Eastern Suburbs Roosters in 1969
Eastern Suburbs Roosters were tipped to be the glamour team of the 1969 Sydney premiership after the signing of two Wallabies and a couple of likely prospects from South African rugby union.
South African, Louis Neumann had been named as coach of the Roosters for 1969, replacing the great Jack Gibson, despite Gibson having taken the Roosters to the finals in 1967 and ’68 after a couple of barren seasons.
The Wallabies to switch codes with the Roosters were centre, John Brass and winger, Alan Cardy, while the South Africans were giant prop, Ernest Lardner and winger, Errol Gates.
It was noted Sydney Morning Herald journalist, Tom Goodman who rated the Roosters the team to watch. Goodman said Cardy, a big winger, who had played impressively against the All Blacks, would thrive playing outside the likes of Brass; Indigenous centre, Ron Saddler and five eighth, Johnny Peard.
Brass went on to become a dual international, but Cardy’s league ambitions were ruined by injury. Lardner and Gates were essentially never heard of again.
Footnote: Balmain defeated South Sydney in the 1969 Grand Final. The Roosters failed to make the finals.
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This is a great website for looking up players of all years. Thank you Paul.