What is rugby league’s greatest/most famous moment? Don Fox’s missed kick?

[Rob Nash]

For me Johnathan Davies skinning Bret Mullins to score at  Wembley takes some beating. Sad to think I was a teenager at the time.

Edited September 19, 2021 by Rob Nash

[Copa]

I’d never heard of Don Fox’s kick until now. I just watched it on YouTube… devastating!

[Wollo Wollo Wayoo]

4 minutes ago, Copa said:

I’d never heard of Don Fox’s kick until now. I just watched it on YouTube… devastating!

So you'd never heard of the Watersplash Final either then?

[Copa]

10 minutes ago, Wollo Wollo Wayoo said:

So you'd never heard of the Watersplash Final either then?

Not until now.

[Wollo Wollo Wayoo]

40 minutes ago, Copa said:

Not until now.

Get the BBC documentary watched.  

[Bearman]

 

Don Fox.

It is said that after the game Neil Fox ( Don's brother who also played in the Wakefield team that day) went to him in the dressing room. Don was sitting with his head in his hands and said" If I had a gun I would shoot myself".

Neil replied " if you had a gun I would take it off you and shoot you myself cos you would miss"

 

Edited September 20, 2021 by Bearman

[Eddie]

15 hours ago, DimmestStar said:

The dog running on the pitch to an excited Eddie Waring at Headingley is probably the most watched Rugby League event ever.

You don’t get dogs in sports stadiums any more, a massive shame. 

[Wollo Wollo Wayoo]

2 hours ago, Bearman said:

 

Don Fox.

It is said that after the game Neil Fox ( Don's brother who also played in the Wakefield team that day) went to him in the dressing room. Don was sitting with his head in his hands and said" If I had a gun I would shoot myself".

Neil replied " if you had a gun I would take it off you and shoot you myself cos you would miss"

 

Neil Fox was injured.  That's why Don was doing the kicking.

[graveyard johnny]

On 20/09/2021 at 12:35, Wollo Wollo Wayoo said:

Neil Fox was injured.  That's why Don was doing the kicking.

in all fairness - he would have been drenched, his socks would have been saturated and his boots full of water - the ball (not a modern ball) would have been full of water and the ground beneath him water logged and after playing a full game in those conditions many players would have missed that kick 

[Wellsy4HullFC]

6 minutes ago, graveyard johnny said:

in all fairness - he would have been drenched, his socks would have been saturated and his boots full of water - the ball (not a modern ball) would have been full of water and the ground beneath him water logged and after playing a full game in those conditions many players would have missed that kick 

You could tell from the kick off before the try just how heavy the ball seemed!

[graveyard johnny]

1 minute ago, Wellsy4HullFC said:

You could tell from the kick off before the try just how heavy the ball seemed!

it would have been quite normal to play with a heavy ball that had water inside it in those days, that would be unthinkable now in the modern era - similar to kicking a balloon across the living room with water inside it

[Wellsy4HullFC]

3 minutes ago, graveyard johnny said:

it would have been quite normal to play with a heavy ball that had water inside it in those days, that would be unthinkable now in the modern era - similar to kicking a balloon across the living room with water inside it

So the ball regularly explodes and soaked your parents in a game?!

[graveyard johnny]

25 minutes ago, Wellsy4HullFC said:

So the ball regularly explodes and soaked your parents in a game?!

no but try kicking a balloon with water in it in a straight line across the carpet

Edited September 21, 2021 by graveyard johnny

[Dave T]

Just now, graveyard johnny said:

no but try kicking a balloon with water in it in a straight line

This sounds like a trick... 

[graveyard johnny]

i dont know what backroom staff were like in those days or even if they had any (maybe a bloke who looked after the players fags while they were playing) but these days someone would have been on with a a brand new ball - box fresh socks and boots  and some spray to dry up anything they could before that kick was taken

[marklaspalmas]

Sigh.

Poor old Don. 

He's been dead for years and people won't let him rest in peace in death  as in life. 

Great Britain international, Lance Todd winner, all time record try scorer for Featherstone. Renowned as scrum half, loose forward and prop in a stellar career.

And yet he had his mental health ruined by constant ribbing and reminders of a kick no-one would have wanted to take in a game that should never have been played. 

And decades later his error and regrets are hung out to dry time and again.

RIP Don.

[David Shepherd]

Shaun Aincough’s brain fart takes some beating.

”You bottless get” too

[yipyee]

Interesring that most people are highlighting 'positives' when its the negatives that are more memorable. Or not even negitives just the stopping people in their tracks thinking am I seeing this, did it really happen. Mandella wearing a boks top is number 70 obviuosly stirred peoples emotions. Eddie the Eagle being poor but trying his best etc..

Fox missed kick fits perfectly into this category. For all the 'good' plays that are named on this thread, these can be expected from good players and teams. Its when a good player kicking a goal that most U10s kick every weekend, and he misses and costs his team a cup win. Thats what sticks in the memory as everyone wether you support that team or not can genuinely feel an emotion around the event.

The other huge negative of the modern era is Ben Flower. Very much like Cantonas kung fu kick it drew huge attention as it created an emotion within people, a lot of attention from non RL fans also who thought it was shocking, very much like Cantona.

Flower is remembered for this alone although he did become infamous outside RL circles very much like Cantona did.

If you were to ask a non RL fan to name a stand out point from RL theres a very strong chance they would mention the Ben Flower incident.

Edited September 22, 2021 by yipyee

[Wholly Trinity]

9 hours ago, marklaspalmas said:

Sigh.

Poor old Don. 

He's been dead for years and people won't let him rest in peace in death  as in life. 

Great Britain international, Lance Todd winner, all time record try scorer for Featherstone. Renowned as scrum half, loose forward and prop in a stellar career.

