Reg Gasnier, a legend of the game of rugby league, arguably the greatest centre to ever lace on a football boot, has passed away one day shy of what would have been his 75th birthday.
Gasnier was a giant of the game, peerless as a footballer who strode across the lush green ovals and dry dusty paddocks of suburban and international rugby league, wowing the crowds with his speed, grace and style and creating himself a piece of immortality with his achievements.
Playing 125 games for the St George Dragons between 1959 and 1967, Reg scored 127 tries for the Big Red V and won six premierships in those nine seasons at the top (he missed the 1959 and 1966 deciders through injury), whilst topping the Try Scorers lists in three seasons 1960, ’63 & ’64. He represented Australia with distinction 39 times (captaining his country eight times, and remaining the youngest ever test captain and playing the most Tests until Meninga broke his record in 1992) for 26 tries and also wore the blue of New South Wales on 16 occasions, scoring another 15 tries.
He became legendary in his own playing career on the 1963/64 Kangaroo Tour, where he scored a treble in the First Test and backed up in the Second Test – the ‘Swinton Massacre’ – scoring a double, ultimately securing the Ashes for Australia for the first time since 1911.
A consummate professional, his freakish individual play dazzled, but he was also a team player. A gentleman in every sense of the word, the clean cut Gasnier was respected and honoured on and off the field for his clean-cut, sportsmanlike ways. Much like a champion thoroughbred in full stride, Gasnier had balance and blistering acceleration, whilst also being a sound defender.
Retiring prematurely at age 28 due to a broken leg, Reg Gasnier moved in to the media, where he graced our screens for many years with his articulate, incisive analysis of the game he loved and studied. He immersed himself in the history of the game and loved the sport dearly.
In 1985, Gasnier was named one of the four original ‘Immortals’ (along with John Raper, Clive Churchill and Bob Fulton) and in the Centenary season of 2008, was named one of the 100 Greatest Players.
For a generation of fans who were blessed to watch him play, the name Gasnier evokes memories of brilliance and grace. For the generations after, Gasnier will be sewn in our tapestry of rugby league, a testament to his greatness. Whilst Reg Gasnier’s time on this Earth may have ended, in the hearts and minds of all football fans, Reg Gasnier will forever be an Immortal.
Hail the Prince of Centres; Vale Reg Gasnier
For collectors, Reg Gasnier has only around twenty football cards to date and only a few contemporary cards – three of those to be found in the 1963, 1964 and 1968 Scanlens sets.
Gasnier signed two autograph cards in the 2000 Select (Legend Signature Card) and the 2008 Centenary(Immortal Signature Cards).
A couple other exciting signature cards to look out for are the 2010 Australian Premier Collectables Show triple or quadruple signature cards with Langlands, Provan and Raper.
Chris Lauchlan – © 2014
View the full article
