here for another decade playing
this game never went to another one mate
it’s it’s remarkable isn’t it it’s funny
keii Galloway when I first come to grade
we had a really good start of tigers we
were in the prelim and I remember him
saying me the week leading up to it mate
this doesn’t happen every year and I was
like a young black Haw whatever whatever
it never happened again tigers have made
the semi since that night yeah so
it’s true what they say mate you got to
make the most of your opportunity when
you get it blocky yeah yeah yeah but M
you know in Hinds side you know you know
um when you when you play in a great
game like that Ricky Stewart kicked us a
death that game oh he was unbelievable M
when when you’re playing a game like
that and you’re you know it’s frantic
and and they deliberately kept the ball
in play and all that sort of stuff mate
it was frantic he kicked us to death he
turned us around and kicked us a death
and
unfortunately um you know Gary fan was a
great player great competitor great
Runner the ball didn’t really have a
kicking game Benny Benny was a kicker
from dummy half so so what happened was
mate if you have a look at the best
field best players on the field in my
opinion was Benny Elias mate he did it m
he tried to do everything that’s you
said but that was that was the problem
probably that we didn’t you know that we
probably didn’t have you know but
hindsight’s a great thing isn’t it you
know no question for you do you reckon
sticky changed the game for halves the
way he used to yeah I do you know we’re
uh we’re lucky you know you know when
when you have a look at the era that we
played in mate go through all the
halfbacks mate there was a hundred of
them a lot there was aund of them mate
you go Greg Alexander Steve Steve
Mortimer right Turvy was G Turvy was a
gun Cliffy lions at the half Cliffy was
a genius tuy right Gary Freeman Gary
Freeman went to the roosters and won the
daily M did he oh he won the daily M
Gary Freeman when he was playing with
the roosters he’s a great player but he
just he probably didn’t have the kicking
game like a lot of the other halves but
M we we played in we played in like
touring sides Greg Alexander played in
the wing I seen I seen some video of him
the other day his top 100 tries if you
watched it you’ll go I’ve never seen
anyone like this he was unbelievable
it’s funny you said I remember listening
to mty Jones on a podcast once and
unbelievable he was this was a few years
back and I didn’t know how good of a
player Brandy was man he was a freak but
going back to Ricky Stewart Ricky
Stewart’s passing game I’ve I’ve never
seen anyone that could like we we were
playing so so we’re playing against cber
you know you want to you to get some
tackles on and all that sort of stuff
Lori dalily would stand 30 m away from
him and he would hit him in the chest
and we we’d be running the middlemen
we’d be running around all day just
going M just wear you out get and then
his kicks going down play get kick
returns going back and he’s got a BL
like Bradley Clyde on his team that can
just Chase everything M now you’re
talking to player mate what a player
what a player mate so you would have
played against Clyde the early days of
his career wouldn’t you I did yeah he
played in The Centers he I think he made
his Debo against the Tigers year before
um he come on to be you know like a like
a great um I think he played in The
Centers y um this this day against us at
lart and then the next year he come out
mate wow what a player he was um like he
was mate he changed the game he changed
the game the way it was played he’d be
first up to take he’d take a couple of
hit UPS to set but if the opposition
kick down Phil he’d be the first one
back there he get back there it’s
because like he should to changed that
lock Ford role didn’t he cuz a lot of
them were ball playing before then yeah
yeah I mean he was um they reckon they
reckon unbelievable Lori and all you
know when you talk the Lori and all that
they’re all great mates they they say
claud’s claud’s the best out of all of
them and that’s what they say that’s
your teammate you know they also say he
doesn’t get the recognition that other
BLS do because he’s not in the meteor
and yeah that’s right but you know you
you sort of get left behind a little bit
don’t you 100% it’s the same it’s the
same as I was lucky enough to play in
the era M we went away with the first
kangaroo side I went away with you know
the backline Sterling
Lewis miles
Kenny hey R sheir was a great player he
couldn’t get a m he was on the wing
Michael O Conor Gary Jack oh you Lewis
as well
yeah and I’ll tell you I’ll tell you you
know what i’ like to know but how do
they get along playing with each other
because you know what it’s like
sometimes you got a lot of BLS that well
Roy Simmons Roy Simmons who was made one
of the greatest competitors I’ve ever
seen y he was the hooker in the in the
test matches because we had Sterling and
Lewis we didn’t need they didn’t need
Benny yeah because he was a so he was a
captain of the he was a captain of the
um right so so years had Go pass and
then Benny finally got himself in there
which he M he should have played 200 T
the way he was but royy Simmons was a
tough mate in the middle of the field
like he was ruthless ruthless mate but
when you had Sterling and Kenny but a
quick story about Donnie ferer I love
Donnie ferer God Rest his soul mate he
was a b main boy too was he yeah mate he
was know that yeah no right back right
back when he was a b main boy and um
when he coached the kangaroos it was
great because you know most most bles
well every bl’s got a ego you know he’s
catching Australia you know what he said
said I’ll just make you bles happy of
the fo he said Sterling and Lewis M they
they run the show M they were
unbelievable M we played uh we played LS
one day when we were playing all the
club games the midweek game that was
midweek game we played LS one day and
Australia won 420 mhm and the Australian
backline just m we’re unbelievable but
honestly Jun miles there’s another BL
that doesn’t get the ACC
J mores is a superstar unbelievable
unbelievable player mate um mate he he
along with the the the amount of time
that I’ve been following footy and and
looking at ball players in the centers
like ball players Jean miles and Mick
cranon were the best two that I’ve seen
actually with the ability to offload the
football like Mel was a tackle breaker
and just a big just run over the top you
yeah and run over the top of anyone on
the field it didn’t matter whether he
would he’d go well in the game this day
and age oh me
a killer unb unbelievable player but you
know Bret Kenny should be Bret Kenny
should be an immortal y but he was
unbelievable cuz you hear so much of
this Immortal debate don’t you like but
you know other thing as well is block I
reckon you don’t want to put too many in
there because then it sort of De doesn’t
yeah put them all in the hall of fame or
you’re a Hall of Famer or you’re
whatever but Immortals are in my in my
way of thinking is the greatest well
they’re the best mate yeah yeah and you
can’t well man look at that look at the
Queensland side and and nothing nothing
against them but with you know they even
talking now you know with with SM Smitty
