HERMAN PETERS

As the last surviving link with the record breaking Norths sides of the 1920-1922, Herman Peters has witnessed a lifetime of change at North Sydney. At 88 years of age, this grand gentleman has remained a loyal follower of the Rugby League fortunes of the North Sydney 'Bears'.

Herman Peters was born in the heart of North Sydney, in Junction Street, in 1899. At North Sydney High School, he captained the Rugby Union side and he also represented N.S.W. in the Schoolboy Australian Rules side. He maintains today, that such a grounding in these codes was an important foundation for his Rugby League career.

Ted Mclntyre, a 1908 Wallaby and family friend, took the young Peters to North Sydney Oval to see the League players train. His first introduction to the game he would later master, was as a boy kicking a ball to Club greats, Albert Broomham, Tom Berecry and Sid Deane at Norths' training sessions. Graded as a centre in 1917, Herman quickly established a brilliant ability to chip kick, chase, re-gather and for his.

determined defence which gained him the reputation as "the best centre in N.S.W.". In 1921, as part of Norths' Champion backline, he gained selection on the 1921-1922 Kangaroo Tour, along with clubmates, Blinkhorn, Rule, Horder, Ives and Thompson.

Modestly, Herman is quick to praise his team-mates of the era, to talk about the team rather than himself. But in a period of League history when legends were born, Peters was able to stamp his greatness upon the game. As the great players left the Club, Herman Peters remained to captain his beloved Norths before his retirement in 1927.

A former Norths' committeeman and Australian selector in 1948, the Bears have remained Ilis team' in the 60 years since Herman Peters graced North Sydney Oval.

CON SULLIVAN

The career of Con Sullivan can be viewed not only as an important part of the development of the North Sydney Club but also as a pioneer of the code of Rugby League in this country. A New Zealander who had toured Queensland and New South Wales on the Kiwi League tour of 1909,he migrated to Australia in the following year with the expressed purpose of playing League in the blossoming years of the professional code.

In New Zealand, Con Sullivan was a talented Union player but his relatively light frame was seen as a barrier to achieving a place in the 'All Blacks' national side. He had risen through the various grades of Union in Wellington before deciding to switch to the professional code.

At 5 ft. 11 and a little over 12 stone, he may have been regarded as a lightweight forward but his stature belied his great strength which enabled him to establish a reputation as a tenacious defender. Sullivan also used his strength to develop one of the game's best fends which he used to great advantage. In 1910,his first season with Norths, he realised his representative aspirations when selected in the second row for his adopted country in the Test series against the visiting England side. In the following year he toured with the 1911-12 Kangaroos on their 'Australasian' Tour of England and France.

Con Sullivan's final Test series was in 1914 as Australia once again took on England on their home soil. Captain of the Australian Test side was fellow Norths clubman, Sid Deane and Sullivan would later become his brother-in-law. He retired as a player in 1919.

REX HARRISON

In today's game where the pursuit of a dollar often over-rides Club loyalty, former Norths captain, Rex Harrison, expresses a refreshing sentiment. "In those days it was just a thrill to be graded. You would walk through Crows Nest and feel proud. You got nothing for all the work you did, in fact, you bought your own sticking plaster, but I'd do it all again".

Although born in the Adelaide suburb of Gleneig, Rex went on to become one of the most outstanding players produced from the North Sydney district. He had played Australian Rules football and Rugby Union with North Sydney Boys High before making the move to League in 1930.

He immediately found the role of five-eighth a comfortable one and played for the successful Naremburn Kangaroos 'C' Grade side in the Northern Suburbs Junior League. As a member of the Northern Suburbs President's Cup side, which won the Premiership in 1933, he was graded at Norths in the following year.

In the late 1930's, Harrison formed a unique partnership with half-back, Roy Thompson. Despite playing in a record number of State matches with his talented clubmate, Rex Harrison was denied the chance to represent Australia at the height of his career due to the intervention of war. After joining the A.I.F., his career came to a standstill during the years of 1942-1945, although taking time to play in combined services matches against State sides.

