‘NOTORIOUS’ WALK OFF BY NORTHS PLAYERS TO BE REMEMBERED

30th March 2010 | Back to Full List of Articles | PDF Media Release

It was a day that will be well remembered by those who attended, it had never happened up to that day, it is unlikely to ever happen again and it was one the most bizarre happenings in the history of Rugby League.

In 1970 The North Sydney Bears wore a predominantly white jersey for the first time ever. The jersey came to be known as the “Roy Francis” Jersey, after the Bears Welsh Coach at the time.

2010 marks 40 years since this jersey has been worn and the jersey will once again be worn by the North Sydney team in memory of Roy Francis and of one of the most startling actions ever taken by a first grade captain.

The jersey will be worn in the two games against Canterbury-Bankstown this year, to commemorate the infamous moment in Rugby League history when Ken Irvine, mid match, led the North Sydney players from the field at Belmore against Canterbury on the 29th march 1970.

Recorded in “The Mighty Bears; A Social History of North Sydney Rugby League” by Andrew Moore, the Bears Centre at the time Denis Cubis, said it this way, “Pure frustration is the way you’d put it, for a team to finally say enough’s enough and walk off.”

Denis Cubis recalled that the whistle blower Keith Page, was ‘off the planet that day’, abusing the Norths players and making little effort to disguise his partiality to Canterbury.

North Sydney’s Akka Forbes persuaded the players to return to the field in this Round one clash at Belmore Oval in front of 14,743 people with the Bears ultimately going down 14-16.

A commemorative version of this jersey is available for purchase to the public and will be available to purchase on-line in the following weeks.

The jersey is a piece of North Sydney history, great to have as a collectors item of the future and it’s a nice way to remember Coach Roy Lionel Francis, maybe a coach just ahead of his time.

The two matches at which the jersey will be worn will be against Canterbury-Bankstown this weekend for round 4 on Saturday, 3 April, 3:00 p.m. at the Crest Stadium, McClean Cres, Bass Hill and in round 15 on Saturday, 19 June, at North Sydney Oval, Miller Street, Cammeray.

ROUND FOUR NSW CUP

North Sydney Bears V Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Time: 3:00 pm
Saturday 3 April 2010
The Crest Stadium, McClean Cres, Bass Hill. CLICK HERE for directions.

ROUND EIGHT JUNIOR REPS

North Sydney Bears V Western Sydney Academy
S G Ball: 1:30 pm Harold Matthews: 12:00 pm
Saturday 3 April 2010
St Marys Stadium, corner of Forrester & Boronia Roads, St Marys. CLICK HERE for directions.

NSW CUP TEAM

1.Luke Capewell
2.Sosaia Fiffta
3.Greg Nichols
4.Andre Itula
5.Curtis Johnston
6.Eddie Paea
7.Joe Williams
8.James Nightingale
9.Matt Hunt
10.Garret Crossman
11.Brock Molan
12.Zeb Tawha
13.Deon Apps

14.Martin Field
15.Dean Webster
16.Tuki Jackson
17.Jarryd Hogan

Coach: Wayne Lambkin

SG BALL TEAM

1.Bevan De Vries
2.John Hassaratti
3.David Sisifa
4.Matt Gladman
5.Jessie Pizzingrilli
6.Matt Place (C)
7.Apisai Koroisau
8.Joel Hulett
9.Jacob Collie
10.Joseph Nakhoul
11.Havili Suli
12.Ben Mitchell
13.Michael Luong

14.Johnathan Lamese
15.Jason Doran
16.Jim Datson
17.Shane Brown
18.Brad Fisher
19.Ray Schuster
20.Alaa Bradman
21.Tim Carroll
22.Kevin Fodor
23.Jeff Carrion
24.Jye Gadson
25.Hugh Tomkin

Coach: Mark Cannon

HAROLD MATTHEWS CUP TEAM

1.Lars Roy
2.Charmoon Tumupu
3.Millad Noor
4.Casey Whatton
5.Kazuki Fukishige
6.David Dean (c)
7.Zach Nicholls
8.Jason Vikilani
9.Craig McMurrich
10.Iszak Taalili
11.Charlie Toamotu
12.Tevita Otuafi
13.Osman Hassan
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14.Sean Moe
15.Chris Mateaki
16.John Taulaga
17.Jonathan Huskins
18.Shane Horua
19.Anthony Semrany
20.Marley Tuialii
21.Paul Hanna
22.Jaiden Hawkes
23.Jon Ray Sakr
24.Tayler McCann
25.Scott Graham

Coach: Kevin Nicholls