And yet he had his mental health ruined by constant ribbing and reminders of a kick no-one would have wanted to take in a game that should never have been played. 

And decades later his error and regrets are hung out to dry time and again.

RIP Don.

Indeed.

He was tormented by this "error" to his dying day. He had already been awarded the Lance Todd trophy before taking that kick. In modern times of mental health awareness you would hope there would be a different approach. 

I also wonder whether the club itself was traumatised by that day. (if that's even possible)

The club had won its 2nd (consecutive) championship final just a week before (4/5/68). His brother and regular goal kicker Neil Fox was forced to play in that game despite carrying an injury (hamstring?) which he aggravated causing him to miss the challenge cup final. Leeds didn't score a single point that wasn't a direct result of a referee's decision, including possibly the worst penalty try decision in history. Wakefield scored 2 actual tries and Don had already kicked 2 goals. Perhaps the referee, John Hebblethwaite, didn't receive the criticism he deserved as he committed suicide a short while after the final. Still, despite all that, that kick would have given Trinity a league and cup double.

Wakefield have never won a major trophy since that moment. 

RIP Don

from Wiki:

Don Fox

Personal information
Full name	Donald Fox
Born	15 October 1935 Sharlston, Wakefield, England
Died	21 August 2008 (aged 72) Wakefield, England
Playing information
Position	Scrum-half, Prop, Loose forward
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1953–65 Featherstone Rovers 368 162 503 0 1492 1965–70 Wakefield Trinity 117 18 84 0 222   Batley             Total 485 180 587 0 1714 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1956/57–≥58/59 Yorkshire ≥3         1956 England 1 0 0 0 0 1963 Great Britain 1 1 2 0 7

[gingerjon]

10 hours ago, marklaspalmas said:

Sigh.

Poor old Don. 

He's been dead for years and people won't let him rest in peace in death  as in life. 

Great Britain international, Lance Todd winner, all time record try scorer for Featherstone. Renowned as scrum half, loose forward and prop in a stellar career.

And yet he had his mental health ruined by constant ribbing and reminders of a kick no-one would have wanted to take in a game that should never have been played. 

And decades later his error and regrets are hung out to dry time and again.

RIP Don.

In a similar vein, it's worth reading up on how a shocking performance on TV - this time in cricket - tormented Scott Boswell for years. At least, in this era and for him, he was able to get support and put his life back on track but ...

https://www.thecricketer.com/Topics/news/scott_boswell_interview_yips_cricket_watchalong_20_years.html

[Wollo Wollo Wayoo]

2 hours ago, gingerjon said:

In a similar vein, it's worth reading up on how a shocking performance on TV - this time in cricket - tormented Scott Boswell for years. At least, in this era and for him, he was able to get support and put his life back on track but ...

https://www.thecricketer.com/Topics/news/scott_boswell_interview_yips_cricket_watchalong_20_years.html

That may be similar to Don Fox but I honestly had never heard of that guy or remembered  the incident.  I do remember Ben Stokes last over in that cricket final, which he does seem to have moved on from OK.  

[gingerjon]

1 hour ago, Wollo Wollo Wayoo said:

That may be similar to Don Fox but I honestly had never heard of that guy or remembered  the incident.  I do remember Ben Stokes last over in that cricket final, which he does seem to have moved on from OK.  

I think, relatively, Don Fox’s is more famous. On a personal level, Boswell’s “incident” was more immediately destructive. I think it shows how some aspects of society have moved on that he was able to recover the way he has.

Another good example about Ben Stokes.

[Colin James]

Your average Joe Public under the age of 50 has never heard of Don Fox. It might be iconic for RL fans of a certain vintage but in the wider public consciousness I'd argue it's way down the list.

[DC77]

Just watched the kick again. It’s a straight run up to the ball. No bleedin wonder Fox missed it. It’s harder to hit straight with a straight on kick, and also more susceptible to slicing the ball/making a poor connection.

9 hours ago, yipyee said:

Interesring that most people are highlighting 'positives' when its the negatives that are more memorable. Or not even negitives just the stopping people in their tracks thinking am I seeing this, did it really happen. Mandella wearing a boks top is number 70 obviuosly stirred peoples emotions. Eddie the Eagle being poor but trying his best etc..

Fox missed kick fits perfectly into this category. For all the 'good' plays that are named on this thread, these can be expected from good players and teams. Its when a good player kicking a goal that most U10s kick every weekend, and he misses and costs his team a cup win. Thats what sticks in the memory as everyone wether you support that team or not can genuinely feel an emotion around the event.

The other huge negative of the modern era is Ben Flower. Very much like Cantonas kung fu kick it drew huge attention as it created an emotion within people, a lot of attention from non RL fans also who thought it was shocking, very much like Cantona.

Flower is remembered for this alone although he did become infamous outside RL circles very much like Cantona did.

If you were to ask a non RL fan to name a stand out point from RL theres a very strong chance they would mention the Ben Flower incident.

Mentioned the Flower punch. Difference with Cantona though is that’s all he is know for. Cantona was arguably the most famous sportsman in the country when he kicked the fan. The “seagulls” press conference is probably his stand out moment of all.

Other scandalous moments, Zidane headbutting the Italian in the 2006 World Cup final would be in such a list (as would his winning volley in the Champions League final).

[POR]

20 hours ago, graveyard johnny said:

in all fairness - he would have been drenched, his socks would have been saturated and his boots full of water - the ball (not a modern ball) would have been full of water and the ground beneath him water logged and after playing a full game in those conditions many players would have missed that kick 

 

20 hours ago, Wellsy4HullFC said:

You could tell from the kick off before the try just how heavy the ball seemed!

 

 Don  told  us they asked to change the ball and the REF wouldn't let them