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The Mole: Rugby league icons remembered after ‘sad year’ for the game

The new year brings new hope and optimism for fans of all 17 clubs.

But before looking forward we should look back on the many big names who passed away in 2024 in what proved a sad year for rugby league.

Here are just some of the popular players and personalities the game lost over the past 12 months.

CARL WEBB (1981-December 21, 2023)

Carl Webb was a fearless second-rower or prop who emerged from Dalby in the late 1990s to make a mighty impression on the rugby league landscape. Solidly built at 109kg and 182cm, Webb debuted for the Broncos under Wayne Bennett in the premiership year of 2000 and little more than 12 months later he was creating mayhem on the State of Origin stage.

After playing a minor role in his first season in the NRL, Webb became a fixture in the Broncos' line-up and was one of 10 newcomers chosen by Bennett for the opening game of the 2001 series. Bennett had been reinstalled as coach after the Maroons suffered a disastrous 3-0 clean sweep in 2000.

Webb was part of the new brigade and according to that year's official annual Webb made a "bumping, charging defiant run two minutes before halftime to score the Maroons' third try". Webb helped the Maroons set the tone for the series with a 42-16 win.

He played 12 times for the Maroons and featured in the series win in 2006 that started the ball rolling on eight years of Maroons dominance. Webb played a solitary Test for Australia, coming off the bench at the Sydney Cricket Ground in the Centenary Test against New Zealand in 2008.

Carl Webb pictured in action for the Queensland Maroons in the 2000s Getty

He played 187 NRL games across three clubs; Broncos (66 games 2000-04), North Queensland (115 games 2005-10) and Parramatta (six games 2011).

Webb was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in 2020 and worked hard to raise awareness of the condition and assisted fund-raising efforts for research. He lost his battle in his home town of Dalby on December 21, 2023.

JOHN ELFORD (1948-February 4, 2024)

John 'Snoozer' Elford was a rugged second-rower for the Western Suburbs Magpies, whose career peaked in 1972 when he represented Australia in four Tests before injury plagued the latter period of his career.

Raised at Frederickton on the NSW mid-North Coast, Elford played his early football with Smithtown before joining the Magpies ahead of his 18th birthday. A champion beach sprinter, Elford began his career as a winger and centre before developing into a high-quality second-rower, renowned for his punishing defensive style.

Elford's time with Wests was punctuated by a contractual dispute in 1969 which led to a court challenge against the transfer payments system which operated at the time. The Equity Court ruled against Elford, who ultimately settled his differences with Wests and returned to play in 1970. He rose to New South Wales selection in 1972, helping the Blues to a big lead over the Maroons at Lang Park before he was sent from the field for what Rugby League Week described as "a hurricane crash tackle".

The dismissal failed to deter Australian selectors who named him to partner Bob McCarthy for two home Tests against New Zealand before he won a place in Australia's squad for the World Cup in France. Elford played in Australia's first two games but was diagnosed with a spiral fracture of his arm after the clash with New Zealand in Paris and played no further part in the tournament.

He battled ongoing injury problems until he quit the Magpies at the end of the 1976 season after 116 top grade games. Elford returned to Smithtown, where as captain-coach, he steered his boyhood club to a Group 2 title in 1977. He died on February 4, aged 75.

KEITH BARNES (1934-April 8, 2024)

The Mole: Rugby league icons remembered after 'sad year' for the game

Kangaroos captain Keith Barnes speaks to Sir Eric Harrison in 1960. Getty

Welsh-born Barnes was one of the all-time greats of the game in Australia. Named one of the 100 greatest players of the century in 2008, Keith 'Golden Boots' Barnes was automatically inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame in 2018. After Barnes' family migrated to Australia they settled in Wollongong where Keith excelled at cricket, golf and rugby league.

He attracted the attention of league scouts after being named under-21 player of the year two years running and at 20 he made the move to Balmain, immediately cementing a first grade position. He went on to play 194 first grade games, scoring 1,519 points and played in three grand finals but in an unfortunate quirk of fate retired the year before Balmain broke a 21-year premiership drought.