and Cooper cron and thirst and M you
can’t Greg englas yeah freak you can’t
put them all in can you no not but
they’ll all be in the Hall of Fame and
deservingly deservingly so you’ve got
loia too well mate there you go there
you go Ronnie coot Ronnie cot’s been
nominated three times and can’t can’t
get in so he can’t get in now cuz isn’t
it that I’m not sure I hope that rules
change because should be M Ronnie cute
wow
the grand finals everything unbelievable
unbelievable R’s house too you know
thing I was going to
say this so leading into a game right
you’re come up against one of the big
packs yeah how you feel like what what
ticks blocky off and who is he going
after well probably not probably not
going after anyone you know I I go right
back to the opportunity of someone give
me an opportunity to what drives me my
family yeah really I met I met I met my
wife wife Kathy you know her very well I
met her at a young age and um you know
we were married at a young age and mate
what drove me was my family but I I want
to I want to I want to make something of
myself try and get a try and get a good
quit mate it’s funny you know when I was
playing all I ever wanted to do was own
me house yeah that was the whole goal
now M you could buy one a year the
amount of money they’re on you know what
I mean you know what I mean but um yeah
that was that was the goal the goal was
the goal was that that I watched all
these guys play that I idolize and
thinking maybe maybe I can you know play
a few games and be like them what what
motivated me I wanted to I I wanted to
make a difference yep I didn’t want to
just play the game and like if if if I
play the game now and the coach said to
me I just want you to get take the ball
up 20 times and find your elbows and
knees well leave me out yeah you know
that’s that’s that’s not how I play and
the thing a lot of people don’t remember
with blocky yeah they remember your phys
K you’re pretty brutal you had great
ball skills mate well we we learned that
when we were young kids mate you know
you know the thing about the ball skills
mate I was left-handed you think about
it if you’re a lefty and bles are coming
to try and Tackle you you always got
that side of your body free so it goes
against that was one of your best
attributes was your ball play mate well
try and do yeah that’s we tried to do it
like Keith Barnes I’ll tell the story
about Keith Barnes Keith you know when I
first in the in the first grade for the
first you know 20 weeks or whatever Kei
pulled me aside and he said mate he said
I I can go I can go out to Black town
and get some seven foot bikes to do what
you’re doing at the moment just taking
the ball up you know you you got a skill
to pass the ball and offload the
football and traffic but why aren you
doing it that that’s what set you apart
differ from everyone else that’s a
difference yeah so when mate once I once
I understood
that I tried I tried to be like tried to
be like that y but mate Benny made of
Life mate Benny made of life just think
about this in a defensive line right
you’re defending and you’re defending
firstly defending Benny and we’re in the
middle third of the field and and for
people at home now Benny’s like a we
Eagan yeah I exactly you can’t so you’re
defending right and Benny jumps out a
dummy half and you look at him but you
got me on the inside and Z on the
outside with him picking what he wants
to who he wants to pick what do you do
as a Defender especially when you’re
under fatigue you plenty feet like you
stand where you going man who am I going
to take you but you’re you’re plan
you’re putting in the chair straight
away you can’t tackle someone basically
catching them that’s right because he
options because he made it about options
yeah so he so without him playing in
that
position he he made all the BLS around
him better that’s why I say he was so
good he was basically before his time
Benny a freak and and obviously worked
so hard on it for yeah just mate
unbelievable just uh you know m i seent
him chip over the top one day in a first
grade chip over the top and then chip
over the fullback twice and score under
the post and we’re all going ape going M
how good Z that’s the best thing I’ve
ever seen you know he turns around what
what man it’s like um it’s like I well
that’s what I do that’s what I do that’s
what I do and the other story with with
keithy Barnes so all you BLS yourself
blocker you know Gary Jack Gary Jack you
all got the same amount but Benny gets a
little bit more well ke said all the all
the Internationals are on the same money
except Benny he’s the best player so we
all went oh well yeah you’re right but
listen to you’re speaking about him now
mate he deserved it a mate mate what a
mate you would you would have loved
see I I had I had a great um I had a
great understanding with s on that he
knew he knew how I played so we played
for a decade together but he he actually
knew when you’re going to bounce out
well he made try and try and like make
it BL turn his shoulders for instance
he’d know exactly where to run and might
he was maybe we had a great a great
understanding about trying to pull
markers and I it’s a it’s a bit of a
complicated thing but we we played the
game like that but we played the game
like that because of Benny so he s he
was the driving force behind you to or
your whole pack your pack was extending
Bruce Maguire yeah Bruce mire doesn’t
get enough accolades man what a player
footwork strong tough unbelievable but
he was like Junior never said boo even
Dave Brooks never said boo but we were
playing penth one day you might have
been at this game when we were when you
were a kid we playing pen one day at
lart for the playoff of fifth there was
no top top eight playoff of Fifth and we
had to play him played in the Sunday and
then the next week on the Wednesday so
played them again same the playoff
anyway they had a great pack M that was
mg and
all and you know all those guys anyway
um we playing at lart there was 20
23,000 there at lart only 58 they were
sitting on the roofs unbelievable
playing against penth and Bruce jumped
up and knocked John cartright right out
knocked him right out no one says a word
anyway we watching the video and um yeah
Benny was sort of involved in the tackle
and he said uh I got that cart right a
and I said mate you didn’t get to get on
a on a step letter Warren Roy shows the
video again he says God that looks like
Bruce McGuire Benny that’s that’s not
you what what Benny I just I was
involved in the tackle you know but
Bruce was Bruce was um mate Bruce was
hard as Nails mate yeah bloke from Nara
he was from now him and I it’s funny how
things he would that’s not F hour from
you from but funny how we played under
in country together wow yeah and then we
then we sort of marched on and play with
the target for just off top the
production line of Wong it’s it’s it’s
unbelievable mate yeah we were talking
about fullbacks the other day and I hope
I don’t leave any out right so they’re
talking about Keith Barnes there Keith
Barnes right grahe langlands was
langland from down there was langland
was from there um Brian Johnston the
play fullback um the snake from Manley
love him M Champion player the snake
Gary Jack Jack yeah John dor yeah he’s
back there was 400 of them Bobby Smitt
