VALE RON SADDLER

[roosterproud]

he Sydney Roosters have been deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Ron Saddler.
Player number 529, Mr Saddler played 118 games with Eastern Suburbs between 1963-1971, represented New South Wales on six occasions, and toured with the Kangaroos in 1967-68.
A centre who was renowned for his tough defence, Mr Saddler became the first indigenous player to captain New South Wales in 1967.
Respected by teammates and opponents alike, Mr Saddler will always be remembered for his contribution to the Roosters and the game of rugby league.
The Sydney Roosters extend their heartfelt sympathies to the family and friends of Mr Saddler at this sad time.
Ron Saddler
Born: March 14, 1942, Lake Cargelligo, NSW
Career Record: Eastern Suburbs 1963-1971, 118 matches. Represented Country Seconds 1962. City Seconds 1967-69, 3 matches. Sydney Colts, 1964. New South Wales Colts 1964. New South Wales 1967-68, 6 matches. Australia 1967-68, 12 Tour matches.

Read more at http://www.roosters.com.au/news/2016...IbHjVeFUF8p.99

[horrie hastings]

Geez he was a good centre, lucky I got to see him play a bit even though I was young, he was at the Roosters through the black times and was part of their resurgence too from that black period.

RIP Ron, you were a champion.

[bondi paul]

Ronny Saddler my first idol in the rwb. I have a fond memory of him cutting down changa langlands on the sportsground via a copy book cover tackle in the corner to save a try. he partnered jimmy matthews ( c ) in the centres.

[Intercept]

Classy note from the club. Stuff like that builds a good culture. Too young to have seen him play but reading that, I feel like I would have enjoyed watching him represent our colours. Vale Ron Saddler, indeed.

[Guest]

Before my time but no doubt a Roosters great. RIP

[2026]

RIP

[Hawkeye]

He was one of our better players during a very bleak period.
RIP Ronnie

[Ray Stehr]

Great player who played in a poor era for the club, RIP Ron Saddler.

[The Axe]

Just missed him, sadly. RIP to Ron Saddler. Be proud you represented such an honourable Club. Beautiful tributes.

[gragra]

too nice a guy not to extend my sympathy and to acknowledge his decency as a player and individual as a player in an era when players were more dirty. Was indeed a rooster great of that time and was a child hood hero of mine. Possessed a great turn of pace ,strength and ability to score a try and defend. RIP.

[roosterproud]

too nice a guy not to extend my sympathy and to acknowledge his decency as a player and individual as a player in an era when players were more dirty. Was indeed a rooster great of that time and was a child hood hero of mine. Possessed a great turn of pace ,strength and ability to score a try and defend. RIP.

nice words Gragra. Nice to see you back

['Sooty' Saddler]

A really sad piece of news. Ron 'Sooty' Saddler was my favourite Tricolour (my nom de plume gives that away). From my first game as a 10 year old, I idolised him and Kevin Junee. While the nick name would not be PC in current times, the innocence of youth thought it came from a British TV puppet show that we watched ~ a soft and cuddly puppet.

Times for Easts were not great in his early years at the club but what a turn around in 1967! Both Ron and Kevin went on the Kangaroo tour to England and France after helping lift Easts to the semis and finishing 4th after being winless in '66.

The excitement of hearing Ron Saddler's name being read out on Sunday nights (I think Rex Mossop did the announcement) as being selected for NSW gave a young fella a real boost having just seen another loss in the afternoon. To be selected from a poorly performing team over a number of years speaks volumes of his ability.

One final thought about his game. Defence was his forte and while Chook Raper and Ron Coote were at the pinnacle as cover defenders, Ron Saddler was right up there. They all were as athletic, launching horizontality to bring down players skirting down the sideline.

[gragra]

Thanks roosterproud...have been overseas watching from afar...always checking chookpen forum!

[bondi paul]

A really sad piece of news. Ron 'Sooty' Saddler was my favourite Tricolour (my nom de plume gives that away). From my first game as a 10 year old, I idolised him and Kevin Junee. While the nick name would not be PC in current times, the innocence of youth thought it came from a British TV puppet show that we watched ~ a soft and cuddly puppet.

Times for Easts were not great in his early years at the club but what a turn around in 1967! Both Ron and Kevin went on the Kangaroo tour to England and France after helping lift Easts to the semis and finishing 4th after being winless in '66.

The excitement of hearing Ron Saddler's name being read out on Sunday nights (I think Rex Mosop did the announcement) as being selected for NSW gave a young fella a real boost having just seen another loss in the afternoon. To be selected from a poorly performing team over a number of years speaks volumes of his ability.

One final thought about his game. Defence was his forte and while Chook Raper and Ron Coote were at the pinnacle as cover defenders, Ron Saddler was right up there. They all were as athletic, launching horizontality to bring down players skirting down the sideline.

nice post. he was my favorite along with the knife kevin junee and bunny reilly. seeing us get beaten by the berries ( bulldogs now ) in the 67 semi was heart wrenching. i have never liked them since. As you also comment on his cover defending - i mentioned it in a earlier post. he was brilliant.

[Spirit of 66]

I also have childhood memories of him playing for the mighty Roosters. A real block-busting type of player.

Nice Scanlen's Footy Card picture of him here. I seem to recall having this one in my collection at that time and it was a hard one to get:

https://stevericketts.com.au/2013/02...digenous-star/