RL champs who will always be in league of their own

THE memories may be a little grainier, faces more wizened and hair certainly far greyer but the camaraderie is as obvious today as it proved half a century ago.

It has been 50 years since Leeds RL lifted the greatly-sought Championship trophy for the first time, ending a frustratingly long quest for a previously elusive title.

Many of the surviving members of that subsequently hailed team reconvened at Headingley yesterday, scene of so many of their heroics, and, given the size of that feat achieved together, it was no surprise to see such closeness immediately blossom once more between great friends.

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Victorious captain Lewis Jones, Derek Hallas, who scored two tries in the 25-10 win over Warrington, Barry Simms, Wilf Rosenberg, Fred Pickup and Don Robinson all reminisced with manager Joe Warham.

For one particularly, the journey has been especially long.

Ken Thornett, the commanding full-back whose thunderous hand-off was the fear of many a defender, has flown over from his native Australia to celebrate the occasion.

Now 73, he has relished the chance to reunite again and mark May 20, 1961, the day the Loiners finally became champions at Bradford’s Odsal stadium.

Sat in the Headingley stands, he told the Yorkshire Post: “It’s brought back huge, fond memories.

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“I think I did have a pretty good rapport with the crowd in Leeds and I loved my days here.

“But it was Yorkshire generally – I used to love getting out in the Dales and over the moors.

“I’m a real bush bloke, so I loved that here and the pub life which is so superior to ours.

“There was a lot more (pubs) than any of us had seen and it was just a great time we had.

“These were great blokes to play with as well.

“I was single then too!”

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The mischievous grin returns on numerous occasions as he remembers those heady days.

Thornett made his own way over to England in 1960 before being asked to trial at Leeds by their own Australian legend Arthur Clues.

He impressed during a second team fixture against Batley – “the only reserve grade I ever played in my career” – before signing, making 131 appearances.

Thornett, who attends a ’61 celebratory lunch at Odsal today and dinner at Headingley this evening ahead of tomorrow’s Super League game between Leeds and, fittingly, Warrington. was nicknamed ‘The Bucket’ because, fable has it, he never dropped a ball.

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“I didn’t drop too many,” he concedes. “I had a background in water polo and my brothers and myself played a lot of ball games.

“We had a youth filled of sport and developed those sorts of skills.

“Today those ball skills are a lot better but I’d always catch a ball pretty well.

“I think I’d been known for catching them one handed and stuff like that which the crowd used to go wild at that.

“I was a bit of a show-pony I think.”

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Thornett went on to play for Australia, as did his younger brother Dick with elder sibling John featuring for the rugby union Wallabies.

Until recently he still actively worked as a wool farmer near his home on Sydney’s northern beaches.

But the chance to make another trip to his much-loved adopted county was welcomed.

“It’s great to be back,” he added, winger Wilf Rosenberg having also journeyed a vast distance from Israel to make the occasion.

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“It was mooted about a year ago and it just sort of slipped my mind.

Then, later, Derek Hallas gave me a call saying ‘this is on’ so I’ve been looking forward to it.

“We’re going to meet the guys we played against that day and that will be quite interesting as I remember quite a few of them.

“It’s my last trip though so I’m taking it all in.

“We did it 10 years ago for the 40th anniversary. I’ve got a lovely colour shot with Don Robinson and Lewis Jones from that last trip and we’re looking quite a bit different – 10 years has made quite a bit of difference to some of the these guys, me particularly!

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“It’s been wonderful to see them all though and catch up again.”

The triumphant side has seen two of its stars pass away since that last celebration, unfortunately in recent months.

Their famous loose forward Brian Shaw died in February, aged 79, while Dennis Goodwin passed just weeks ago aged 81.

“We’re all going along to York for a commemoration service for Dennis today,” said Thornett.

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“I remember visiting his pub over there when we played at York back then and it’ll be nice to be able to pay our respects for him and Brian.”

Of the match itself, Thornett says: “There was more than 50,000 fans in that old brick quarry at Odsal but I didn’t do a lot on the day because the blokes up front were playing so well.

“Lewis and Derek did most of the work. It was a great day.

“We came back on the coach to the civic centre, the lady mayor came down, spoke to us all and there was a big meal and reception. Quite an event.”

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