BOB SULLIVAN

The son of North Sydney 'great', Con Sullivan and the nephew of the Club's first Test captain, Sid Deane, it was only fitting that when embarking on a League career Bob Sullivan would find a home at Norths. Almost forty years later he is still with the Club, overseeing the fortunes of the Bears since taking on the position of President in 1986.

Bob Sullivan was graded in 1948 after playing with Chatswood and Narrabeen in Norths' Junior League. Although never placed on contract with the Club, playing for match bonuses, there was never any consideration that he would play for any other team.

In the mid 1950's, Norths were regular visitors to the semi-finals and the classy play and astute captaincy of the clever five-eighth finally came under notice of the representative selectors. Bob had played for City and N.S.W. before eventually gaining Test selection in 1954. Sullivan praises the role Norths' coach Rex Harrison played in his selection for Australia. Harrison had shown great faith in his ability and more importantly helped him to overcome an injury which had threatened to force him to withdraw from the State side prior to the selection of the Second Test side.

Rex Harrison firmly believed that if Sullivan played in the State match he would stand an excellent chance of gaining selection in the Test side. He backed up this belief by training with Sullivan in Willoughby Park in order to pass fitness. It is now an important part of the Club's proud history that Bob Sullivan emulated the feat of his father, Con and played for Australia in that Test. Despite losing to England 38-21 in Brisbane, the occasion was the highlight of his career, the only regret being that Mr. Sullivan Snr. could riot make the trip to see him play.

After a season playing League in the country, the remainder of the 1950's saw Bob Sullivan become a stalwart of the Norths' side. His playing career concluded in 1959 when he captain-coached the Reserve Grade side to Premiership honours. He returned as First Grade coach in 1961-62, meeting with two seasons of mixed success before moving into the administration field within the Club.

MARK GRAHAM

As First Grade Captain of Norths since coming to Sydney in 1981, Mark Graham has endured both the good and the bad times with the Club, yet has emerged with his reputation as one of the world's best forwards firmly intact.

Graham hails from the North Island Rugby League centre of Otahuhu, where he was graded as a centre in 1975. This marked the beginning of a long friendship and professional relationship with local coach, Graham Lowe. Lowe was instrumental in moving Mark Graham into the forwards, a move which would see him gain recognition in the Rugby League world.

Graham's New Zealand club were Premiers in 1975, 1977-1978, and runners-up in 1979. Despite making his Test debut for the Kiwis in 1978, Graham contemplated "giving football away to go fishing" at the end of the 1979 season. However, Graham Lowe, who had moved to Queensland to coach Norths' Brisbane, persuaded the talented second rower to come to Australia in 1980.

Norths Brisbane won the Premiership that year and prior to the New Zealand Tour of England, Mark was approached by North Sydney Secretary, Ken McCaffery, with a view to joining the Bears for the 1981 season. With him came the tag of 'world's best forward' but Graham has never felt the pressure of maintaining such a title. Now in his eighth season with the Bears, Mark has achieved every honour League has to offer, except for that elusive Grand Final appearance at the S.C.G. After captaining his country to Test victories over Australia, Great Britain and France during his career, he is now retired from the representative scene to concentrate on Club football.

Mark Graham shoulders the uneasy task of leading Norths into a new and successful era and the hopes of the many Club supporters go with him. Confidently, he believes Norths' best years lie just ahead. "We've got the resources, we've got the players and management to do well. There are plenty of good wins in store".

BRIAN CARLSON

The Rugby League World was saddened by the passing of former North Sydney and International Test Captain, Brian Carlson in April, 1987 at the age of 54. Carlson, a versatile backline player, who represented Australia in several positions, rates as one of the most talented players ever to play for Norths.

Brian Carlson was a product of the Norths' Newcastle Club, coming into grade in 1951. In the following season he progressed from the ranks of Country Firsts and the N.S.W. side to secure a place on the 1952-1953 Kangaroo Tour.

