GL: After a training session – didn’t matter if it was Australia, NSW, city or club – you’d always head up the pub and have a couple of beers … or how ever many beers you wanted. Today, they don’t seem to mix together, and I think that’s where we got our camaraderie. We were always together. If we played on Saturday, in a club game, then we’d organise a keg and go out to Kurnell. All the wives, girlfriends, kids – we’d pack the car up and out we’d go. We were always together. Back in our day, the three grades used to go have a few beers at the Carlton Hotel after every session.

Do you feel sorry for the modern players with the scrutiny they’re under?
GL: Yeah, I do. The way they track them down and follow them - it’s just wrong. When we played, you could say to a reporter, ‘I’ll give you a tip, but it’s just between you and me.’ And you wouldn’t hear of it again. But you can’t trust the reporters today.

JR: Mate, our era was a great one to be part of – two days a week training, going to work in the daytime, and making sure St George won on the weekend. That’s what my life was about. These days, they’re out and hiding behind doors and all that sort of thing. Mate, I was the best playboy ever, don’t worry about me! If they wanted to come with me for 24 hours, they wouldn’t be training for the next five days! I can tell you that right now …

But I don’t want them to do that. I’ve had a great life – I’ve raised a family, I have a wife of 43 years. And I want to see these kids on the right track, I want to see rugby league on the right track. I guess it’s ‘do what I say, not what I did …’
It’s done a huge amount for me, rugby league. I still walk down George Street and people keep pulling me up. An old bastard like me! Sixty-five years of age! The other day, I was walking down there past a pub and a bloke pulled me in. Had a couple of beers. Walked past the next pub; bloke pulled me in and we had a couple of beers. By the third pub I had to say, ‘Mate, can’t do it. There’s another 40-odd pubs in this town!’ So I went back to me motel and had a sleep. That’s how old I’m getting!

Johnny, you were at Origin I last night. Do you regret the fact you never got to play Origin football?
JR: Nah, I don’t regret not playing any game. What I played in was a very tough era - I satisfied myself and I must’ve satisfied a lot of other people because I made that Team of the Century. I wouldn’t put my position on the line against the younger players of today. I just loved playing when I played - I’m more than satisfied with the number of wraps they give me.

Besides, this centenary year has just been marvellous. I’m so happy to get amongst it; it’s been a great experience for us. As my wife says, it’s like we’ve been reincarnated! For a bloke of my age to be reincarnated – it’s a good thing!

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