Barnes became recognised as one of the game's greatest goalkickers, with an ability to boot goals from his own side of halfway. He made the first of 11 interstate appearances for New South Wales in 1956 and represented Australia for the first time at the 1957 World Cup. He captained Australia in 14 of his 17 Tests and led the Kangaroos on the 1959-60 tour of Great Britain and France. He was captain-coach of Balmain in his final two seasons as a player (1967-68) and later spent over 10 years as Balmain club secretary (1984-94). He was co-manager of the 1990 Kangaroo tour. He died on April 8, 2024, aged 89.

TERRY HILL (1972-April 24, 2024)

Hill was a gregarious character and a natural entertainer who won a premiership with Manly and played nine Tests for Australia in a career that spanned 16 seasons. A Zetland junior, Hill was 18 when he made his first grade debut for South Sydney in 1990 and he went on to play 246 games across five premiership clubs. He spent the longest period of his career at Manly under coach Bob Fulton and celebrated a grand final victory in 1996. He toured with the Kangaroos in 1994 but did not make his Test debut until the first Test against New Zealand in 1995.

The same year he played a key role in Australia's World Cup triumph after scoring an extra-time try in the semi-final against New Zealand to keep the team's hopes alive. He finished with eight tries in nine Tests. Hill also figured in 14 State of Origin games for New South Wales 1993-2000. He played 142 games for the Sea Eagles including three grand finals and achieved the distinction of scoring the first try at Sydney's Olympic Stadium in 1999.

Remembered fondly by many for his larrikin role on Channel Nine's Footy Show, Hill was also a key figure in the demise of the NSWRL's player draft in 1991. Hill opposed his selection as a draft choice for Eastern Suburbs and the Players Association stepped in to (successfully) challenge the legality of the system through the courts. Hill died of a suspected heart attack in the Philippines on April 24, aged 52.

The Mole: Rugby league icons remembered after 'sad year' for the game

Terry Hill of the Tigers. Getty

RON LYNCH (1939-May 12, 2024)

Lynch was a tough and durable lock or second-rower who played 12 Tests for Australia and toured with the 1967-68 Kangaroos. Born in Forbes in central-west New South Wales, Lynch first came to attention when he represented Country Seconds in 1959. A year later he played for Country Firsts and New South Wales in the first of 15 interstate games. He moved to Sydney with Parramatta in 1961 and despite the fact his club was headed for a sixth consecutive wooden spoon, Lynch earned selection on Australia's mid-season tour of New Zealand.

The 21-year-old played both Tests as Australia squared the series. As Parramatta's fortunes improved significantly over the next two seasons, Lynch was considered a certainty to tour with the 1963-64 Kangaroos but dislocated his shoulder on the day the team was to be announced. He played in winning Australian teams in the final two Tests against Great Britain in 1966 and finally won his Kangaroo tour spurs in 1967-68. He played the first two Ashes Tests but was forced to watch the decider from the reserves bench after losing out in a battle for selection with future Immortal Ron Coote.

His 12th and final Test appearance was in the brutal first Test against Great Britain in 1970, but his day was over early after a sickening head clash with a team-mate left him with a depressed fracture of the cheekbone and broken jaw. Lynch left Parramatta at the end of 1971 for two seasons at Penrith and retired after 238 first grade games with the distinction of never playing a game in a lower grade. He died on May 12, aged 84.

BOBBY BANKS (1930-July 10, 2024)

Banks was a much-travelled five-eighth for Queensland and Australia in a career that spanned 16 seasons. He was rated by renowned coach Bob Bax as a "superb handler and strong defender", described by Immortal Clive Churchill as the greatest team player of his experience, while legendary halfback Duncan Thompson described him as "a brilliant tactician, a halfback's and an inside centre's dream".

Banks was born in the Riverina town of Tumut but was raised in Newcastle where he played first grade with Central Newcastle before his 18th birthday. He won the local grand final with Central in 1949 before joining Eastern Suburbs in Sydney in 1950. He played a season with Charters Towers in 1951 and represented North Queensland against the touring Frenchmen but it wasn't until his move to Toowoomba in 1952 that he made his big break into the representative arena. In three seasons in the Darling Downs Banks played 11 Bulimba Cup games against Brisbane and Ipswich for 11 wins.