1954 saw him move South to the Wollongong Club, a strong country centre of Rugby League, boasting players such as Harry Wells, Jack Lumsden and Col Donoghue. However, a ruptured kidney almost ended his league career forcing him to miss the 1955 season. The much-travelled international played for Souths Newcastle in 1956 before moving to Blackall in Queensland's central west in 1957. A contractual dispute actually saw him without a club but this did not stop his selection for Australia for the World Cup series in June.

Following the completion of the World Cup, in which he was voted 'player of the series', he came to Sydney to play for Norths. In his five seasons with the Bears, Carlson bought a wealth of talent and experience to the side, taking on the role of captain, goal-kicker and full-back in latter years. An uncanny understanding developed with winger, Ken Irvine, and together the pair provided that 'touch of brilliance' in the Norths' backline.

In 1961 he achieved the distinction of captaining Australia on the tour of New Zealand, a side containing Reg Gasnier, Ken Irvine, lan Walsh and Arthur Summons. This season was to be his farewell to Sydney football, returning to coach Souths Newcastle to a further two Premiership victories before his retirement. Brian Carlson had always regarded Newcastle as 'the capital city of the world' and was looking towards Newcastle's entry into the 1988 Sydney competition. Not only was he a prolific point scorer and inventive attacking player, but foremost he was a gentleman Rugby League could not afford to lose.

BILLY WILSON

Billy Wilson, the former St. George player and Kangaroo Tourist, graduated from the 'old school' of forward play and brought his own special brand of toughness to North Sydney's ranks in the mid 1960's.

Wilson's junior career was with Kogarah in the St. George district and he was graded with the Dragons in 1949 as a lock forward. His eventual move to the front row saw him establish a reputation as a feared competitor who was never known to take a backward step.

After a stint as player-coach at Picton and Wagga in the early 1950's, he returned to St. George to play a vital part in that great Club's Premiership run. Wilson played in six consecutive Grand Final wins from 1957-62. The '62 Grand Final, in which he was sent from the field, was his last appearance in the familiar red and white of St. George.

Contemplating his retirement, he was approached by the Norths' Committee with the view of bringing his much needed experience to the Norths' pack. Accepting the challenge. Bill was rewarded for his powerhouse displays with the Bears in 1963 by being named as Captain of the Australian side for the Test series against the visiting Kiwis.

Now in his late thirties, the next three seasons saw him work tirelessly for his Club before announcing his retirement in 1966. As non-playing coach at Norths in the following season he was forced to make a comeback and play a handful of matches in an effort to lift the flagging fortunes of his side.

Although not entirely a successful season, Billy Wilson's coaching career continued on with the Cronulla President's Cup and Reserve Grade teams.

ROY THOMPSON

Prior to coming to the North Sydney area , Roy Thompson had grown up in the country centre of Cundletown near Taree. After playing for Willougby 'C' Grade in 1932, the talented half- back went on to captain the Marist Brothers Club before his occupation as a carpenter's apprentice took him to Bowral in 1934.

Returning to the Norths' district in 1935, the 19 year old was quickly graded and after progressing to the top grade, became an integral part of the side for the next six seasons. Although not the regular goal-kicker at the beginning of the season, he quickly established a reputation as a reliable points-scorer and topped the 100 tally for the year.

Thompson formed a close rapport with five-eighth partner Rex Harrison and the pair went on to appear in minor representative matches during 1936-37. The diminutive half-back had shown his class as a player who possessed both toughness and cunning and came under consideration for the Kangaroo Tour of 1937.

A brilliant display in the 'Possibles v. Probables' match on the eve of the Tour clinched his selection. In his side's 9 all draw, Thompson scored a try and three goals, his try coming from a break on the half-way mark. As the number three half-back on Tour, Roy had to wait patiently for his opportunities and played most of his football on the French leg of the Tour.

From July, 1938 until June 1940 he combined with Rex Harrison to play in eight consecutive State matches, a record Club partnership which still stands to this day. In 1940 he had taken over the coaching role from 'Pony' Halloway and was captain of the N.S.W side but his career was interrupted by his eventual call-up to military service.