is who played in the 69 Grand Final
Bobby Smitty he was he won that
Premiership with with the Tigers he was
from dto there was there was eight of
them and then you like but he even
throwing in blows like the Morris twins
there you go like I personally think
Brett Morris is the best Winger to play
the game just how good he was you know
one of the great you’re going to get an
argument for me I thought he was great
but eeko the wrecker was the best wi
play the game I don’t remember much of
him oh he’s unbelievable the wer I know
I know Brett Morris was a great finisher
defensively tough do you remember was
that him in the origin when he got when
he was down injured and he got up and
tackled oh that was his brother knee but
he he played the rest of that game with
a fractured shoulder or broken shoulder
yeah they’re tough they’re tougher than
they look Wingers they’re tougher than
they look and then they look at their
old man slippery Morris played for
Australia played and and played for
Australia from wenong yeah from Park
footy wasn’t it he he well he’s playing
yeah playing first grade that happen now
you could you wouldn’t be able to do it
now it would never happen it couldn’t
happen that’s so did so you said you
come up with car jack was there any
other first graders you played with in
the 18s or 17s competition oh yeah M We
we played with the West devil know we we
had we had half a dozen bles that I
played Juniors with play first grade W
Mitchell Jones played first grade for uh
for the Steelers Johnny Sparks do you
remember Johnny Sparks played with ilara
and played with us at the Tigers Johnny
um Michael the Boyce this this SP name
Michael the Boyce I played with was a
center uh he played against the French
uh in first grade filla wara M he was a
superstar he could have been anything
you know what Buddy goes on and he’s he
becomes the boss of of the mind oh
really yeah so M great M of ours and
mate he mate he was a player M if you
looked at all the guys that we played
with and and how it all came through
they used to play the Coca-Cola knockout
yeah which was an under 14 competition
so what what the Coca-Cola knockout was
every Side in New South Wales it won a
Premiership in their area like B main
comp West comp parac comp yeah um you
know canab so we won the comp the under
14s in in wenong so we win and we come
and play the Coca-Cola knockout in
Sydney yep and we win the Coca-Cola
knock where play it was played at at
crala oh wow so we yeah we we beat Mount
Pritchard 1 n BL named Phil Pratt kicked
the field goal one one n it’s under 14s
and guess what our trip was for winning
the ca knock out 14 year olds half of
BLS had beards at that time was a trip
to the goal
coast thank you how good how long go for
oh I can’t remember mate we were 14y old
kids mate I re we played up but oh it’s
all about having a good time but it was
but you know coming through that side
you it was a BL named Ray King who was
our coach MH he coached us from under
sevens to under 18 oh yeah man he was a
great man he played played hooker for
for Wen go and made tough old knockout
bloke even the down there now are
unbelievable like cuz I had a good mate
T MGA didn’t get a contract with the
dragons he’s playing down the Willing
gon comp he reckons the training and and
games are harder than some of the first
grade really who who’s he playing for
now west
collegians playing Collegian W West West
sorry West that’s the Red Devils is he
playing the Red Devils that’s my old
Club the West wiing so they’re the big
Club he said yeah yeah that’s my and
they play against the canaries like
everyone the buters the cor and he goes
every team’s got a couple of first
graders in the team like he goes mate
but see what what happens is down there
like you know take my club for instance
you know if you’re an ex first grader
you go down there and they’ll get your
job in the mines well yeah he’s in the
minds what he’s doing but M they they in
lies how I want to try and fix country
rugby league like say you know say um
Isaiah yo yep is from Duo yep the league
should step in when he retires and say
mate you in charge of the duo area or
the group that area might go out there
make it worth his while if he really
loves footy give him a job out there and
send all these old players out there to
do it that’s what they used to do in the
old days but you finish your career in
Sydney and then you go out well you go
and play you go and play in the bush as
a c coach yeah it was good whack for the
boys too good for the good for the game
and it kept them going like you know
when they you hear a lot of the BLS when
they retire they get a little bit
struggled
yeah they’ll have a bit of a drive yeah
and mate and all of a sudden you know
you’re not you’re not in the in the in
the media or you’re not in the eye of
the public and all that sort of stuff
and you know your wage cuts down quite a
bit especially what it is at the moment
you got to you got to struggle and you
got to start again that’s it mate and
yeah you got to have the right people
around you and and those clubs will help
you out um I I love I love what the
Marines I’ve always live by this mate no
one’s coming mate no one’s coming no
one’s coming to help you mate no it
yourself you’re done so that’s why what
you’re doing now mate you’re just on the
verge of retiring from your game okay
I’m going to get in the mood I’m going
to have a go I’m not going most BL sit
back and wait well that’s my thing if
you if you wait it ain’t going to come
it ain’t going to happen like you said
no one’s coming no one’s coming mate so
you just got to get out there and you
got to drive yourself I know we train
full time but you got to there’s life
after footy this is only a little part
of a little of Life yeah I haven’t
played for 30 years it feels like
yesterday it feels like yesterday it’s a
long time so you’re the physical this is
one I want to ask you about you love you
love the Davidson oh my God what a
warrior man I’ve spoke to a lot of
people about it and they’d go there’s
probably one BL in in in in the in the
rugby league competition ARL was back
then or it was called ARL wasn’t it cuz
it wasn’t you play wasl yeah I can’t
remember there’s one block you wouldn’t
want to start a fight with it Les
Davidson poor block he just wanted it oh
that was M I never I never played faces
I was lucky I was lucky in that stink
mate I got in early like that was that
were the rules but I didn’t think I
didn’t think going into the game well if
I get in a stink with whoever may they
mate listen to their P oh M tell us tell
us David
Bole M David Bo break my NES about six
times but give you the opportunity to
get square David Bo Les Les Davidson Ian
Roberts Mario now Mario fenick mate
don’t you talk about tough blocks and
competitors mate I’m telling you he was
right in a thick of it so that that
South Sydney pack um that that South
Sydney pack was always a war with you
know it was always it was always
canbury Waring Waring teams I’m talking
about now param were the best side by a
mile in those days but the Waring packs
were s in the Tigers yep and the
Bulldogs so who the Bulldogs have M
cement Gillespie folks Steve folks Peter
Tung oh yeah Tung Peter Kelly yeah Kelly
he went to West as well didn’t he Paul
