TELE, maybe you could do a blog on the 75 team one day, id love to read it plus it was the year i was born, id love to learn a bit more about the team as i dont know a lot about them, i know the roosters won the comp that year.
cheersOK THEN HERE WE GO
I have complied a blog of previous posts at 1eyedeel about the Hero's of '75
Slip must get a lot of the credit - as he started the ball rolling at his website. I have also taken some material that slip has provided regarding the 1975 Parramatta Eels
http://www.eels1976-1986.com/master-page-531
This is a story that ALL Eels fans should know
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The top of the competition ladder, with the final round to be played: Easts 38, Manly 28, St George 26, Canterbury 22, Balmain 21, Cronulla, Wests, Parramatta 19, Norths 18. An incredible round of matches saw the Eels beat Norths 28-13, Wests beat Cronulla 31-17, Canterbury beat Balmain 17-16 in controversial circumstances, Penrith upset St George 25-19, Manly beat Souths 54-0 and Easts beat Newtown 33-6.
Parramatta had to meet Wests on the Tuesday at the SCG, and Balmain on the Thursday to qualify for a Sunday semi-final meeting with Canterbury. Added to their cup final appearance, it meant the Eels were facing the task of playing six games in 14 days.
The Eels beat Wests 18-13 on the Tuesday and were most impressive in beating Balmain 19-8 on the Thursday. They were certainly on a 'roll', the team harmony had never been better. Geoff Gerard had been switched from the forwards to the centres to partner exciting fellow 20 year old Neville Glover and they were proving a handful. Higgs and Fitzgerald relentlessly drove the forwards and Quayle and McMartin were displaying probably the best form of their careers.
For the semi-final against Canterbury former international Keith Campbell was brought into the side to replace Graham 'shovels' Olling, one of the many wounded who did not survive the play-offs. Hooker John McMartin also had to miss the game, replaced by youngster Kevin Webb. Campbell was not fit either, but Provan decided to take the gamble with his injured groin because of the need for a recognised goalkicker. As it was, it was Campbell's three goals that won the game. Canterbury's Mick Ryan scored the only try of a rugged match, won 6-5 by the Eels.
The Eels had caught the imagination of the entire Rugby League public with their courageous performances and although the star-studded Manly outfit were favourites for the next battle, in the minor semi-final the following Sunday, no one doubted the Eels had it in them to win. They had already beaten them twice that year and to this day many claim they would have beaten them again in the final if not for an intercept try by Manly's Test centre Ray Branighan midway through the first half.
The Eels were playing with great spirit and were well on top early. They led 7-0 with a great try by O'Reilly set up by Fitzgerald and two goals from Campbell. Manly reduced the leeway to 7-4. Parramatta were on the boil inside Manly's quarter when Branighan pounced on a pass that was meant for Higgs. He sprinted away and scored under the posts for a 9-7 lead and the Sea Eagles finally began to show confidence. The final score was 22-12 and one of the bravest periods in Parramatta's history had ended. It was the day the first of the novel 'stands' appeared at a Parramatta game. A banner proclaiming itself as the Ray Higgs stand brought the biggest cheer from the SCG Hill all day.
My take on the Hero's of '75
Before Parra's recent run of Wooden Spoons it is documented that Parra last ‘won’ the wooden spoon in 1972 (this may be so) but Parra also finished second last by 1 point in 1973 and actually finished EQUAL LAST in 1974 with Balmain – but Parra’s better for and against deemed Balmain as the Wooden Spooners.
So in reality, Parra had finished last in 1972, second last (by 1 point) 1973 and equal last in 1974 – and were without doubt the WORST team in Rugby League leading into the amazing 1975 season http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1974_NSWRFL_season
1975 - I didn't know this at the time, but if any ONE year defined Parra in the mid to late 70's. 1975 was the year. Promise, Fairytale, Disaster & then Heartbreak! I was an 11 year old Richmond supporter that had just moved to Sydney (July) from Melbourne & didn't really have a team yet.
In the final round of 1975 – Parramatta needed a miracle to qualify for the semi finals for the first time since 1971. Somehow Parra got the miracle they were praying for and had finished equal 5th with West’s & Balmain and had to play a series of elimination semis. To qualify for the semi’s, Parra needed to win their last game and had to have Balmain lose theirs. And that’s exactly what happened - The last regular home game for Parra was against North’s 28-13 (Aug 24). And Balmain lost to 4th placed Canterbury by the narrowest of margins 17-16. Parra were in the semi’s & that’s all that mattered !!
see SMH article SMH 3 Teams finish equal 5th http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EvpjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WuYDAAAA...
