Enforcers being rubbed out of game.....
Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 7:25 pm
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/s ... 23,00.htmlSONNY Bill Williams was feared before the shoulder charge. Before the tattoos. Even before he arrived here.
It's just that nobody told the boys from South Sydney's SG Ball side.
Which is how, on this windy afternoon in front of a dozen spectators, four Redfern toughs decide to go the knuckle with an unknown, lanky sheep shagger.
Four Bunnies shape up. Four Bunnies KO'd. An explosion of punches that leaves anyone still standing almost as stunned as those on the deck.
"Yeah, it's a true story," smiles Andy Patmore," Bulldogs coach that year. "So when you talk about putting fear into sides . . . we played seven games that season and Sonny won seven man-of-the-match awards."
Of all the footballers to have starred over the past 100 years, none is more beloved by Johnny Public than the rugged enforcers of rugby league.
He of the quick fists, gnarled ears and missing teeth. And that chin you could smash with a bullnose shovel and still not move.
This is happening over here also. Gone are the Mal Reilly's, Bill Ashurst's, Kelvin Skerrett's Neil Cowie's Barry Mac etc. David Kidman, Reuben Wiki and Willie Mason are part of a dying breed.
Now our forwards are sleek and slim and more like models than rough and rugged Rugby League players. The number of players doing pin up poses is on the increase (mainly in Oz) but is nice eye candy for all us women supporters
,but yes your right where are the big baz's bad attitudes of today gone.