langmack yeah mate langmack was a great
player mate but what was he like to play
against cuz oh M chatty plenty of chat
but mate he could play don’t worry about
that m m I think he won three three
grand few a few grand fornals and but
mate you never sort of like if a stin
started it starts mate it’s like it’s
not oh know who am I who am I up against
or whatever if it starts it starts
that’s the way it is but lesen I Les and
I great mates mate mate straight away
after that we we went and played
Warrington together really what about
the pack in Warrington who was that oh M
Kevin was Kevin was he the one got in
the fight out on the side of the field
he the ones that punch the [ __ ] out of
Greg ding in they Kevin was there I was
at one side of the front row Kevin was a
hooker Les Boyd was in the other front
rower Les Davidson back row was in the
back row and a BL named Mike Gregory was
a captain of was the captain of uh
England what he could and a BL named
wrath bone like I mean we had M it was
the maddest pack ever to play but we
never played with each other that much
because one of us was always spend how
was how was your time in England because
because you could go basically once a
season as soon as it finished couldn’t
you yeah yeah well mate the time I went
I tried to beat the suspension so I’d
already I’d sign with um I’d sign with
Warrington we tried to beat the
suspension over there I got Su spend in
the semi-final yep I got exactly four
weeks the Tigers make the Grand Final uh
I try and go over there and I’d missed
two weeks here and they pick me in a
sight over there for two weeks and we
say that’s four games I’m back beautiful
they said oh great idea but mate you
can’t do it
anyway so they yeah so they stopped that
but mate playing over there m it was um
especially with those guys unbelievable
they were great players but the only
thing for me is you know I got to be I
got to be really happy we’re on playing
it was a middle of winter and it’s
probably sound a bit wiy freezing in the
middle of winter they playing the summer
now afternoon it’s dark at 3:00 you’re
kidding yeah yeah and I’m I’m like man I
want to go home and how old are you at
this stage blocky uh geez I think I’m 25
or 26 how many of the kids would you how
many of the boys would you had then uh
we had we had Dan Dan was it hard we had
Dan and Liam I think was nearly on the
way or I can’t really remember mate yeah
it was hard mate but k k was of Irish
descent so we had she had she had family
in she just take Dan and put him in the
car and catch the boat across to isand
and cuz it wasn’t far was it no no it’s
across the across the laneway oh man
yeah so they’d go and visit isand and
I’d be stuck there playing footy and all
that sort ofu and you missed the
preseason back here
good point yes good point mate what
about preseason bloody hell I remember
one day Les hob is my great mate you
know your great mate what a great
trainer one of the best the best we were
running koogi one day and it was about
40° and I we were running through the
cemetery and I hit me head on a
tombstone and I and I was like out cold
anyway they all the boys stop mate mate
you all right mate you’re all right yeah
hoby said I just roll a fat pig in there
roll him in one of the graves keep going
keep going he’s a great man l he’s one
of the great and you mentioned the great
hars Turvy you were there the night when
you win your first origin Series yeah
how much did that mean to you because a
lot of people understand Queens W how
many how many the origins win before
that well New South Wales hadn’t won it
started in ‘ 81 so the first series New
South Wales W was in 85 and a big reason
was Turvy Mortimer yep mate what a mate
what a warrior what a what a motivator
what he a little Mano little man but
mate he’d take he’d take runs off the
rock if bles weren’t having a dick he
give me the ball it was unbelievable unb
We we played in the days where you go
past the kton in Queensland and we get
showered with 5,000 cans was it like
cracks in the buses and mad no just just
show us with 5,000 cans the only reason
they’ll FR because it’s fores taste they
can’t spell beer terrible but I remember
one day tury said stop the bus stop just
there te on it stop the bus stop the bus
like so he wanted to wait there for it
he wanted yeah yeah stop the bus anyway
they shared us with the 5,000 cans he
said stop the bus bus let’s get out of
here but that in the days mate it was
intimidating you know if if you if you
didn’t if you didn’t understand it and
you hadn’t played there before so we’ go
past C Street get sh with 5,000 cans and
this was L par that’s why I can’t call
it sun Corp I love listening to the old
pass even Gordy calls it Ling pass so
when we when we would come to the ground
we get off the bus there was none of
this parking underneath and all that
we’d get off the bus and we had to walk
through the bar to go to the dressing
rooms so we’d cop it again oh but it was
it was the way it was mate there was it
was intimidating and mate I saw you know
I’m not going to mention any names but I
saw a lot of BLS melt playing against
Queens land and Queensland different
wasn’t it different mate did you play
that game where Wally had to calm the
crowd down when when they threw Kan he
got sent to the Sim yeah I did yeah I
did threw can on the ground scen of that
was well Wally was sent to the m you
can’t send can’t send the king to the
sinman and it was five minutes there was
only five back five minutes well it
could be five or 10 yend depending on
your industry aggression Y and he was he
was sent 5 minutes in the in and all of
a sudden made all his cans started
coming on the ground crazy wasn’t it it
was mad and so so when I think you were
the first one to cud tury weren’t you
when he was down on his knees yeah yeah
yeah I remember yeah cuz he he was such
an influence to all of us you know when
when you look at it we were we were
young bles we were kids he motivated us
to to really believe in that you know
when s in the in the game with Benny and
you know myself and Junior and you know
all those sort of guys so mate Steve Mor
was a great was a great motivator and
mate bloody hurts me sadly now to see
see how he’s going now we we uh we had a
we had a a luncheon with him about six
months ago it was BL it was great to see
him and you know he’s he’s doing a
little bit tough at the moment that’s
see man and obviously you had a few
kangaroo tours in your time how many
kangaroo tours I only went on only two I
only went on two and how long people at
home like three months players don’t
understand what like when you say
kangaroo TOS a ma ma did four of them he
did like I know the players I play with
now they think that’s just s did three
did he there’s apparently there’s only
mate you might someone might correct me
on this but there’s only two BLS ever go
forwards theyve ever been on three
kangaroos wow he’s one of them so three
months away that’s a long time that’s a
long time mate yeah it was a long time
uh in those days too mate they’d send
your family would send you videos of the
kids growing up you know there’d be the
whole team unbelievable waiting for the
video to come you know to see the you
know but uh mate you you could never
undo the friendship I was going to say