His time in the R.A.A.F. as a radio operator was a distinguished one, seeing action in New Guinea at Buna and Dobadura. The former Kangaroo Tourist was mentioned in 'despatches' and praised for his dedication and bravery under fire.

When Roy Thompson was discharged from duty in February 1946, his League career was over. In his retirement, he had nothing but praise for half-backs and the modem standard of the game. As a former player of immense skill and intelligence, that's high praise indeed.

NORM STRONG

Norm Strong has been described as the 'greatest club man to ever play for a Sydney Club'. The rugged hooker played for fourteen consecutive seasons in Norths top side, amassing 260 Club games with 231 in First Grade. Challenges to his position as First Grade hooker came and went during his career but at the end of each season Strong's mantle as the Club's top 'rake' would remain undisputed. While his name may have been well down the list of point scorers, Norm was rarely beaten for the ball, playing in the greater majority of matches each season.

A member of Chatswood Christian Brother's in Norths Junior League, his fifteen year association with the club began in 1947. He made his First Grade debut in his initial season but it was not until 1949 that he had secured a regular spot in the top 13. He was still there 14 seasons later, interrupted only by half a season in Toowoomba in 1952.

During the 1950's he was a consistent player when the Club experienced the Tiighs and lows' of Rugby League success - 'wooden spooners' in 1951, Finalists in 1952. Norm Strong was regarded as one of the game's toughest competitors, a rugged player who had perfected the subtle ploys and skills of his position.

Even today, Norm maintains the need to be 'proficient in your trade, a student of your position'. Strong's forward partners including Evenden, Hudson, Waters, Haslam and Diversi took this understanding a step further, building a knowledge of each other's games which became a foundation for much of Norths' success in those years.

At the completion of the 1962 season, Norm Strong retired. As the player credited with bringing the mouthguard into vogue, he states that he "learnt something from every game with each being a memorable one."

KEN McCAFFERY

Ken McCaffery is one of Rugby League's true personalities and his reputation has been built upon a lifetime in the game. In spite of the successes and disappointments in his career, League remained a way of life for Ken - a vocation rather than simply a job.

McCaffery's career has been eventful as it has been varied. He was an Easts junior and had played three seasons of grade for the 'tri-colours' from 1948-1950. On holiday in Toowoomba, he was befriended by former Norths 'great' Duncan Thompson, who persuaded him to play for the Queensland club for the following season. He saw this move as an opportunity to fulfil his two major ambitions - to one day play for Australia and to earn enough from League to become a publican.

The young centre achieved the first of these two goals in 1952, when selected for the Kangaroo Tour. Although regarded as a 'utility player' in representative sides, McCaffery saw half-back as his favoured role despite his common selection at five-eighth. The ensuing years saw him regularly in the 'green and gold', playing against all Rugby League nations. At 26 years of age, the Queensland captain signed a contract with North Sydney to play in Sydney for the '57 season.

From 1957-1959 he lent his vast experience to the side before a shoulder injury forced him into retirement. As a player, McCaffery's career at Norths was frustrating in that the Club did not achieve what it could have. Since his retirement, McCaffrey has endeavoured to put something back into the code. A former Channel 9 commentator, he was Schools Liaison Officer for Rugby League in the 1960's, introducing Coaching Schools and organising correspondence courses. He was Assistant Secretary of the N.S.W.R.L. when he was approached to take over the role of Secretary at Canterbury in the 1970's.

His eventual move back to Norths in 1980 saw him back with the Bears at a time when the Club was experiencing several major difficulties. Ken was responsible for bringing Mark Graham and Mitchell Cox to the Club and battled sections of the Sydney media who were calling for Norths sacking from the competition. "The pen is mightier than the sword" he admits but believed the bad press was affecting the Club's ability to sign class players and draw good crowds.

As Secretary, McCaffery helped improve the Club's financial situation and built a closer rapport with North Sydney Council in an effort to improve ground facilities at North Sydney Oval.

