The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia • Page 2

lil By TONY STEPHENS Just when you think Rugby League rates as a fairly ordinary pastime, along come Greg Brentnall and Steve Gearin. IH Royce Ayliffe, captain of Easts. skipper George Peponis. VJ fc2rl Victorious Bulldogs carrying their captain, George Peponis, rejoice after the Grand Final. grade premiership since 1942.

Gearin, the man vlho kicks goals in a Canterbury park most days around 7 am and sings a passable "version of Hard Rock was man of the match. For the crowd of 52,881 at the ground and the millions watching TV, it was suddenly all worthwhile. In a fairly typical, tough yet clean grand final, Canterbury were far too good, far too cool. In 40 tough minutes of the first half, there was just one moment to lift the heart, to speed the blood. Brentnall, the full-back who once played Aussie Rules and might have been good enough to play at the MCG yesterday, loped into the backline in the 25th minute.

-He fired a pass to Chris, one of the three brothers Mortimer, who held a pass with magnificent timing for just a second, then turned it to winger Chris Anderson. Some people, especially from Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, reckon that last pass was forward. Well, if it was, it shouldn't matter. It, was a spark to brighten a grim Grand Final. Anderson made no mistake, of course.

The little bloke has been playing for Canterbury for too long, for 10 years. Hs's played for Australia, too. He scored the try. Ted Glossop, Canterbury's quietly-spoken coach and one of the most unemotional of men, who has been heard to use the word "bloody" just once, allowed himself a smile. High up in a grandstand, Easts' coach Bob Fulton grimaced.

Fulton hates losing more than just about any man on earth. When Gearin scored that last try, Glossop actually danced and raised an arm in triumph. It was that sort of day. Punters at the start of the season could have had odds of up to 50-1 about Easts and Canterbury meeting in yesterday's Grand Final, ffitedfo Bulldogs By ALAN CLARKSON Players worth nearly $700,000 on the open market battled for the greatest Rugby League prize there is the Sydney premiership at the SCG yesterday. That is.

the figure it would cost and it could be substantially higher to sign 'up players of this calibre. Player prices have certainly kept up with the inflationary spiral and it is becoming a tougher battle each year for the clubs to cope. But the clubs themselves are Sartially to blame. There have een reports lately of players feet, to think, run, take the tackle and pass the ball all at the one time. It doesn't sound all that difficult but the modern game, with its emphasis on speed and defence, doesn't allow much time forethought.

Oh for a replay of Big Artie at his best! But how great was the season? It had its moments, including several yesterday. It had the blossoming of Fulton as a. coach and Royce Ayliffe as the Easts skipper, the continuing development of the Bulldogs under Glossop. It had the brave advance of Souths to the semis, the magic of Roy Masters in lifting his team of also-rans to the preliminary final, until Easts and disaster struck. Smaller gates But it had too much violence, too much emphasis on tackle counts what about a count of the number of clean breaks made? too much inconsistency among officials.

Officials like to call League "the greatest game on earth:" It rarely looked like that in 1980. The crowd at the preliminary final was only 28,598 the lowest crowd at a final since 1962. Even allowing for rebuilding at the SCG and police limits on crowds, yesterday's attendance was way down on the good years. Surveys show there were 100,000 fewer listeners to Sunday match broadcasts than last year. TV viewers were down, too.

And, this morning, the Bulldogs can be excused for not giving a hoot about the winter's shortcomings. To them go the spoils of victory. Full report on ploy P. 76 With six minutes to go in yesterday's Grand Final, Canterbury full-back Brentnall accepted a Graeme Hughes pass and put his left boot to the ball. The ball went high in the air, For a while it seemed it would never come down.

But the eyes-of Bulldog winger Steve Gearin never left that ball. When it came back to earth, Gearin was there to catch it, 20 metres upfield. And dive over for. the try. That was the ball game.