some of the bonds you would have made
from those tours unbelievable
unbelievable m i I was only saying I was
saying a little bit earlier about that
great Australian backline we played in a
test match against England um I can
remember Jean miles in the first test
Jean miles scored two and set up two I
think Australia winning 26 N at half
time and 50 there was 52,000 there Jesus
they’re all singing if you want your
money back clap your hands mate that
mate he was unbelievable in the first
half really but I remember this these
guys were that good Sterling and Lewis
and miles and Kenny and all that I
remember as a Ford not not going over
the halfway line that’s unbelievable
just looking at them like a fan just oh
clapping
myself good so you could just you could
feel how good these bikes are going to
be M they were unbeliev just do your job
mate you know Sterling is say m just get
us forward mate just get us forward get
us to this sterling sterling sterling
was unbelievable mate not fast not
strong but mate between the years you go
just get us forward I’ll read the
numbers when You Know M he was a genius
at it w and then Wally I mean if you
knewed something to happen in a game he
had this great Instinct in the 80
minutes to do it exactly at that time
was needed so he was a big moments man
mate unbelievable I’ve never seen
anything like it he was uh mate he was
freakish at it crazy in it unbelievable
so the third I think it was the third
test in ‘ 86 England played pretty well
um Australia looks like they’re going to
win the win the win the ashes and win
the whole tour undefeated yep pommy are
playing pretty good new to try Wally 15
M out tucks the ball under his arm just
bounces away from three of them carries
three over scores a try game over game
over M just says come with me just like
um I don’t know mate there’s freakish
BLS that can can do that sort of stuff
there’s only like Superstar that’s why
he’s imortal and that was him that was
that was Wally yeah and then so that’s a
great foot obviously was big career how
did you transition from that to the
Footy
Show was it the Footy Show first or the
continuous core team
uh no no it was a Footy Show was a Footy
Show first uh mate I don’t really know
um what happened was I was suspended for
one of many times oh suspended and um
and Ellen Jones was Ellen Jones was the
was the was a coach and said and he he
was a great mat with the Packers and all
that s said said oh mate how do you
reckon you’d go how do you reckon you’d
go doing the sideline I said what said
how do you reckon you go do the side I
said I don’t know he said oh mate you’re
on the sideline this week doing the
footy and I go what do I do and he go
might just talk about the weather and
the two teams and you’ll be right you’ll
be right yeah t know dribbling on about
nothing you know and there was a
director winding me up with pulling his
finger around in the circle and I
thought that meant keep going and I’m
going up but it me wind up shut up you
shut up know yeah so I just kept
waffling on and then what happened was
in those days mate there wasn’t all the
teams in the competition there was no
Queensland teams they had their own comp
and all that sort of stuff and the Footy
Show started and what they did was they
got they got fatty from the northern
beaches or was or was planned they got
fatty from the northern beaches sterl
from out west and then I just tagged
along yep from Inner City from the
Tigers and mate we started the Footy
Show and then well mate fatty and that
started the Footy Show and then mate
though mate I think he I think he went
longer than Daryl Summers the fat man
did it for 25 30
years so yeah so um and mate was a
genius and it was a bit like um the more
he Bugg it up and didn’t give a rats the
better it was the more people watched it
you know what I mean I lived for
Thursday 9:30 Thursday night at 9:30
sterling sterling was a real uh he a
straight shooter straight shooter and
then you but he’d always break character
cuz fatty would with stuff something up
and like and then yeah like M how can
you bugger that up you know and then and
then the big success story
was I think because of all the low’s ads
and we were doing all the low ask and
then all of a sudden they started do an
Annie ad so we would take the Mickey out
of commercials
so who come up with that idea that’s
what that’s what I’m saying I don’t know
I think it was Glenn pister oh yeah he’s
a champion Glenn I did a couple of footy
shows and Glenn pister was there he’s
one of the great Champion yeah so I
think it was Glenn and um M we did mate
mate we we do shoots like on a Tuesday
how long would they take you I might
kill belly like fatty would be like he
was on the show he’ Bugg up 50 times
deliberately so he’d keep us there we
want to go out
you know I mean but yeah know was M it
was
fun play yogurt yeah y play you know I
did the I did the um the kid you know
the kid on the toilet going I’m in here
I’m still in here just all that sort of
stuff so yeah but man it was fun and
we’re having a good time but but what we
so we’d have fun on Thursday night but
then we’ do the footy Friday Saturday
Sunday so we’ you know sometimes we and
we do the Sunday Footy Show that was
yeah you know and sometimes if we were
man it was unreal man the best time of
their lives if you know sometimes if
there was a game in Newcastle we’d catch
the channel 9 helicopter up there the
Newcastle yeah oh you kid back in the
day really yeah unreal it was Unreal cuz
we cuz the three of us would go and do
the footy there you know and then you
know later on Ray come on yeah you Ray
come on um you know more of um doing the
newsy stuff and all that sort of stuff
and then um do you remember the night um
Terry Hill with gonads yeah goad goad
and then one of the a great a b beef
mate but but that was good it was good
fun I think um I think it come off the
back of the Melbourne Footy Show okay
yeah the4 one that was fantastic you see
a lot of times now that shows they of of
cop do one in Melbourne do one in Sydney
that’s right yeah it’s the same nine
Network and all that for any BL in my
age in my era we love the footage show
it was good fun oh man it was it was
honestly outstanding then the 2GB
continuous call team mate that was like
it’s unreal my whole my n and pop
religiously listen to it but it was it
it was similar to the Footy Show but on
radio yes so it was fun M but and that
was with with well boo boo boo pingos
God Rest funny man you used to call me
140 kgr white out you know on air and
all that you’re just fighting with it an
argule I remember Hadley boo I remember
when I was in the 20s and you brought me
into the box I got to meet the boys M it
was mate it was mad we did that like we
did that for they’re still doing it now
but when when we were all doing it we
did it for about 15 years unbelievable
but then but then the big man was was a
secret to that show oh he’s still on
he’s still on I know but he was um he
was like the uh The Whipping Boy but he
was the glue that held everything
together so he but he’s a funny man mate
hilarious and he’s a good man he’s a
legend him and Bev his beautiful wife
Big D D D but he was the BL he was the
whipping that like everyone had to go at
yeah and everyone felt sorry for in the