The 1985 Greg Hawick controversy indirectly brought about McCaffery's exit from the Club at a committee meeting at the end of that year. While this episode may not be the final chapter in the career of Ken McCaffery, after a lifetime emersed in Rugby League, he fulfilled that second goal he expressed all those years ago - as a publican in Lismore. Ken is now retired.

BRUCE WALKER

Roy Francis and Len Dittman were instrumental in bringing 19 year old Brisbane player, Bruce Walker, to Sydney in 1971. The raw talent of the young second rower saw him in Norths' top grade after only two matches. In his first season with the Bears, he played the most matches and regularly did so in the years ahead.

At thirteen and a half stone, Walker developed into a brilliant attacking player, becoming a devastating runner just wide of the ruck. He is quick to praise the talent of players such as Graham Williams and Tim Pickup in the early years of his career while he learned much from Bill Hamilton and John Gray in the development of his skill as a ball distributor.

In the period of 1971-1974, Walker alternated between lock and second-rower and rarely missed a match before a broken ankle sidelined him in 1974. In 1975 he gained the First Grade captaincy and was also selected to play for New South Wales.

DON McKINNON

In the game against Illawarra on the 24th March, 1987 prop-forward Don McKinnon broke the long standing record for Club matches. Set in 1962 by Norths' stalwart Norm Strong, McKinnon eclipsed the tally of 260 games and celebrated the occasion by scoring a valuable try in his side's victory.

Having reached veteran status with the Bears before transferring to the Manly Club for the 1988 season, 'Big Donnie' was graded with Norths in 1975. The 'McKinnon' name has been an important part of the history of the Club and Don has successfully carried this mantle into the 1980's.

Following in the footsteps of his father Harry, his uncle Don, [who both played in the 1930's and 1940's] and brothers Doug and Max, Don McKinnon, the youngest member of the family, burst onto the First Grade scene in 1977. Captain-coach at the time Bill Hamilton certainly had a marked influence on his game while Englishman, John Gray was "a pleasure to run off".

After the 1979 season, in which his form was one of the bright lights in a disappointing year, Don's career flourished under the coaching of Ron Willey. McKinnon believes he played his best football under Willey's guidance and his achievements in that period certainly back this up. In 1982, with his side involved in the Semi- Finals, Don came directly into consideration for the Kangaroo Tour. His subsequent selection saw him at the peak of his League career.

Realistically, he views the last five seasons as a battle with himself to regain that top form and it is a credit to the great clubman that he has endeavoured to do his best in any grade. His durability as a player is put down to a relatively injury-free career and he admits to not feeling any differently about the game than when he started twelve years ago.

ROSS WARMER

When veteran Norths' hooker Norm Strong retired in 1962, a young player from Tamworth moved in to that position to begin another decade of excellence in the front row 'boiler room' for the Club. As hooker from 1963 to 1974, Ross Warner added to Strong's amazing dominance of that role, the pair combining to record 25 years of loyal service in the Club.

Ross Warner was a member of the successful Tamworth city side from 1958 to 1960. In 1962 he was spotted by Harry McKinnon and 'Akka' Forbes playing for Northern Division against the Touring England side, and quickly graded at Norths for the 1963 season.

After serving a year-long apprenticeship to Strong, Ross Warner set the Club scene alight in 1963, establishing a reputation as a reliable ball winner and elusive player in the open. He had well and truly made his mark in 1964 when selected to play for City Seconds.

He progressed to the State side and was duly chosen as reserve forward in the Australian side to play France in Brisbane. He can be considered to be desperately unlucky not to play for Australia, as he more than held his own in an era filled with great hookers.

Wamer is best remembered as a great clubman at North Sydney, who over the next decade played in over 200 games. In the 1970's, on reaching veteran status at the Bears, he was rewarded with the Club captaincy in the final years of his career which concluded in 1975.

CEC BLINKHORN

Despite the fact that he was born in the heart of Rabbitoh' territory in Abercrombie Street, Redfern, in 1892, Cec Blinkhorn went on to become a Norths' Junior and the club proudly claims the brilliant winger as one of their own.

