Gooleboy Posted January 31, 2021 Share Posted January 31, 2021 58 minutes ago, Cumbrian Mackem said: Never heard that before. Interesting. how old would he have been in 91-92? 27. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cumbrian Mackem Posted January 31, 2021 Author Share Posted January 31, 2021 Just now, Gooleboy said: 27. Haha!! He looks way older. Must have had a hard paper round Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gooleboy Posted January 31, 2021 Share Posted January 31, 2021 2 hours ago, Cumbrian Mackem said: Haha!! He looks way older. Must have had a hard paper round He is now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Futtocks Posted January 31, 2021 Share Posted January 31, 2021 There were a few others on the cusp of switching to RL in the shamateur days who were "persuaded" by a lot more money arriving in their bank account (but nothing to do with Rugby, honest!). The Samoan RU Hall of Fame player Brian Lima and the Fijian legend Waisale Serevi were two notable ones. Both would have been interesting converts, especially Serevi. Of the NH players who never got close to switching, Simon Geoghagan always looked like he was wasted on RU to me, Neil Jenkins' pin-point kicking and work ethic may well have compensated for a lack of skill elsewhere and there were a few French players from back when they actually* played RU with a bit of style, like Serge Blanco. *as opposed to the mythical French Flair that Union hacks try to invoke every time the Six Nations lumbers into view these days. Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted. Ralph Waldo Emerson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graveyard johnny Posted January 31, 2021 Share Posted January 31, 2021 will carling would have made a great steward - stood around all match with not much to do for 90mins see you later undertaker - in a while necrophile Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark S Posted January 31, 2021 Share Posted January 31, 2021 13 hours ago, Cumbrian Mackem said: Lucky escapes for all involved. Didn’t Ellery Hanley call Carling and tell him to stay away from League as he would get smashed around in every game? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Art of Hand and Foot Posted January 31, 2021 Share Posted January 31, 2021 I remember nigel heslop, england ru player who was also from that era, signing for Oldham . I thought he transitioned well and played a part in keeping us up in the 1st division. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burnleywelsh Posted January 31, 2021 Share Posted January 31, 2021 4 hours ago, Futtocks said: Neil Jenkins' pin-point kicking and work ethic may well have compensated for a lack of skill elsewhere. Trialled at Warrington. Not sure if he turned down the offer, or Warrington declined his services. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taniwha Warriors Posted January 31, 2021 Share Posted January 31, 2021 15 hours ago, Cumbrian Mackem said: What with the latest news of another world class league player switching codes got me thinking to the time when the boot was on the other foot with league clubs snapping up top international union players but more interestingly the players that got away for example one of the greatest rugby players of either code Christian Cullen had his sights set on a career in the ARL before union went professional. There was also all blacks legend tana umaga who signed for Newcastle knights before returning home to NZ because he was homesick. There’s also ex league junior Jonah Lomu who switched to union in high school I believe. Also nearly signed for Leeds and Sheffield after the 1995 union World Cup?? This is the first time I've heard that about Christian Cullen and I'm Kiwi. One of the most skilful player I have ever seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrisbaneRhino Posted January 31, 2021 Share Posted January 31, 2021 Jenkins was a slug with a good boot. I think those downplaying Lomu are being a bit disingenuous. He was massive - a stone and a half heavier than Vainakolo in an era when training wasn't as advanced, and reasonably quick. On top of that he'd have brought enormous publicity to RL. Also, Vainakolo wasn't some megastar in the NRL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OMEGA Posted February 1, 2021 Share Posted February 1, 2021 I think Jonah Lomu was more like Manu Vatuvai than Lesley Vainikolo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cumbrian Mackem Posted February 1, 2021 Author Share Posted February 1, 2021 4 hours ago, Taniwha Warriors said: This is the first time I've heard that about Christian Cullen and I'm Kiwi. One of the most skilful player I have ever seen. There’s a short clip of him getting interviewed on YouTube in which he’s asked a series of questions including if you didn’t play “rugby” what would you be doing and he answered playing Aussie league. I’ll try and find it. time stamp 5:25 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taniwha