audience you know so it was deliberately
done for sure that’s unreal but it was
yeah but it was like yeah it was like
Mario when he was on the footy sh Mario
they they just took a migy out of him
every week but that was your role that’s
your play play the role you yeah you a
certain role like F’s the host he stuff
up but the the big man’s laughing at
everyone now he’s the only one left you
know what I mean how long how long
although Ray’s come back to it a bit now
doing a few calls the big man all that
sort of and what’s so how long would the
big mom be doing it for like that to be
M it’s oh mate it’s cuz piggy it’s got
to be more than it’s got to be more than
20 years it’s unbelievable isn’t it m he
but he he mate he’s unbelievable at it
and can you know he’s a sort of BL that
can handle all that stuff and then come
out with something funny you know what I
mean he’s a funny guy well I bumped into
him the other week at um at combank
stadium and he goes I heard what they’ve
been saying about you Wy yeah you don’t
want to be referred to as a big man cuz
he’s not going that bad mate yeah
there’s only one big man say m he’d
introduced me we on the back of all that
stuff we do we we used to do a lot of
speaking gigs and that yep so darl Daryl
smartly thought you know what I’m going
to do the speaking gigs and give people
a bit of a laugh and tell some stories
but I’m also going to be the MC oh
really so he’d get up and get introduce
me and go uh blocker you know who’s the
greatest footballer or the greatest
front rower you’ve ever played against
and why was I that’s how he did AIA you
know he’s the best he great great fell
but mate longevity I’m long and mate
could play footy too yeah who’s a good
footy player skillful well who is it
Bulldog maybe maybe SK Queensland yeah
Queensland unlucky unlucky not to play
for Australia I think he was on his on
his way and I think he might might have
had
a that were the rules in those days
that’s what happened part of Foy and
then now M but’s but he’s the way that
he turned that into a bit of a joke is
he said well mate New South Wales were
always stop Brom and stop
Queensland and they did and they did and
then now you’re at Fox mate yeah so how
like that’s just m the career you’ve had
to end back at Fox yeah oh m I m I did I
did a couple of stupid things mate
that’s part of life M we live and learn
just live and learn M I got the flick
and mate what I did was when I got the
flick from nine and all that I got no
stink with the black and the go cage
it’s long story blah blah blah blah blah
you know just one of the humps in my
life Y and um I was I thought how am I
going to keep myself um a little bit
relevant in you know doing things in the
media so what I did was M ate a lot of
Humble Pie and I was in The Newsroom
room at Fox yep right and I’d just do
this segment every week um called The
Chopping Block so it went for 2 minutes
so i’ blow up about something in the
week bloody touch judges you know
whatever the bunker and and I’ve always
been and I’m not I’m not ashamed to say
it Steve Crawley has been a real good
mate of mine well he was at nine wasn’t
he so he was at nine then he’s gone gone
to Fox anyway um he calls me he calls me
this is 9 years ago I’ve been back on
Fox for 9 years I know mate unbelievable
so anyway mate lucky blessed I’m blessed
anyway and a lot of people probably
agree with me but anyway jealousy mate
so no no it’s not it’s just it’s life
mate as you said so anyway um Steve
Steve calls me up into his office one
day and he goes um what are you doing I
said oh nothing much mate I’m just you
know doing The Chopping Block down there
he said um he said the Bulldogs are
playing the Bulldogs are playing uh the
Broncos this week go down and get fitted
for this for a suit and I want you
in the in the commentary on the weekend
I said oh M I’ll start off from the sine
no no no you’re in the Box I what what
said m i want you back in the I want you
back in the commentary blah blah blah
blah blah and make the rest is history
you know think of this how long were we
out of the game from that period to
then well um mate it would have been
about a year and a half I reckon y but
mate what I did was as I said I just I
just kept plotting away doing a little
just kept you know doing little things
and then you know trying to find out
what I was going to do and all that sort
of stuff and yeah yeah and how’s that
moment so when you get to the Bulldog
game butterflies nerves or just excited
just excited mate I’m back in the G I’m
back in the game I love mate I think I
think and I don’t know whether it’s a
conscious or subconscious thing I think
people or fans or people who listen to
us talk about the game and you two now I
think they can they can hear or see or
feel a genuine love for it yep so
to me getting back on was mate was like
another chance it’s unreal isn’t it you
know and you know mate I’m I’m bloody 62
next birthday really yeah so you know
it’s you know everything’s a bonus now
mate isn’t it crazy how you’re bonus
you’re a young bloke 17 and a half
adapto you get Bary knocks on the door
know and it’s basically since then drug
B just consumed your whole life man it’s
weird it’s crazy isn’t it it’s crazy if
you if you actually sat down and told
someone that story dead you’re taking
the piss you’re taking the Mickey yeah
you can’t that can’t happen mate but it
happens look you know the thing I’ve
learned too mate over the years is
everyone’s got a story mate exactly
everyone’s got a reason I I honestly
believe if your reason is big enough
you’ll be good at what you do yep if
your reason’s big enough and the reason
why you’re doing it and then you spoke
about your reason before family family
you got family three young BLS that I’m
pretty close to and I know what you’re
like with them mate they’re like my
mates oh M they’re like my brothers good
they’re good boys you got Dan Australian
school Boys Rugby Union player could
have been anything but hurt his neck
hurt his neck uh he went over and played
in Ireland for oler yes in the hkin cup
yep and um I remember there was a black
named France bwa who was a South African
front row playing playing over there and
uh I went over to watch him and he said
he said to me mate this BL this BL will
be better than me he said but I got to
teach him out of scrummage in rubby
Union scrummage it’s different it’s
different so so Dan actually played a
couple of games in the hinen cup which
is all the uh all the teams in Europe
play against each other and anyway it’s
like the champion sort of League yeah
you’re right it like that but it hurt
his neck bad and then M that was it he
never played again may I think he
finished it 21 or 22 crazy which was
which is a which is a shame and then and
then you’re great mate one of your best
mat is big big Lurch big live B big lch
you know he’s M on Bloody I love sitting
down and talking to him about the footy
and that he he he should be a coach but
he knows what he knows what’s going on
and he says oh mate they’re doing this
here and that way tell me about that
again you know I mean he should be
either a coach or a player manager yeah
that’s you re go but M he M he played
footy too I remember him coming home one
day made 6’5 or whatever he played all
right very big skillful he skill had to
