Linking with a league legend by Greg Martin
Had the pleasure of representing your favourite magazine at Windsor Wolves Rugby League Club ’ s season launch on April 16 , and what a memorable day it turned out to be .
Took along as my date , Wolves legend as player , supporter and administrator , Paul “ Wally ” Wayling , who stood in for the Independent ’ s publisher , Julie Ryan .
The finger food was mouth-watering , the beer and wine flowed , the standard of footy across the under 17 ’ s , under 19 ’ s and A Grade was of a high standard .
But the highlight of the day was catching up with Parramatta Eels Hall of Fame member , Barry Rushworth .
Barry was at Wolves headquarters to watch his grandson , Billy Rushworth , play second row in the Wolves ’ under 19 side and was delighted when the young fella scored a try on the way to a 24-14 victory .
I never got to know Barry when he played for the Eels in the years 1964-71 but did meet up with him on a couple of occasions in more recent years when my old mate , John Scott and I visited his Royal Hotel at Wallerawang where Scotty was trying to flog his sporting memorabilia .
Barry is looking fit and healthy as he enters his octogenarian years and it was great to catch up with him to talk footy and family .
We reminisced about his years with the Eels which he joined on a then lucrative contract after the 20-year-old returned from the Kangaroos ’ successful 1963-64 tour of Great Britain and France .
Barry played all his junior and senior footy with Lithgow Workmen and such were his talents , the skillful young centre was selected in the 1963 Country Firsts side which took on the star-studded City Firsts .
Barry did enough in that match despite City winning 35-11 , to earn selection in the NSW team which played Queensland in the third match of the interstate series .
The Blues got the bikkies 31-5 with Barry starring , scoring two tries and impressing everyone at the ground with his all-round skills .
That performance earned him a berth on the Kangaroo tour on which he played in 19 of the 36 matches , including the third and deciding Test against France .
Barry crossed for a try in a hard-fought encounter as the tourists snuck home 16-8 .
Barry Rushworth wouldn ’ t have enjoyed playing rugby league today when possession in 10 tenths of the law .
He possessed his fair share of “ toe ”, was a solid defender and could step and swerve .
But what made him a real favorite with footy fans was his uncanny ability to chip over the head of a defender and regain possession on the full or after the first bounce .
Present day coaches would sack him for giving up possession !
Of course , playing for NSW and Australia were highlights of his career but perhaps equaling that joy would have been being a member of the Western Division team which beat Penrith 6-2 in the 1974 Amco Cup knock-out competition .
He was lured out of retirement by former St George , NSW and Australian winger , Johnny King , who sweettalked him into coming on board for what turned out to be a roller-coaster of a ride for the bushies .
Along the way to that final victory over the raging hot favourites , Panthers , Western division beat Auckland 13-7 , Canterbury 12-10 in a qualifying final and then won on penalty countback after drawing 12-12 with hot shot Manly in the semi-final .
Barry and his wife , Pat , were popular
Yours truly and Parramatta tragic , Paul Wayling ( r ), had much delight in catching up with Eels Hall of Fame inductee , Barry Rushworth . Barry was down from his home at Little Hartley to watch his grandson in action for the Windsor Wolves under 19 outfit and enjoy the day ’ s season launch festivities .
mine hosts at a hotel in Lithgow for 38 years and for the past 15 years at Wallerawang ’ s Royal Hotel before recently selling the business so they could enjoy spending more time with their extended family .
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8 ISSUE 95 // MAY 2023 theindependentmagazine . com . au THE HILLS INDEPENDENT