Warriors Posted February 1, 2021 Share Posted February 1, 2021 2 hours ago, Cumbrian Mackem said: There’s a short clip of him getting interviewed on YouTube in which he’s asked a series of questions including if you didn’t play “rugby” what would you be doing and he answered playing Aussie league. I’ll try and find it. time stamp 5:25 He's a pretty down to earth guy Cullen is. I thought Jonah Lomu was already committed to Canterbury Bulldogs before AB team mates and lawyer Eric Rush had a chat to him about given another go. This was after Jonah was blamed and then dropped after a loss against France to which he was outplayed by his opponents Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Moore Posted February 1, 2021 Share Posted February 1, 2021 1 hour ago, Taniwha Warriors said: He's a pretty down to earth guy Cullen is. I thought Jonah Lomu was already committed to Canterbury Bulldogs before AB team mates and lawyer Eric Rush had a chat to him about given another go. This was after Jonah was blamed and then dropped after a loss against France to which he was outplayed by his opponents Speaking of Eric Rush, I think he could have been an excellent league player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkw Posted February 1, 2021 Share Posted February 1, 2021 Workington Town almost signed Dewi Morris when they got back in to the big league apparently, no idea if it would have worked. The rumours were it was pretty much done until his then "amateur" club threw a bucket of money at him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Evans Posted February 1, 2021 Share Posted February 1, 2021 10 hours ago, The Art of Hand and Foot said: I remember nigel heslop, england ru player who was also from that era, signing for Oldham . I thought he transitioned well and played a part in keeping us up in the 1st division. I remember Brendan Tuuta greeting him at post office Road Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Art of Hand and Foot Posted February 1, 2021 Share Posted February 1, 2021 2 minutes ago, Robin Evans said: I remember Brendan Tuuta greeting him at post office Road The baby faced assassin, broke his jaw. . Only his 3rd game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Evans Posted February 1, 2021 Share Posted February 1, 2021 3 minutes ago, The Art of Hand and Foot said: The baby faced assassin, broke his jaw. . Only his 3rd game. You could hear the thud in ponty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Art of Hand and Foot Posted February 1, 2021 Share Posted February 1, 2021 1 minute ago, Robin Evans said: You could hear the thud in ponty Think he got a lengthy ban for it!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Evans Posted February 1, 2021 Share Posted February 1, 2021 Just now, The Art of Hand and Foot said: Think he got a lengthy ban for it!? He got banned, yes. I cant remember it being a really long ban. Tuuts was a fabulous player.... with one or two obvious flaws Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Art of Hand and Foot Posted February 1, 2021 Share Posted February 1, 2021 1 minute ago, Robin Evans said: He got banned, yes. I cant remember it being a really long ban. Tuuts was a fabulous player.... with one or two obvious flaws Just looked it up, 6 match ban. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tms Posted February 1, 2021 Share Posted February 1, 2021 1 minute ago, The Art of Hand and Foot said: Just looked it up, 6 match ban. that's right and Oldham's Se'e Solomona was banned for four matches for his part in the brawl, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Evans Posted February 1, 2021 Share Posted February 1, 2021 1 minute ago, POR said: that's right and Oldham's Se'e Solomona was banned for four matches for his part in the brawl, Happy days Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derwent Posted February 1, 2021 Share Posted February 1, 2021 2 hours ago, dkw said: Workington Town almost signed Dewi Morris when they got back in to the big league apparently, no idea if it would have worked. The rumours were it was pretty much done until his then "amateur" club threw a bucket of money at him. Same happened in the 70s when Town were within half an hour of signing the great Scotland and Lions full back Andy Irvine. I’m not prejudiced, I hate everybody equally Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gooleboy Posted February 1, 2021 Share Posted February 1, 2021 3 hours ago, Robin Evans said: I remember Brendan Tuuta greeting him at post office Road We had some memorable battles with Oldham in the late 80s early 90s and Paul Round used to put it about for them amongst others. We played them in an A Team Cup Final one Friday night at Post Office Road, the game was videotaped. If you want to see a RL brawl in full flow, check it out if it is available anywhere, you won't be disappointed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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