Episode 16 – Western Suburbs 1978 – 1981.

Posted on by That's the Way It Was

In 1978, Western Suburbs appoint a former school teacher to coach its 1st grade team. What follows is a period of great success for the Magpies. BUT, not everyone is happy with the new coach’s teaching methods. What follows for the game of Rugby League is a massive change in how the game is governed. To make these changes, Rugby League’s version of Wyatt Earp rides into town.

1978 Premiership Table
Western Suburbs win the Minor Premiership for the 5th time
Roy Masters coached Western Suburbs from 1978 to 1981. Here he is celebrating the end of the ‘SCG hoodoo’ after Wests defeated St.George in the 1980 Minor Semi-Final.
Fullback Wayne Smith (left) and centre Ron Giteau (right) join the celebrations
Halfback Tommy Raudonikis and hooker Jack Jefferies engage in the traditional pre-match ‘face warming’ exercise.
Peter Rowles – In 1978 he set the Western Suburbs club record for the most points in a season.
215 points (8 tries, 94 goals, 3 field goals).
Les Boyd – ‘The baby-faced assassin’
Wests (1976-1979)
Manly (1980-1984)
Warrington (1985-1989)

Acknowledgments:

– Paul Oliver is a lifelong Western Suburbs supporter and the Director of the documentary – ‘The Fibros & The Silvertails’

‘- Tom Brock Lecture – Booklet 7 – ‘The Great Fibro versus Silvertails War’. Masters (2005)

– Clouds of Dust, Buckets of Blood – Lester (Playright Publishing) 1995

– 60 Minutes (Channel Nine) – 9 /9/1979 ‘The Gladiators’ – Ray Martin

– Sydney Morning Herald

– Rugby League Project