He played the first of 26 interstate games for Queensland in 1952 and the following year debuted for Australia on a short tour of New Zealand. He went on to play 15 Tests, appeared at the first World Cup in France in 1954 and toured with the Kangaroos in 1956-57, playing in all six Tests against Great Britain and France. Banks' club career took him to Waratah-Mayfield in 1955, North Rockhampton in 1956, Cunnamulla from 1957-60, Southern Suburbs Cairns in 1961-62 and Tully in 1963. Banks died in Newcastle on July 10, aged 94.

KEVIN GOLDSPINK (1941-October 5, 2024)

Kevin Goldspink was a rugged and hard-working second-rower for Canterbury who was considered a major selection 'bolter' when he was chosen for the 1967-68 Kangaroo tour. The 24-year-old had played strongly for Canterbury in their grand final loss to South Sydney but he was not expected to be named ahead of Rabbitohs' second-rower Bob McCarthy, who had almost single-handedly won the grand final for Souths with his long-range intercept try.

Goldspink, who had played for City Seconds in 1966 and 1967, went on to play 13 games on the tour but did not play a Test. He arrived at Canterbury in 1963 from the NSW south-western town of Tumbarumba where he was born into a large footballing family. His brother Colin played 11 games for Canterbury in 1964, while son Brett later played 60 first grade games for Illawarra, South Sydney and the Western Reds (1992-96). Kevin was a first cousin of former Test fast bowler Geoff Lawson. He played 103 first grade games for Canterbury until 1969 before playing 26 games across two seasons at Eastern Suburbs. He later coached Wollongong club Collegians. Goldspink died on October 5, aged 83.

FLETCHER ROY CHRISTIAN MBE (1943-November 19, 2024)

Roy Christian was one of New Zealand's most successful captains and a NZRL Legend of League. He led the 1971 Kiwis to a 24-3 Test win over Australia at Carlaw Park and then to series victories on tour to Great Britain and France in a unique Kiwis Grand Slam. His full name reflects his heritage. His sixth great grandfather was Fletcher Christian, who led the 1789 mutiny on the British ship HMS Bounty in the Pacific Ocean.

His father was from Norfolk Island and his mother from Vanuatu but Roy was born in Auckland and lived in Otahuhu, where he played all his club football. In 1965, aged 22, he debuted against Australia in a tied 1-1 series.

Then followed the 1965 tour to Britain and France and the 1967 tour to Australia and home series against Britain (1966) and Australia (1969, when he was permanently switched to the centres). He became captain for the 1970 World Cup in Britain before the 1971 Grand Slam and in 1972 made a short tour to Australia and another World Cup in France. Christian retired after 32 Tests and 74 matches for New Zealand.

TROY DARGAN, five-eighth for South Sydney in two NRL games in 2020 and Cook Islands international (two Tests 2019). An Australian Schoolboys rep in 2014 (from Knox Grammar), Dargan played junior football with Cabramatta and played 32 Holden Cup games for Parramatta.

He was named in the Holden Cup Team of the Year in 2016 and represented NSW Under-20s in 2017. Dargan played NSW Cup for Wentworthville 2016-17, South Sydney 2020-21 and Blacktown Workers 2023 and Intrust Super Cup for Norths Devils 2018-19. He was hoping to resurrect his NRL career with the Canberra Raiders in 2024 but was killed in a motorcycle accident while holidaying in the Cook Islands on Christmas Eve, 2023, aged 26.

The Mole: Rugby league icons remembered after 'sad year' for the game

Troy Dargan. Supplied

DARRELL BAMPTON, second-rower and lock for South Sydney in 51 first grade games 1970-73 and 1978-79. A junior with Alexandria Rovers, Waterloo Waratahs and Zetland United, Bampton captained Souths' President's Cup winning team in 1969 and won a third grade title in the same year. His path to first grade blocked by players of the calibre of Bob McCarthy, Gary Stevens, Ron Coote and Paul Sait, Bampton joined Wollongong club Collegians in 1974. He played in an Illawarra representative side that upset England in 1975. Bampton returned to Souths in 1978. He later took up administrative roles, as CEO of South Sydney (1997-99) and manager of NSW and Australian teams from 1999-2002. A life member of South Sydney and the NSWRL, he was awarded an OAM for services to rugby league in 2009. He died on January 6, after a long illness, aged 74.