His early football experience was in Rugby Union at George Street Public School. He went on to establish a fine reputation in that code at Chatswood School of Arts following his family's move to the North Sydney district.

Norths were quick to grade the young speedster in 1914 and he became the focal point of the side's attack in the early years of his career. In his first five seasons he was North's leading try scorer, showing that he had skill to match speed, his powerful fend aiding his burst to the line. In 1919 Blinkhorn was lured to South Sydney when he transferred for a fee of twenty pounds. As part of Souths' backline, he established an association with wing partner Harold Horder which would see the pair back at North Sydney for the 1920 season. The transfer fee this time? - a suit of clothing!

Cec Blinkhorn's role in Norths 'Golden Era' of the 1920's cannot be overestimated. As a key member of Norths 'representative backline', he firmly stamped his mark upon the infant Rugby League world. On the 1921-22 Kangaroo Tour, Blinkhorn scored 39 tries including a record of 9 in the match against Bramley - a record the likes of Kenny, Lamb and O'Connor are unlikely to break today.

In 1924 Blinkhorn returned to Souths to see out the final year of his brilliant Rugby League career. His eventual retirement in 1925 closed the door on one of the great chapters in Rugby League.

KEN IRVINE

Just on thirty years ago, Harry McKinnon spotted a 17 year old speedster at a pre-season trial at Wentworth Park. Pointing him out to coach Ross McKinnon, the first Grade coach replied - "sign that kid for life!". As a result, the name Ken Irvine has become synonymous with North Sydney.

As a student of Mosman Marist Brothers, Irvine surprisingly had no junior League experience. At the time his sporting priorities lay with amateur running and baseball. As a member of the junior NSW side, Irvine's third base team-mate was Reg Gasnier. As an amateur runner, he was a part of the Randwick-Botany Club and his natural ability could have seen Irvine aim for Olympic selection in 1960. But he was also a natural in another field - Rugby League. Irvine's second season in grade at North Sydney saw a meteoric rise from cementing a first grade position to Kangaroo Tourist in 1959. In that year he equalled Cec Blinkhorn's long standing try scoring record of 22 tries.

For the record, Ken Irvine played in 31 tests for Australia, scoring 33 tries for his country. At the height of his career he held the record for tries in Anglo-Australian Tests (12), Interstate matches (28) and Sydney club (192). Scoring tries was an Irvine specialty.

Speed was the important ingredient to Irvine's game. In the 1960's Ken Irvine was also Australian Professional Sprint Champion. At Dubbo in 1963 he ran in a specially arranged event in an attempt to break the professional world record for 100 yards (9.3 seconds). He won the event in 9.3 seconds to equal the world record. At the same Carnival he won the Dubbo Gift (120 yards) starting as the backmarker, off the scratch mark. He made a false start in the Final and was penalised 1 yard for doing so. Running from his new mark of 1 yard behind scratch Ken still went on to win the Final. He was a truly gifted sprinter.

Goal kicking was another valuable asset despite the fact that he was often second-string kicker at Norths to Brian Carlson and later Fred Griffiths. One of the undoubted highlights of Irvine's Test career was kicking Australia to victory in the Third Test in 1962. With Australia facing a Series 'white-wash' at the hands of Great Britain and behind 13-17 in the Third Test, Irvine scored his second try inches from the sideline. Irvine was lining up the vital kick that would give Australia victory when referee Darcy Lawler, standing directly behind him, asked Irvine what his chances were.

"1000-1", Irvine replied. Lawler stated nonchalantly, "no wonder, the way you have it placed". It is now a part of Rugby League history that Irvine straightened the kick and landed the conversion.

A broken leg in France, which saw him miss most of the 1968 season, all but ended his representative career but he returned to his brilliant best in 1969 and 1970 to once again become the League's leading try scorer. In the same year he was made a life member of the Club.

A confrontation with North's Coach Roy Francis saw him leave the club in 1971 and it was to be Manly Warringah who provided Irvine with Premiership wins in 1972 and 1973 to close his career in Sydney.