Where did you grow up?
Penshurst in the St George area
What was your first football experience?
As an under 6 year old at Penshurst RSL got tackled first night at training and said “this is too tough for me”.
As a child what was your most memorable experience of Rugby League ?
Having Billy Smith as a coach from 7-12 and winning seven premierships in a row.
Did you collect footy cards as a kid ?
Yeah had a fair few and played games with them on an old green blanket.
Who were your footballing heroes as a kid ?
Rod Rocket Reddy
Do you remember your first game in first grade, and what were the highlights and lowlights?
Hard to forget your first game it was against Souths at Redfern 1982 I was 19 and I think I dropped the few balls thrown to me. Luckily I scored a try and topped the tackle count and held my spot for the following week.
What was your highlight of playing First Grade football?
Apart from that game it would have to be beating Parra in 1983 at Kogarah 32-2 in front of a full house to finish equal 5th with the Roosters.
Who was your most respected rival?
Junior.
What was the best team you played against?
Parramatta 1983-85
What was the first Charity Shield experience like?
We thought it was a trail they thought it was a get square so it was on from the first scrum and like so many other traditions that started in the 80’s it has lasted till today. The idea was to raise money for the two hospitals South Sydney and St George and I think 8 of us ended up visiting the two hospitals
How was the play-off for fifth spot in 1983?
What a fantastic ride that was…. we were 10th with 5 weeks of the season and Roy Masters said if we win all five games and the Roosters lose all 5 games then we would have a play off for fifth. As history shows we did that. Best week of my career beating Parramatta at Kogarah on Sunday in the last game of the season then beating the Roosters in a play off on Tuesday Night at the SCG and backing up on Saturday to beat Balmain in the first semi in extra time.
How was the atmosphere around Kogarah in 1985 when all three sides made it to the Grand Final?
As a Saints junior it felt great as a player but as Marketing Manager of the Club it was one of those times you just could not get away from the hype
1986 Round 2 you were there for the opening of Parramatta Stadium, can you describe the atmosphere?
Saints Vs Parra games always held something special, probably from the '77 replay but to open what was then a state of the art facility was amazing. The score was not great but it was a thrill all the same.
And the opening of the SFS?
Another match I won’t forget opening the stadium on a wet night but this one we won so it made it all the more sweeter.
When did you know it was time to give the game away?
I was once told it was better to leave while they still wanted you to play than stay when they wanted you to leave. Eventually the injuries catch up with you and you say as much as you love it you, can’t do it physically anymore.
What followed after football?
In 1990 I went to WA as Marketing Manager of the WA Rugby League with the purpose of bringing in the Western Reds which came in 1995.
How has the game changed since your playing days?
The obvious ones would be ten metre rule, scums and the interchange but I think the basics have been lost as well - the play the ball, knocking a player over one on one as well as an urgency to get on the loose ball.
What’s your favourite restaurant?
My wife is Italian so I would have to say Crintis
What are your hobbies?
Outside of work I spend a lot of my time raising money for charities and cooking BBQ's
Have you collected your own footy cards ?
I think I tried for about two months to get my first footy card in 1984 …… since then I have copped a hard time for not having a shirt on in my 1989 card
Did you keep a scrap book?
I did but it got lost as I moved around the country then after my Mum died a few years ago I found her scrapbook with all of the old clippings and what must have been every program my name was in over the 9 years of playing.