Just to rub salt into the Rooster wounds, Gearin kicked the goal. Six goals out of six. Canterbury 18-4, their first win in a first- In this area Canterbury have four players, fullback Greg Brentnall, halfback Steve Mortimer, second-rower Graeme Hughes and hooker George Peponis. Brentnall, a wonderfully versatile player, came to Canterbury as a fullback but was switched to the centre where he won selection in the Australian team to tour New Zealand and played Tests in the centre position. Tall and spring-heeled, Brentnall can soar high to take those courage testing "bombs." Mortimer has that touch of wizardry about his play.

He is a match winner with his blistering acceleration, his deft passes to- his supports and his wonderful covering defence. He generates excitement with the crowd and doubt with his opposition' because you are never-sure what he will do. Graeme Hughes is a rugged intelligent forward. He has all the skills, speed to capitalise on the slightest chance, yet he can create opportunities himself with his ability to slip the pass away. SHREWD TACTICS Peponis is probably the most valuable member of the team.

A clever and resourceful forward he can almost guarantee his team an even share of possession. And when that happens, the rest simply falls into place with the speed and expertise Canterbury can muster. While five-eighth Garry Hughes is rated a $25,000 player, to the Canterbury club, he is priceless. He is undoubtedly one of the smartest players in the Sydney competition, a shrewd tactician and despite his lack of real speed he repeatedly creates opportunities for his team mates. The Canterbury players have no doubt that he is easily the best five-eighth in the Sydney premiership.

The big money rating players In the Eastern Suburbs team are centres Kerry Boustead and Noel Cleal, halfback Kevin Hastings, hooker John Lang and prop Royce Ayliffe. Johnny Lang came down from Brisbane after the start of the season and it was the best thing that happened to Easts this year. tod 1 pillllllllllllllllllllll BIG, TALL, SHORT OR SMALL hands call a "fine style of young man." More than ever It's a young man's game. The average age of the Canterbury team was under 24 years, Easts just over 23. There was a time when a man' started feeling old when cops looked younger than he did.

Now referees are as good a criterion as policemen. Yesterday's ref, Greg Hartley, is 37 and looks like someone out of a Boy's Own Annual. Critics say his mathematics are less than satisfactory he sometimes misjudges the tackle count. But his flair has been an attraction when the game has been dull. Before the match started, he jogged on the steps leading from the Members' Stand to the field of play, where he was to be master of ceremonies.

A Pied Piper of Paddington. He'd had a shampoo and blow wave yesterday morning, an action which might well have caused Dally Messenger and the League founders of 1908 to turn in their graves. "Yeah I get butterflies," said Hartley. Blow waves relax butterflies. "It's going to be great, just great." Farewell Artie There are differences of opinion as to just how great the game was.

The victors had no doubt, of course. When it was all over they poured champagne over one another's heads in that strange, end-of-season tribal rite which defies explanation and annoys wine lovers. A ritualistic cleansing for a game that is always hard and not always clean? Thank God the champagne wasn't French, for, despite the newly won wealth of footballers, beer remains their staple drink. Half, Steve Mortimer, who took the breath away with three try-saving tackles and who had undergone hypnotherapy in the weeks before the game, slapped Gearin on the back. Gearin the hero was crying.

Glossop, emotions restored to an even keel, said: "It's a good feeling." But, for some, the greatness of the day centred on one Arthur Beetson, who played for Parra-matta in the reserve grade grand final. This giant of a man ended his Sydney career just as the marching girls went through their faintly outrageous paces before the big match. He had brought to the game an intelligence which it often lacked, an ability to think on his Easts were quoted as 9-1 chances to win the title and Canterbury at 11,2. Easts had spent a lot of money last year' a good deal of it Kerry Packer's money on buying players, but had missed the semi-finals. After a poor start this season, the League know-alls were calling for coach Fulton's head.