Our family didn't have a TV but I listened to EVERY game on radio and listened to every minute & my imagination ran wild with excitement listening to the next sequence of games. To qualify for the semi's we had to play & win "pre-semi's" – sudden death elimination games - that were drawn out of a hat !! Parra got the hard draw and had to play FIRST by defeating West’s 18 - 13 (Aug 26) and then only 48hrs later had to play & beat Balmain 19 - 8 (Aug 28) – and that was JUST to win 5th position. See SMH article 7 games in 19 days !!! & still with more games to come.http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FvpjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WuYDAAAA...
Parramatta then met Canterbury in the preliminary final, winning another thriller 6 - 5 (Aug 31). Yes that's 4 games (incl 3 semis) in 8 days!! See SMH article http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rQRkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XuYDAAAA...
However, the Parramatta fairy tale was stopped by Manly, losing 22 - 12 (Sept 7) in the Semi-Final. Contraversey reigned after the game where Parra had 2 tries disallowed and Ray Branighan's killer interception (by many claimed) should have been ruled offsides - that Ray Branighan TRY absolutely killed us. see SMH article
Manly defeat Parra amid 2 try controversy http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tARkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XuYDAAAA...
SMH Summary http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XftjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=feYDAAAA...
(if you are interested, use the hand that appears on screen to move about the article - you can also make the article bigger or smaller - just look near the top of the page for the + and - signs)
An incredible 5 games in 15 days including 4 semi finals is a feat I believe that is unparalleled in RL History !!! But either way I was now Blue & Gold forever !
SMH articles – you can follow the sequence of games and how the drama and heroics of Parramatta were written about back in 1975 - just click the links
1975 was, for me, THE BEGINNING of the Parra Golden Era
1975 - Parra won their FIRST EVER trophy, the pre season WILLS CUP beating Manly
You could knock me over with a feather! I was just about to write about the 1975 semi final playoffs as the most exciting time in the clubs history, when I scroll down and find tele 1 has written about the same thing. Back then, my Dad would take me and all my friends to every game, both home and away, and we were sitting in the old Cumberland grandstand after the last round win against Norths but the game between Balmain and Canterbury, which would decide our fate, still had time to go and so they put the radio call of that game over the Cumberland Oval loudspeakers and no one left the ground. Canterbury won and the radio announcer said " and if anyone is listening at Cumberland Oval, you have tied for fifth place" What a roar went up. When the draw was announced for the coming week, we were not going to miss these games and we went to every one of them (lots of people missing school that week) and the memories of them are just as vivid in my mind still today as they were back then. Owen Stephens and Jim Porter made up one of the best set of wingers that Parramatta has ever had (both internationals-Stephens was an All Black) and Stephens was just fantastic during that run both saving and scoring tries. He ran down the great Garry Dowling from Canterbury in the actual semi after giving him a 20 metre start and I can still hear Rex Mossop's on the TV reply, in disbelief of Stephens pace. John Quayle was also brilliant at lock. What a time in Eels history. I have often tried to find these matches on You Tube but they are not there. Put me down for the DVD if all those 1975 playoff and semi matches can be found. I will happily be first in the queue to relive the most excisting football time imaginable. We used to sit in the old Cumberland grandstand with Jim Porters aunty. Does anyone know where Jim Porter is these days? Jim nearly caught Ray Branighan right on the line after his offside intercept (our centre Mal McMartin turned his back to pass and Branighan was still offside from the previous ruck) and Jim came across from the opposite wing. If only Owen had turned and chased Branighan! Phil Mann was also quite magnificent.Hands down classic games and I hope we get to watch them again somehow. It warms my heart just thinking of 1975 again
awesome PT - as I said, I was only 11yo and we had no TV - so it was all on the radio - but still awesome, ans SOO exciting - your anecdotes sure fill in some gaps for me - would love some footage also
PLEEEAASSE tell me you clicked the links I posted - please tell me you re-read the newspaper clippings I found
The 1975 Team and their heroics are all but forgotten - They should be celebrated SOMEHOW and younf fans MUST know about those magical magical games we were privileged to be part of - SO GLAD you posted PT
They started it - the Dynasty that Parra enjoyed up to 1986 was indeed started at Cumberland that day where you were so lucky enough to be at
Of course I read the links! I am embarrassed to say that I still have all of the newspapers from 1981, 1982 and 1983 GF's but unfortunately did not keep the 1975 papers, so I was thrilled to find your links. To keep things in perspective, I do keep those 80's newspapers in the same draw as the newspapers published on the days that my children were born!