go you know went over to England played
in England all that sort of stuff but he
said to me one day my dad I don’t think
rugby league’s might go I said mate
that’s you know what if if I’m a parent
I’d love to hear that because I don’t
care you just do what you want what you
do what you do and as you know with
brien’s now Zack successful he’s he man
there he’s flying that’s it he’s flying
and loves his job loves it and and loves
being a people person but he also loves
footy loves footy man and he helps Lee
with the footy teams he’s smart that’s
he’s smart you know BL will ring him
about his game you know but even now I
speak about foot mate yeah but even now
he you know Mitchell Pierce one of his
great mates right Mitchell going into
the media you know the first thing the
first thing he said to him was mate
instead of you know being um organized
and contrived about what you’re going to
say thinking about what you’re going to
say when you’re doing the commentary
thate say what you see that’s it that’s
all you got to worry about say what you
see don’t go in there with don’t go the
preconceived plan because a co-
commentator that the commentator’s job
is to come up with you know uh this is
woodsy 70th try in his career and he’s
played you know that’s J where the
analysis our job is to watch and say or
say what you’re feeling or say what
you’re seeing yeah if you see like like
you said earlier with with um s that
could read your game a BL turned his
shoulders in that’s it created the
opportunity have a look where have a
look where the half back have a look
where the full backs caught the front
rolls run from dummy off and run over
the top of him that’s it 100% saw him
stand there so yeah and then we go to AJ
been a three Olympics three Olympic
Games and you you went all three of them
didn’t you I did h no sorry I didn’t go
to the last for the co oh sorry yes but
um I got a I think it’s a great story
you know probably never been told it’s a
family family sort of thing and it just
so happened um they used to go away with
with 14 players pre Olympics so when
they go with 14 players I I don’t know
the exact numbers but only 11 are
allowed in the Olympic Village right so
he’s the young bloke carrying the caps
and make the young got to do all the
crap you know got to do all the crap
it’s like in League too you know like
like Wingers go and get the views hurry
up so he’s doing all that sort of stuff
and mate there’s a there’s you know the
London Olympics whether he’s going to go
or not y
so so they go over to Europe and they’re
playing da d da and what happens is Two
Guys their best mates because they play
they they have 4 in the teams they play
seven on seven they play so they play
scrimmage and all that and then they
play against all the European team so
two of his mates get tapped they’re in
the pool they get tapped and say mate
you’re not going you’re not going pack
your bags you’re going home you haven’t
made the Olympic the Olympic team so I’m
I’m I’m all worried about Bloody Ma you
going to make it
you know and trying to figure out what
what I’m going to say to him he’s the
youngest bloke in the team what am I
going to say to him if he doesn’t make
it you know blah blah blah and he’ll be
able to tell with my the way that I’m a
feeling sort of bloke you know and the
way I feel and the way I talk he’ll
understand that you know that I’m trying
to put on a show to to anyway so it just
so happens I’m doing I’m doing a game at
lat overal oh yeah and I go home go home
to my house after the game blah blah
blah blah
and the whole family’s in
tears I’m going [ __ ] he hasn’t he hasn’t
made and my my Ms CF goes um you got to
go out you got to go and talk talk to
Aiden you got to ring Aiden I’m like oh
my God what am I going to say so anyway
doll the number blah blah BL blah how
you going mate you’re
good I’m going oh what’s do what’s doing
mate he go oh mate two BL got kicked out
of the thing
that said oh mate you know you know boys
are going home and teammates and all
that sort of stuff and um I said oh how
you going with that mate and he goes I
made the Olympic team I got you cuz I be
i’ be getting them all all me life about
Dowing them up and all that he go I got
you I made the Olympic te
anyway I think the story gets better I’m
sorry to be indulgent but he’s a
three-time Olympian mate yep so so I
can’t make the first game they play
Greece for the first game I can’t make
the first game the second game uh
playing and what happens is the two
teams walk out on the pool and they they
line up and they they sing the national
an okay yep yep so he’s walking out and
I’ve made it there by then woodsy you
know yeah did he know you were coming
yeah he knows I’m coming but he looks up
in the stand and he sees me and he pumps
his chest I never honestly mate with
everything I’ve ever played in or
whatever I’ve never had a prouder moment
me life I got goosebumps now I’m serious
man he looks up to me and goes you know
like but you know that’s so good but it
was so good but um you know you know I I
talked to a lot of Ls about you know we
had a lot of Center forwards now he’s
he’s his job was to get the ball I’m
being a bit self-indulgent but anyway
who cares Mak it’s all about you today
brother his job is like a half mate he’s
a junior like to get the ball into the
center forwards right y so he’s got this
B Big Joe K he’s in New Zealand he’s
playing for Australia 6’5 athlete mate
probably one of the best center forwards
in the now Center fors like front row
like us they they get the ball in
they’ve got to wrestle everyone and
score the goals he says to me mate I’ve
never ever played with a bloke and he
played with them all over the world
never play with a BL get me the ball
like he could oh really yeah no look
passes set just just knew just knew the
game so yeah so unbelievable yeah so he
goes he goes to free free Olympics we go
to uh we go to London and we go to Rio
Rio that was a that was an eye opener
different Rio please
hello hello and then and then they went
to Japan in the last Olympics but no one
could go you know and is he still doing
the water polo still floating around in
in National League yep doesn’t doesn’t
play a lot of minutes but just around
with the boys and having a having a
having a swim he loves it mate he’s a
good kid too they’re all good kids mate
M they’re the best and then good boys
Dan and Liam both have two daughters
each two daughters each so you’re a
grandfather now yeah now I’m saying to
AJ I love the girls I want to spoil them
to death you got to keep the name going
that’s it mate I’m saying Liam come on
mate aim up again fire up
son how has it been a grandfather cuz
you speak to everyone say it’s different
when you’re a parent but it’s better
when you’re a grandfather it’s it’s
unreal mate it’s m they melt your heart
soon as you like I’ll give you an
instance I was on telly last night doing
the you know the Monday night in at Sky
Y come home I thr you on television
today you on TV you know like stuff like
that I’m you know Liam and that always
getting into me about spoiler that old
spoiler mate i m EXA beautiful but mate
you know mate it’s it’s unbelievable the
only the only problem is you know we we
talk to Dan every couple of days or
every day um see the girls over there on