Might have been a good player, they, said, but couldn't coach to save his life. Easts's 41-5 thrashing of Wests in last week's preliminary final changed the last of those doubting minds. Great coach, they said. Football fans are like that. Fulton sat high in a grandstand yesterday, directing his troops through walkie-talkie messages to trainers on the sideline.

lllllllllllllllllllllltlllll FMENOtV SlftVICI 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 lit 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 iTTl He's a great believer in the development of individual talents, in private enterprise. He doesn't like discussing politics these days at least not publicly, but he made his Liberal persuasions clear in the past. An Easts-Malcolm Fraser double would have made 1980 a great year for Fulton. Canterbury's effort -in making the Grand Final last year lifted the whole season out of the mediocre. Began outsiders Many regarded their success as a fluke and the Bulldogs were rated behind Manly, Parra-matta and St George, and equal with Cronulla at the start of this season.

But coach Ted Glossop, Picnic Point High School principal, has often been underrated. The Cronulla club sacked him a few seasons back and are still regretting it. His charges are probably the smartest team in the League, at least if tertiary education is taken as a guide. Captain Dr George Peponis, of the Marty Feldman eyes, is not the only bright boy among them. And what about Easts's Des O'Reilly, the only member of the Roosters team which last won a premiership in 1975 to back up yesterday? He's a BSc and an honours graduate in engineering.

Football brains don't equal academic brains, of course, but the days when teams were made up of truck drivers, builders labourers and wharf ies are gone. Economic hard times and unemployment have had their effect on League players are better educated. Young man's game Politically, most will vote Labor. But, as footballers have increased their pay, there has been a drift towards political conservatism. Rex "Moose" Mossop, well known for his opposition to nude bathing and similar sociological changes, said on Friday: "Anyone who'd vote Labor has to have rocks in his head." Another way in which yesterday's teams differ from those of 20 years ago is In their looks.

Canterbury might also qualify as the best-looking in the League. Whatever happened to the bent noses and cauliflower ears of men like Mossop and Harry Bath? Sure, Canterbury winger Chris Anderson took his teeth out before yesterday's match but the players are what old League being offered as much as $45,000 for next season and rejecting the bids. Price-assessing any Rugby League player is always a risky business. The needs of a club dictate the price. A player could be worth $20,000 a season to one club but his value could be as high as $35,000 to another club.

If clubs desperately need a player, they will generally stretch their budget to get him. Here is the assessment of the "market" value of the players from yesterday's grand final: CANTERBURY FULLBACK: Greg Brentnall (23) $30,000. WINGERS: Chris Anderson (27) Steve Gearin (22) $25,000. CENTRES: Peter Mortimer (22) $20,000, Chris Mortimer (20) $20,000. I E-EIGHTH: Garry Hughes (27) $25,000.

HALFBACK: Steve Mortimer (23) $35,000. LOCK: Mark Hughes (26) $20,000. SECOND-ROW: Steve Folkes (21) $20,000, Graeme Hughes (23) $35,000. PROPS: Geoff Robinson (22) $25,000, John Coveney (24) $25,000. HOOKER: George Peponis (27) $30,000.

EASTERN SUBURBS FULLBACK: Marty Ourr (22) WINGERS: David Michael Steve McFarlane (22) $15,000, (21) $15,000. CENTRES: (21) $35,000, Kerry Boustead Noel Cleal (22) $30,000. FIVE-EIGHTH! Ken Wright Hastings (23) $25,000. HALFBACK: Kevin (23) $30,000. LOCK: Gary Warnecke $25,000.

(23) SECOND-ROWl Des O'Reilly (25) $20,000, John Tobin (21) $25,000. PROPS: Royce Ayliffe $30,000, John Harvey $25,000. HOOKER: John Una $30,000. The "special" players, (23) (25) (29) those who fell into the category of match winners, would naturally attract the big money. WH ATX NEW I MEET THE CREATOR OF 1 "WATERSHIP DOWN" AT MYER Richard Adams, whose gentle imagination brought "Watership Down" to the world of English literature, has now written his fourth major novel, "The Girl in a Swing" He is about to leave his beautiful Isle of Man home to pay us a visit in Sydney.