JOHN MORAN, centre or winger for Penrith and Parramatta in 85 first grade games from 1969 to 1977. Younger brother of Panthers Hall of Famer Grahame Moran, John followed Grahame to Penrith from Taree in 1969 and appeared in 50 first grade games 1969-73 before joining the Eels in 1974. Moran played 35 top grade games for Parramatta until 1977, including the club's maiden grand final in which the Eels fell 13-10 to Manly. Moran died on February 19, aged 75.

DARRYL VAN DE VELDE, centre and second-rower for Mackay Brothers, Easts Tigers, Souths Magpies and Redcliffe in the 1970s and later coach and long-serving administrator. Van de Velde moved to Easts in Brisbane in 1973, before playing four seasons with Souths 1974-77 and one with Redcliffe 1978. Van de Velde represented Brisbane and Queensland against Great Britain in 1977. He turned to coaching with Redcliffe 1986-87 before guiding English clubs Castleford 1988-93, Huddersfield 1996 and Warrington 1997-2000. Van de Velde was the first CEO of the South Queensland Crushers in 1995 and later a long-serving QRL director. He died on February 27, aged 72.

LEWIS JONES, legendary dual rugby international who represented the British Lions and Wales in rugby union before a glittering career in rugby league with Leeds from 1952 to 1964. Jones played 15 Tests for Great Britain (1954-57), toured Australia and New Zealand in 1954 and returned Down Under in 1957 for the World Cup. Equally at home at fullback, wing or centre, Jones played 385 games for Leeds, scoring 2,920 points. He moved to Australia in 1964, joining second division club Wentworthville as captain-coach from 1964-69 and non-playing coach 1970-71. Jones was inducted into England's Rugby League Hall of Fame in 2013. He died on March 4, aged 92.

PHIL LOWE, second-rower for Hull Kingston Rovers 1967-83 and Manly Warringah 1974-76 and in 12 Tests for Great Britain 1970-78. Lowe was signed by Manly secretary Ken Arthurson in 1974 and, with countryman Gary Stephens and Steve Norton, helped the Sea Eagles to their 1976 grand final win over Parramatta. Lowe played 418 games for Hull KR and 72 for the Sea Eagles. A noted try scorer, Lowe tallied over 200 tries during his senior career. He died on March 20, aged 74.

BOB LANIGAN, long-serving player, coach and official. Lanigan commenced his career with Camdenville (Newtown) and Chelsea United (South Sydney) junior clubs before playing 67 first grade games for Newtown 1964-68. He was the NSWRL's leading pointscorer in 1966. He transferred to Griffith Waratahs in 1969 before stints with Dapto Canaries 1970-71, Erina Hawks 1972-74 and Macquarie Scorpions 1975. Lanigan coached Erina Hawks 1976-79 before taking on strength and conditioning with Woy Woy, Parramatta, Auckland Warriors, Leeds, St Helens and the New Zealand national team. Lanigan served as NRL ground manager from 1999-2022. He died on April 4, aged 81.

STEVE BLYTH, second-rower and occasionally prop for Western Suburbs and Newtown in 93 first grade games 1976-82. Blyth played junior football with Berala Bears and represented Wests' President's Cup team in 1973. He made his first grade debut for Wests in 1976 and played 49 games across three seasons. He also played in Wests' 1977 Amco Cup-winning team. He linked with Warren Ryan at Newtown in 1979 and played in 44 games until 1982, including the 1981 grand final against Parramatta. Blyth died on May 29, aged 69.

ROB BURROW, diminutive halfback or hooker for Leeds in 492 senior games 2001-17. He played 13 Tests for England, including one against Australia at the 2008 World Cup, and five for Great Britain. He was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in December 2019 and worked tirelessly with former team-mate Kevin Sinfield to raise awareness. Between them nearly £20 million was raised for research and treatment of the condition. Both were awarded CBEs in 2024. "He had the heart of a lion while playing, and the heart of a thousand lions when facing motor neurone disease," former England team-mate Sam Burgess said. Paying tribute on social media, Prince William said: "A legend of rugby league, Rob Burrow had a huge heart. He taught us, 'in a world full of adversity, we must dare to dream'." Burrow died of the disease on June 2, aged 41.