isand but you know I want to want to see
them more you know we’ve been over a
couple of times and we seen him being on
holidays and all that and might it’s
breaks your heart to see him you growing
up but you know at least at least now
with that with all those mechanisms on
lady telephones and all that you can
talk to them what do you call it um
Instagram Facebook Whata all that sort
of stuff whatever I don’t know I don’t
know how you to Wi your time with social
media big boy well I probably would
still be suspended on and off the field
and he speaking of breaking your heart
something in the media last couple weeks
like over oh mate please don’t stop me
mate see see a lot of people got it the
wrong way around thinking that thinking
that we were talking about ourselves
right we’re not talking about ourselves
I’m talking about Community I’m talking
about I said rich I challenge you mate
you’ve never walked down Mary Street
with all those fans you don’t know what
it means to to people to follow the
Tigers you have no idea you’re talking
about something you don’t know about
that’s like me talking about something
you know that I don’t know about you
know what he needs to do is go to the
Sackville you know go to the Baton ball
go to the three weeds walk down Mary
Street with the people the street walk
down everywhere yeah exactly you know
walk down he probably doesn’t even know
Lori Nichols has got a lane named Ary he
would mate he wouldn’t cuz all all they
worry about is corporates so so what is
it is is it about is rugby league now
about champagne and cucumber
sandwiches mate or is it about the fan
in my opinion it’s still about the fan
what’s what’s harder to play at lock at
over when you got 20,000 fans on top of
you giving it to you or combank Stadium
when half it’s the other or three qus is
the other side no M I’d rather mate
we’re showman mate I’ve said this before
Woods he you know when you play when you
really think about it and peel back all
the layers mate mate everyone right I I
I’ll say this everyone who’s watching
you say you’re playing a big origin game
or a test match do you know all the
people that are watching you want to be
you 100% they want they come and watch
because they want to be you that’s it so
you’re a shaman exactly right that’s
you’re living you’re living their dream
dream exactly right exactly right and as
soon as as soon as all the players
realize that I’m not saying that they
don’t I’m not saying that they all don’t
no but as soon as you realize that then
you go mate this game’s about enjoyment
exactly and and I think people took it
the wrong way as if you were just
supporting like her no no we weren’t you
said Campbell town I said Campell town I
said West I said the Tigers 200 years of
Heritage yeah and look at Henson Park
all those sort ofs about the People Mate
exactly right it’s about the people how
many people and and you know the best
the the best show support was how they
all showed up to lock it over that game
I love it mate the March it was
unbelievable wasn’t it wasn’t it you see
him marching in and look at the
performance the boys did for him 100%
and that’s what I’m saying you’re
showman if the if the crowd turns up to
see you you want to I reckon it’s worth
I reckon it’s worth eight points to you
this is a team that’s gone back toback
Wooden Spoons too and to see the
performance they put out did you see the
year before when they played the Cowboys
and beat them 66 to6 or whatever it was
what was that because of the the team
got on the back of it now on the first
to it m lard over need some work it does
need work it it does it needs work mate
it needs work mate I don’t know I don’t
know how we’re going to save it but I
hope I hope I’m involved trying to save
it I’m sure you will mate I’m sure you
and Benny as all the boys will get
big he’d be filthy up there in Bal he’
be he himself Golf and himself and then
obviously he’d be drinking quite a few
beers up there let’s talk about your
beer well mate I’m glad you got a little
thing up you know I’m glad you bought it
up yeah we um we bought out we bought
out a beer called block and grapple yep
um mate I I just quickly without boring
you I swore one day if I ever got in a
position I want to I want to try and
help Juniors right so we bought out a
beer we had this idea to bring out a
beer man if you have if you have a look
at our beer it’s the Chevron of the old
and we done delivering what we might do
is on cuz this is they put it on uh
video as well we’ll get a couple
pictures off you put it online for
everyone to see so it’s a Chevron of a
football jumper right so it’s called
block and grapple doom. look us up and
you can find out where you can buy it
and all that so I swore one day if I
ever got the opportunity and I did this
and beer and footy and all that goes
together in my way of thinking that we
give 10% back to the Juniors oh
beautiful so that’s what we’re doing so
you we’ve given away a few checks so far
anyway and a great mate of yours too
Arthur La been a great mate of mine for
a long long time and is a great man at
at helping people great rugby league man
so anyway I I take it along and I say m
this is what I want to do blah blah blah
blah and this is the reason I’m doing it
that day he go I got a I got a brewery
this is a great idea mate you know I’ve
got I’ve got all these pubs you know I
mightn’t be able to give you the time
but mate we will Brew it and you get it
going and on and he said M that’s such a
good idea I’m going to come in with you
beautiful so come in with us right yeah
so we Brew it and and mate we’re mate
we’re growing we’re growing as we speak
um we’re in about 90 places at the
moment um and tomorrow just goes to to
just happens to be tomorrow we’re
bringing out the Raging Bull Gord so
with the Chevrons and all that sort of
stuff we had a New South Wales beer with
the block and grapple and then we
thought who who in Queensland would be
like like we are here you know like foty
orientated has a beer loves a beer and I
mat with gy and I thought you know what
I’m going to ask Gordy so we bought out
tomorrow actually is a launch tomorrow
night oh wow uh is the launch of the
Raging Bull now the can is Marone with
two white stripes Chevon with a bull on
it oh stop it and mate you think he’s
not a legend up there oh mate anywhere
you going mate he and mate and loves a
beer so uh when I rang him and told him
the idea and said M this is what we’re
doing blah blah blah blah blah told him
all about said I’m in you know the best
thing about it is 10% goes back to the
Grassroots that’s what we’re trying to
do mate that’s unreal that’s what we’re
trying to do well let’s hope we can
raise as much money as you can let’s
hope we can mate M i’ I’d love to be
able to go to a club and go here’s 10
gorillas oh mate how good would that be
honestly and a club would be so thankful
that me a lot of sausage sandwiches
isn’t it quite a few is it new equipment
everything mate that’s it mate that’s
what we’re trying to do oh it’s a great
thing blocky mate I can’t thank you
enough for coming on today mate giving
us a story give us an Insight on the big
fell I really appreciate mate all the
best for the future I appreciate you I
appreciate you woodsy good man Legend
thanks mate thanks me boy