SPORT
HARPO ’ s MARKS
Let ’ s talk about Ken Irivine .
“ Oh no ,” I hear you say . “ Is he gonna go on again about Ken Irvine not yet having been anointed as an Australian Rugby League Immortal !” Spot on – here ’ s your cigar ! I ’ ve gotta ‘ fess up that I had the pleasure – and honour - of counting Ken Irvine as a friend – as well as a hero .
We met on my first day as a copy-boy on the sadly-departed Daily Mirror , way back on March 18 , 1968 .
Each department at the old rag had its own full-time copy-boy and has luck would have it , my predecessor found a job elsewhere in the joint and yours truly was given the nod to take over .
I will forever remember that day for two reasons – my facial appearance and the journalists in situ .
Among those at their desks , either knocking out copy on their typewriters or on the phone chasing stories ( or telling SP bookies , they ’ ll settle at the end of the week ) were legendary journos , our editor , “ Sitting ” Pat Farrell , Ossie Imber , Tommy Brassel , Bill Mordey , Peter Frilingos , Ken Callander , John Holloway , Geoff Collerson , Harry Pearce and Tom Ramsey .
And Ken Irvine ! Lordy , Lordy ! All my Christmases had come at once .
An added pressie came that afternoon when two of rugby league ’ s greatest players and citizens , Ron Coote and John Sattler , came in for an interview with “ Blue Gum ” Mordey .
Ken was a sportswriter with The Mirror for several years in the latest 60s before joining the Manly Daily as its sports editor before moving to the Gold Coast in the late 80s to take up the chief rugby league writer role at The Bulletin .
I was up on the Gold Coast for a race meeting in mid-November , 1990 , and had a drink with him in a bar at the Gold Coast Casino .
Everyone in sport was aware of Ken ’ s battle with leukaemia , but he told me “ all ’ s good ” when I asked him how he was faring – and he did look well .
However , the rugby league world was shattered on December 22 , 1990 when the great man succumbed to the bloody disease , aged just 50 .
What prompts me to return to finally calling for the immortalising of Australia ’ s greatest-ever winger are the try-scoring exploits of South Sydney ’ s Alex Johnston .
At time of writing , Johnston has scored 178 tries in 205 games for the Rabbitohs and it is obvious as the nose on Laurie Daley ’ s face ( Pinnochio eat your heart out ) that he is a laydown misere to surpass that 50-year-old record .
“ Mungo ” Irvine ’ s career spanned 1958- 73 during which he played all but the final three seasons of his career with lowly North Sydney .
Ken missed the entire 1968 season after breaking his leg when team-mate , Denis Manteit , fell on it in during a Test match against France at the end of the 1967-68 Kangaroo tour .
Manly-Warringah had his services in the 1971-72-73 seasons , and playing alongside a champion team of champions , Ken deservedly ended his illustrious career with dual premierships .
After finally hanging up in well-worn boots , Ken had scored 212 tries in 242 first grade matches , as well as 30 tries in 24 games for NSW and another 33 tries in 31 Tests . Yep , Ken could find a tryline ! Now , back to Johnston ! Barring injury , the 28-year-old Johnston is well on course to overtake Mungo ’ s record , but let ’ s put it into perspective .
Johnston is a fully professional footballer , unlike Ken , who , as did all players of his era , had a “ day job ” – and
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getting paid big money in sport ensures longer careers .
During Ken ’ s career , the best players in the country ( bar a few running around in Queensland ) were spread over just 10 teams playing in the Sydney competition until 1967 , when Cronulla and Penrith joined the fun .
These days the talent is diluted over 17 teams with more to be added .
Johnston is also playing in an era in which wingers do not mark their opposing wingers , leaving them unmarked and given clear runs to the tryline .
Crikey , when will these defending wingers ever learn that the cover defence has a better chance of picking up ballcarriers inside than outside ! Aaah , bah humbug ! Playing under today ’ s conditions when wingers are left unmarked , Ken
BOSTON ROCKS was never out of second gear in leading throughout and bolting in with fast-run 1000m trial at Wyong on June 20 . Disappointed at only outing last time in but he has made vast improvement during his spell .
RIFLES is loaded up and reach to fire going on his all the way , easy , 845m trial win at Wyong on June 20 . Always puts in big runs while fresh .
BOJANGLES was stepping the light fantastic with effortless 845m trial win at Wyong on June 20 . Unraced Showtime youngster out of the Kim Waugh yard .
LOLLY YEATS could be a real smokey when the imported mare resumes from a spell . She ran 7th behind Resonator in fast run 1030m trial at Rosehill on June 20 but she was just out for a pipe opener .
THE REALM is out of the Waterhouse-Bott yard and there was a lot to like about his 5th placing in 1030m trial at Rosehill on June 20 . Never put under any pressure whatsoever .
Irvine would have doubled his try-scoring record . Immortalise him or be damned ! Oh , as to my facial appearance that March day in 1968 , I had a bad dose of cold sores , and back then , the only treatment was a thick , white cream which I had to splash liberally around my nostrils and lips .
Crikey , I looked like Geronimo in full war paint !
SAD MARKS : The passing of Rale Rasic who coached Australia to a historymaking Soccer World Cup debut in 1974 .
Barrier Rise with
TONY BRASSEL
ANDRONICUS is an unraced I Am Invincible colt out of the Snowden stable and you ’ ll be celebrating with champers , not coffee when this bloke sports silks . Under a stranglehold down the running when 3rd in 1030m trial at Rosehill on June 20 .
I AM FAMOUS is an unraced I Am Invincible filly out of the Waller yard . She was never under any pressure down the running but hit the line powerfully for 5th in 900m trial at Rosehill on June 20 .
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BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 28 // JULY 2023 25