Rare Opportunity to go on a Great Footy trip.
The Sharks are still looking for sponsors and players for the Masters Tournament on the Gold Coast from 6-9 March 2019 . Out of Perth on 5th March and return 10th. Total cost is $1350 includes flights, great accommodation, all fees, gear.
If you are interested contact Rod Fielding at Fieldo5@westnet.com.au
Almost 150 people made it to the Swan Yacht Club for the annual WARL Past Players re-union day, and what a day it was.
The weather turned on a stunners and the venue was fantastic!
It was great to see so many ex-players from the Vic Park – Canning 1978 Premiership side there of which many made an enormous effort to travel from over east. Well done boys and we hope you had a blast!
Nick Noble did a fantastic job presenting the players and giving us the history behind the grand final win. the side was of course coached by Joe Gush one of the NRLWA Hall of Fame inductees for this year.
It was also great to see a legend of the WARL and Hall of Famer, Frank Morgan at the function, Frank was brought along by his Family and he seemed very happy about the stories Reg Fisher told about Frank’s tough display against England back in the 50’s.
Thanks Lenny Castle for your heartfelt toast to absent friends, we have lost a few this year!
Well done to everyone that came along, we hope to see you again next year for what is shaping up to be a bigger and better Past Players Re-union!!
More photos in the Photo gallery.
Congratulations to Joe Gush from the South Perth Lions and Steve Mills from the Kalamunda Bulldogs for being inductees into the NRLWA Hall of Fame for 2018
Joe Gush – South Perth Lions RLFC
Joe Gush started playing seniors for South Perth back in 1970 and won the Fairest and Best player award back to back in 1971 & 72. Joe captained the WA State team that toured NT in 1971 then went on to win the Premiership with Souths in 1972. Joe captain/coached South’s in 1973 and went on that year to win the flag undefeated, an achievement that has not been been repeated since for the club.
Joe represented WA as a player and captain on numerous occasions, including playing the curtain raiser to Australia v England at the SCG in 1974 and the Pacific Cup in PNG in 1975. Joe also captained the WA side against the touring English team that year as well as playing in the winning grand final for Souths.
In 1978, Vic Park-Canning lured Joe away from Souths to coach their 1st grade side with immediate affect, winning the Premiership that year, followed by another Grand Final appearance in 1979.
Joe returned to Souths in 1980 and went on to coach and develop their junior teams for many years.
An outstanding career Joe and such an influence to our game in WA. Congratulations!
Steve Mills – Kalmunda Bulldogs RLFC
Steve Mills has an outstanding resume in rugby league in WA. Starting out in U16’s for the Belmont Rabbitohs back in 1971 at only 13 years old (as it was weight for age back then), Steve went on to play in junior grand finals and representative sides before making his 1st grade debut for Belmont in 1979 and continued to play for Belmont between working away.
Buying a house in the area saw Steve make the move to the Canning Bulldogs RLC in 1984. Steve started his coaching career through volunteering to coach a High School RL side (which made the grand final) whilst continuing to play for the Bulldogs. Steve followed that up with another grand final appearance for his U19’s coached side the following year.
Steve was reserve grade coach and 1st grade assistant to Ted Goodwin at Willagee in 1990 before going back to the Bulldogs the following year.
Whist continuing to coach at the Bulldogs, Steve picked up the referee’s whistle in 1991 in the junior divisions before progressing to seniors grades. Steve referred 1st grade over the next 5 years which included a curtain raiser to the Western Reds v Broncos game in 1995.
Steve became President of the Canning Bulldogs in 1998 at a time when the club was struggling to make ends meet, and helped implement a rescue package with financial backers to see the clubs successfully into the finals that year.
between 2006-2018, Steve has helped guide the Bulldogs through the transitions of changing grounds, areas and identities to the Eastern Bulldogs, Central Districts and finally the Kalamunda Bulldogs.
Steve is still President of the club today, guiding them into the next phase of success and has had such an impact over these years that it would be fair to say that the Bulldogs would be a memory in the WA Rugby League scene without him.
Well deserved Steve and congratulations on your Hall of Fame induction.
Who will be the next NRLWA Hall of Fame inductee????
Come down and see at the WARL PAST PLAYERS RE-UNION, this SATURDAY 3rd NOVEMBER @ 12.00 pm!
Get down to the Swan Yacht Club and join in the celebration as we look back 40 years to 1978 and honour the Premiers, Vic Park – Canning. Hear their story of the road to the Grand Final from the players and coach including 1978 Brice Trophy winner Graeme Lynch.
Watch as we induct a new member into the NRLWA Hall of Fame, to join the 54 other legends of our game in WA? Names like KEN ALLEN, RON HUDSON, FRANK MORGAN, ALEC LOCKLEY and KEITH HARRIS-WALKER just to name a few. These 54 influential people of our sport, shaped the history of Rugby League here in WA. Who will be next?
It will be a great day with fantastic views, cold refreshments, guest speakers and what better excuse do you have to bring or catch up with old rugby league mates from days gone by…
Remember this is open to all and anybody that loves our game here in WA. Partners and wives welcome and encouraged…
extra parking next to the club, however if you are unsure please contact Drew Lister on 0418 945 536 before or on the day
DON’T FORGET!
WARL PAST PLAYERS RE-UNION, SATURDAY 3rd NOVEMBER @ 12.00pm!
We are back at Swan Yacht Club after some years, so come down and join in the celebration as we honour the 1978 Vic Park-Canning Premiers and induct a new member in to the NRLWA Hall of Fame.. Who will it be?!!
It will be a great day with fantastic views and cold refreshments, guest speakers and what better excuse do you have to bring or catch up with old rugby league mates from days gone by… Remember this is open to all and anybody that loves our game here in WA. Partners and wives welcome and encouraged…
extra parking next to the club, however if you are unsure please contact Drew Lister on 0418 945 536 before or on the day
If you haven’t already, could you please RSVP to advise if you will be attending the 2018 WARL Past Players & Supporters Re-union @ Swan Yacht Club on November 3rd from 12pm.
We need to get numbers to advise the SYC for catering and we don’t want you to go away hungry! so please let us know you are coming..
You can contact Drew Lister on 0418 954 536 or drewcazlister@hotmail.com or John Thomson on 0458 456 072 or johnt0351@gmail.com or via our Facebook Event https://www.facebook.com/events/161916914713453/
Len Castle has also advised that there is extra parking on the western side of the club on the grassed area or on the driveway into John Tonkin Park.. Thanks Len
The WARL Past Players and Supporters Association is proud to sponsor the perpetual NRLWA Junior Club Person of the Year award. This award is presented to a junior club person who goes beyond just being a player, but represents the core values of being an exceptional club member with the clubs best interests at heart.
This year we are thrilled to see Fremantle Junior JACKSON MERRY receive the award from WARL PPS President John Moore at the NRLWA Junior Presentation night.
Jackson started playing for the Fremantle Roosters Rugby Club in the U6’s and currently is a member of the U16’s team.
Often seen at the club on both Junior and Senior games, Jackson arrives early and stays late in order to assist the set up and pack up of the grounds equipment. On Senior days he often acts as a ball boy for the Senior games and had also acted as one of the Ball Boys for the NRL Double Header at Perth Stadium.
Junior game days Jackson can be found helping out in the canteen, preparing food and working in customer relations.
Jackson also acts as a mentor with some of our younger grades during both Junior and Senior game days.
Sometimes referred to as a quiet achiever Jackson has never sought recognition for the help he provides to the Fremantle Rugby Club and is a deserved winner of the NRLWA Junior Club Person of the Year award.
Congratulations Jackson.