Take a look at our forward pack back then. Probably the best we have had. We also had the very underestimated John Vincent, who could play second row or wing, a bit like Geoff Gerard who played second row and centre. JV actually scored the winning try (as a winger) in our first ever competition success which was the pre season Wills Cup.
I was such a tragic, I used to take a radio/cassette player to important games (in the days before CD's and Foxtel) and I would hit the play/record buttons and record the radio broadcasts on tape so that I could play them back and listen to them over and over again. Somewhere in a box.........you may be lucky tele 1.
For some reason I do remember a piece of commentary from Frank Hyde during the 1975 Canterbury semi final. Keith Campbell was tackled just short of the tryline but was not held and Frank said "Campbell's going for the line like a man coming out of the desert for a drink" I have never forgotten it and I can still see KC crawling in desperation for the tryline. He did score all our points on the day via 3 goals.
Terry Reynolds and John Quayle perfected the 1/2 and lock forward back of the scrum reverse play that year and it worked in most games, including the playoffs. I also remember that Balmain's Lockwood and Pringle developed a pet move, where big Lockwood would charge close to the line and do a deft flick pass to Pringle runing behind him. It was also a dealy move that worked consistantly.
I always thought that it was Norm Provan and Terry Fearnley who built Parramatta and that Jack put the final touch on the great work done by TF. The Terry Fearnley years could be the subject of an entire blog.
Just another bit of trivia, I can also remember the first person that Peter Sterling ever tackled was Phil Lowe after PS came on a replacement fullback in his first game which was against Manly and the last tackle he received was from David Gillespie who re-dislocated PS shoulder. What can I say, I am a tragic!
p.s. Where is Jim Porter these days?
Reply by Cumberland on August 14, 2011 at 8:49pm
The memories come flooding back.
I was at North Sydney Oval in the final round, exhilarating after the three previous years.
Had the day off school to sit in the old Sheridan stand at the SCG to watch the mighty eels beat Wests then Balmain, a little ironic 25 odd years later these three clubs jockeyed to merge.
John Quayle was on fire in those games.
If I remember correctly there was all sorts of problems getting the boys fitand on the field.
On the Sunday I went to the Sports Ground to see Keith Campbell kick three long range penalty goals to knock off Canterbury 6-5.
The following week at the Cricket Ground the eels were all over Manly when Branighan was 5 metres off sde when he took the intercept that finished our season. I was gutted.
Reply by tele1 on August 14, 2011 at 9:16pm
Great stuff Cumberland - you actually saw "those" games - for that, I am undeniably envious - they were great days - and that 1975 team deserves a special place in Parra folklore
Have a read of the links I posted - and see just how injury plagued and fatigued Parra were back then and how 'gutsy" their wins really were
Then again, you don't really need to read anything - cause you already know
AWESOME POST cumberland :)
Courtesy of SLIP
http://www.eels1976-1986.com/master-page-531
1975 Players
ATKINS, Graeme
BAKER, John
CAMPBELL, Keith
CARMONT, George
CHARLTON, Tony
CHENEY, Mal
COTTER, Dave
FITZGERALD, Denis
GERARD, Geoff
GLOVER, Neville
HIGGS, Ray
HILDITCH, Ron
JAY, Bob
KOLC, John
McMARTIN, John
McMARTIN, Mal
MANN, Phil
MOORE, Greg
MORAN, John
OLLING, Graeme
O'REILLY, Robert
PITTARD, Denis
PORTER, Jim
PRATTL, Olaf
QUAYLE, John
REYNOLDS, Terry
SNODGRASS, Warren
STEPHENS, Owen
STRUDWICK, Ray
SULKOWICZ, Ed
VINCENT, John
WEBB, Kevin
WILLIAMS, Steve
WILSON, John
Is the big bloke in the back row,4th from right Steve Williams? If it is ,he was the Seargeant in charge at Burwood Police Boys Club in the mid-80s.He lost the mullet and the mo,but he was a top bloke.
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