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August 5, 2010
Fate played a young man into history 35 years ago, writes Greg Prichard.
John Rheinberger, the player famously plucked from obscurity by legendary coach Jack Gibson to play in the 1975 grand final-winning Roosters side, expects an emotional time when that mighty line-up is reunited at the club's inaugural Hall of Fame dinner at the SCG tonight.
''Excitement is what I'm feeling at the moment,'' Rheinberger said from his Gold Coast home yesterday. ''But I think that when we all see each other it will be an emotional thing. I believe there are going to be more of the guys from the '75 side than have ever gotten together before.''
But the night will go ahead in the absence of the captain of that side and the club's only Immortal - Arthur Beetson - who last night told the Herald that after a very busy schedule recently he would be staying at his Gold Coast home to rest.
''I'm coming up to the first free weekend I've had in ages,'' Beetson said. ''I've been doing a lot of travelling around with Tommy [Raudonikis], speaking at lunches and fund-raisers, and I'm worn out, to tell you the truth. I need a break. I'm not big on dressing up for these functions anyway. I've let the club know I won't be there.''
Rheinberger said he and wife Donna would be on the same flight to Sydney today as fellow '75 team members Kevin Stevens, Johnny Mayes and Elwyn Walters. He said he couldn't wait to mix with his former teammates right through to Sunday's big game between the Roosters and St George Illawarra at the SCG.
''We've never gotten together as an entire group,'' Rheinberger said. ''A few of us catch up on the Gold Coast occasionally, but this is something else again, and I think it's a tremendous move by the club to establish a Hall of Fame and invite the old players back.
''Earlier this year, the club invited a few of us to dinner with the current team on the Gold Coast, before they played the Titans. Johnny Brass made a speech in which he told the players what it was like to play under Jack Gibson, and it was a fantastic night. That's what it should be like at the club, and I thought it was a great move by [coach] Brian Smith and [chief executive] Steve Noyce to make that happen. All of the members of the '75 team have been invited to training on Saturday, and we're going to make a formal presentation of the jumpers to the players for the game.''
Rheinberger, a centre, had been playing in the under 23s at the Roosters when Gibson picked him on the bench for the preliminary final against Manly. Starting centre Mark Harris broke his ankle in the second half, and Rheinberger came on to replace him, making his first-grade debut.
The following week, Rheinberger replaced Harris in the starting side, becoming part of one of the most famous grand final wins in history, as the Roosters destroyed St George 38-0.
''It was a momentous occasion for me,'' he said. ''Really exciting times.''
In 1976, Rheinberger broke his collarbone and shoulder in a pre-season first-grade trial, and was out for three months. He came back to play out the season in the under 23s, and because of mounting injuries retired at the end of it to concentrate on playing the other game he was very good at - cricket.
Rheinberger, an all-rounder, had made his first-grade debut in the Sydney grade competition at 16, and played for more than a decade with the Waverley and Western Suburbs clubs. Tony Greig was a teammate of his at Waverley, and he played alongside Bob Simpson, Dirk Wellham and Steve Rixon at Wests.
After retiring from cricket at 27, Rheinberger moved to the Gold Coast, where he and his wife run an indoor sports centre. But the Roosters are still very much his team.
''I've never stopped following them,'' he said. ''And it's great to see them challenging for the premiership again this year.
Great article..But faark it makes me feel old..
August 5, 2010
Fate played a young man into history 35 years ago, writes Greg Prichard.
John Rheinberger, the player famously plucked from obscurity by legendary coach Jack Gibson to play in the 1975 grand final-winning Roosters side, expects an emotional time when that mighty line-up is reunited at the club's inaugural Hall of Fame dinner at the SCG tonight.
''Excitement is what I'm feeling at the moment,'' Rheinberger said from his Gold Coast home yesterday. ''But I think that when we all see each other it will be an emotional thing. I believe there are going to be more of the guys from the '75 side than have ever gotten together before.''
But the night will go ahead in the absence of the captain of that side and the club's only Immortal - Arthur Beetson - who last night told the Herald that after a very busy schedule recently he would be staying at his Gold Coast home to rest.
''I'm coming up to the first free weekend I've had in ages,'' Beetson said. ''I've been doing a lot of travelling around with Tommy [Raudonikis], speaking at lunches and fund-raisers, and I'm worn out, to tell you the truth. I need a break. I'm not big on dressing up for these functions anyway. I've let the club know I won't be there.''
Rheinberger said he and wife Donna would be on the same flight to Sydney today as fellow '75 team members Kevin Stevens, Johnny Mayes and Elwyn Walters. He said he couldn't wait to mix with his former teammates right through to Sunday's big game between the Roosters and St George Illawarra at the SCG.
''We've never gotten together as an entire group,'' Rheinberger said. ''A few of us catch up on the Gold Coast occasionally, but this is something else again, and I think it's a tremendous move by the club to establish a Hall of Fame and invite the old players back.
''Earlier this year, the club invited a few of us to dinner with the current team on the Gold Coast, before they played the Titans. Johnny Brass made a speech in which he told the players what it was like to play under Jack Gibson, and it was a fantastic night. That's what it should be like at the club, and I thought it was a great move by [coach] Brian Smith and [chief executive] Steve Noyce to make that happen. All of the members of the '75 team have been invited to training on Saturday, and we're going to make a formal presentation of the jumpers to the players for the game.''
Rheinberger, a centre, had been playing in the under 23s at the Roosters when Gibson picked him on the bench for the preliminary final against Manly. Starting centre Mark Harris broke his ankle in the second half, and Rheinberger came on to replace him, making his first-grade debut.
The following week, Rheinberger replaced Harris in the starting side, becoming part of one of the most famous grand final wins in history, as the Roosters destroyed St George 38-0.
''It was a momentous occasion for me,'' he said. ''Really exciting times.''
In 1976, Rheinberger broke his collarbone and shoulder in a pre-season first-grade trial, and was out for three months. He came back to play out the season in the under 23s, and because of mounting injuries retired at the end of it to concentrate on playing the other game he was very good at - cricket.
Rheinberger, an all-rounder, had made his first-grade debut in the Sydney grade competition at 16, and played for more than a decade with the Waverley and Western Suburbs clubs. Tony Greig was a teammate of his at Waverley, and he played alongside Bob Simpson, Dirk Wellham and Steve Rixon at Wests.
After retiring from cricket at 27, Rheinberger moved to the Gold Coast, where he and his wife run an indoor sports centre. But the Roosters are still very much his team.
''I've never stopped following them,'' he said. ''And it's great to see them challenging for the premiership again this year.
Great article..But faark it makes me feel old..
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