It will be his only public appearance. Be sure you are here to welcome him at between 12.30 and 1.30. He must be an amazing man! NEED A LITTLE INSPIRATION? Don't we all! But this is accessory inspiration to get your own particular fashion look started for summer. We call our collection "Fancy Come in and glean a few fantastic ideas from our "Fancy Things Blacktown Oct 1st and 2nd. Penrith Oct 2nd and 3rd, Miranda Oct 7th and 8th.

Check your store for further details and times. You'll find lots of new and beautiful ideas! 1 WHO'S FOR THE DAYS OF PAMPERING 1 BOUTIQUE BUYING? We are, here at Myer We realise that Today's woman is on the go, so we've opened a Personalised Shopping Bureau, to pamper you and take the "time" out of shopping. To give Canterbury heroes Greg Brentnall (left) and Steve Gearin celebrate with champagne. you personalised service. How does it work? Just phone for an appointment on 238 91 11, tell us about yourself, your size, and the kind of wardrobe or single outfit you are looking for in the price range you want.

We II collect what we feel is the ideal wardrobe for you (with many alternatives) before you arrive. The new Bureau is a relaxing lounge with your own personal fining room. If the first selection is not just right, we'll serve you coffee while we look again. No more rush and bustle, grabbing at racks for you. Allow us to bestow on you all the grace and attention of Couturier's Salon.

Just ring 238 9111, the Myer City Store! It's the ideal time to try the new Personalised Shopping Bureau with all the new summer ranees in stock. CLASSIC SUMMER SUITS PREFERRED BY MEN OF SUCCESS A selection of quality suits from the hands of Master Tailors, the most comfortable suits you can wear in the subtle colour tonings of summer, sizes 36-44 reg 38-44 short EASTERN SUBURBS 1st ROUND 2nd ROUND CANTERBURY 1st ROUND 2nd ROUND North Sydney 20-29 11-11 Newtown 38-17 22-8 Parramatta 10-22 6-3 Cronulla 9-35 13-10 Manly 7-34 29-9 Penrith 40-5 28-12 South Sydney 12-4 6-7 North Sydney 22-19 23-2 Western Suburbs 14-7 26-14 Manly 15-12 11-10 Newtown 6-22 19-5 Western Suburbs 1 8-24 9-29 Canterbury 20-8 14-7 Eastern Suburbs 5-20 7-14 Cronulla I 14-11 W35-0 St Georga 12-19 16-7 St George 010-10 10-4 Balmain 14-12 19-15 Penrith 26-2 18-10 Parramatta 5-16 15-14 Balmain 16-23 16-10 South Sydney 18-9 27-18 Major Semi-final Major Preliminary Semi-final EamSubuitsl08ttoCarrterbury7-13 Canterbury beat Western Suburbs 22-17 Eastern Suburbs beat Western Suburbs Wajw Semi-final 41 5 Canterbury beat Eastern Suburbs 1 3-7 REUBEN F. SCARF WILL FIT THEM ALL Opens Oct 7. See our parades while you are in the storel I "POT PURR!" 1 No, it isn't the well-known French dish although it does look almost good enough to eat. It's two unusual settings of decorator furniture co-ordinated by Myer and covered with 5 'Tot Purri" fabrics.

You can see them at the Luxafiex Design Centre, Pacific Highway, St. Leonards, where you can i order, or you can buy direct from Myer. Publication. Category B. Printed and published by John Fairfax Son Limited, of Jones Street, Broadway, Son J-lmlted atnd Associated Newspapers Limited.

Box 506. GPO. Sydney. 8001. Recommended and maximum price only, 1 THE SUN-HERALD, SEPT 28, 1980 2 ii i mi tu fOft VALUl A NO 151 THE SUN-HFRALD, SEPT 28, 1980 151.