Title: ... p42 Peter Tunks (p94) Craig Young Remember the First Charity Shield 1982 - By Hugh Baldwin, Osleague

Shield memories: On for Young and Tunks

Former St George Dragons' prop Craig Young and former South Sydney prop Peter Tunks gave some special insight into the way rugby league was played back in the 70s and 80s at the launch of the 2003 Charity Shield.
Tunks and Young both played in the first Charity Shield game back in 1982 and there was no holding back from the very first scrum.

"Pre-season games often didn’t have much in them," said Tunks. "But then they came up with the Charity Shield idea."

"The Charity went to the hospitals along with three or four St George players."

"We had a few colourful characters in our forward pack," added Tunks, reminiscing about the first game, which the Dragons won 9-7. "And the St George players took exception when they stole their handbags at the first scrum."

"That’s not how I remember it," replied Young. "I remember Tunksy starting a blue. There were about eight blues. It was designed to raise money for the respective hospitals – South Sydney and St George – but for some reason it was just a 'bash-a-thon'."

The benefits and proceeds from this year's Charity Shield will go to Farmhand, Randwick Children's Hospital, Wollongong Public Hospital and St George Public Hospital but there is unlikely to be any biff equivalent to the 1982 version – although Souths' captain Bryan Fletcher joked about the possibility.

The 1982 Charity Shield sides were:

St George: Brian Johnson, Michel Sorridimi, Graham Quinn, Michael Beattie, Brian Johnston, Tony Trudgett, Steve Morris, Rod Reddy, John Jansen, George Grant, Craig Young, John Dowling, Pat Jarvis.

Souths: Steve Walsh, Mitch Brennan, Tony Melrose, Michael Pattison, Graham Murray, Robert Simpkins, Peter Smith, Tony Rampling, Gary Hambly, Ken Stewart, Ken Stewart, Gary Metcalfe, Shane Arnold, Stan Browne, Michael Carberry, Ziggy Niszcot, Dean Rampling, Peter Tunks, Ken Wright.
---
Hugh Baldwin

Please Note: All submissions will be vetted before positing up on the site.

- Got any great memories about this Hardman? Why not share your story with Team Era, just click here

Go Back to Previous Page