The Mole: Rugby league icons remembered after 'sad year' for the game

Rob Burrow. AP

GEOFF ROBINSON, uncompromising prop or second-rower for Canterbury in 139 first grade games from 1977-84 and 1986. He also spent the 1985-86 season with Halifax under former team-mate and captain-coach Chris Anderson. Robinson, who played junior football with Chester Hill and Regent's Park, played in grand final-winning teams for the Bulldogs in 1980 and 1984 and represented Country Seconds in 1984. He later coached the club's Under-21s side to a premiership in 1991. He died on July 3, aged 66.

JOHN BILBIJA, hard-running second-rower in 49 first grade games for four NSWRL clubs during the 1980s. The son of Serbian immigrants, Bilbija played with Birchgrove Scorpions in Balmain juniors as a 17-year-old and was graded with the Tigers in 1979. He played with Balmain 1980-81 (four first grade games), Parramatta 1982 (one game), Western Suburbs 1986-87 (40 games) and South Sydney 1988 (four games). He also spent a season with Lithgow Workmen in 1983 and Merrylands in Parramatta A grade in 1984-85. He died on August 25, aged 65.

JOE REAICHE, winger or fullback for Eastern Suburbs, Canterbury and South Sydney in 25 first grade games between 1978 and 1983. A Bondi United junior, Reaiche played 22 games for Easts (1978-79 and 1983), one for the Bulldogs in 1981 and two for the Rabbitohs in 1982. Reaiche's family returned to their Lebanese homeland when he was 14 and two years later he fought in the country's bitter civil war. A ceasefire allowed the family to escape to Australia where Reaiche pursued his rugby league dream. In later life he was drawn into a bitter battle with the Church of Scientology in the United States. He died on September 4, aged 66.

The Mole: Rugby league icons remembered after 'sad year' for the game

Joe Reaiche. Twitter

BARRY VINING, long-serving president of the Newtown Jets (1986-2018), who was a key figure in the Jets remaining viable after they were eliminated from the NSWRL premiership in 1983. With fellow director Terry Rowney, Vining worked for a Newtown team to be included in the NSWRL Metropolitan Cup competition in 1991 before their return to the NSW Cup in 2000. A leading businessman and former mayor of Marrickville (1991-2004), Vining died on September 29, aged 85, after watching the Jets triumph in the NSW Cup grand final against North Sydney.

BRIAN LOCKWOOD, ball-playing English forward who starred for Canterbury and Balmain in the mid-1970s. A long-serving player for Castleford (1965-75), Lockwood played 16 Tests for Great Britain (1972-79) and was renowned for his ball-playing ability. He helped guide a young Canterbury team to a grand final in 1974 and was a leading player in a Balmain team that recovered from a wooden spoon to reach to a semi-final play-off in 1975, before winning pre-season and mid-week titles in 1976 and playing finals in 1977. Lockwood is remembered for his role in a stunning try scored by lock Neil Pringle in Balmain's Amco Cup win over North Sydney in 1976. He returned to England, playing with Wakefield 1976-77, Hull KR 1978-80, Oldham 1980-81 and Widnes 1981-83. He won Challenge Cup titles with Castleford (1969 and 1970), Hull KR (1980) when he was awarded the Lance Todd Trophy, and Widnes (1981). He died on October 10, aged 78.

PETER LANGMACK, centre or lock for Parramatta and Penrith in 94 first grade games between 1971 and 1978. The older brother of Kangaroo representative Paul Langmack, Peter played juniors with Liverpool City before appearing in 37 first grade games for the Eels (1971-72 and 1977-78) and 57 for the Panthers (1974-76). He remains the only player to score five tries in a game for Penrith, achieving the feat playing lock against St George in 1974. He died on December 4, aged 73.

*Courtesy David Middleton's Official Rugby League Annual

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