The Crunching Tackle

20/07/2024

Happiest of Birthdays to these two QLD legends, both turning 65 Paul Vautin and Geno Miles!!!

12/07/2024

Happy birthday to another Dragons legend, the inimitable Billy Smith!

234 first grade games for St George, 17 games for NSW and 26 for Australia, and 4 premiership wins during the Dragons epic 11 premiership run!

Happy 82nd Birthday!

08/07/2024

Happy Birthday to Queensland legend, Wally Fullertin-Smith!!!

23/05/2024

Happy Birthday to one of the Crunching Tackle's all-time favourites Paul Sironen!!!

20/05/2024

Happy Birthday to the blonde bombshell from the 90s Nathan Long!!!

25/04/2024

There could only ever be one Terry Hill. On the field he was both fast enough to go around you and powerful enough to bust right over you. Off the field he was one of the most loved, his trademark lisp and smile combining with his larrikin nature to endear himself to the most ardent of opponents.

Tezza as he was affectionately known to the world of rugby league, was one of the best centres of his generation. His combination of speed and power was downright awesome and whenever he got the ball in his hands, you knew there was a half-chance something was on.

Starting his career with the Rabbitohs, Hill spent time with the Roosters, the Magpies, the Sea Eagles and the Wests Tigers. He was the man who took on the Draft and won, successfully winning a legal battle accusing the imposition of a draft as a restraint of trade. In other words, I'll play where I want, thanks very much.

Hill played 14 State of Origin matches for NSW and 9 tests for Australia. He was a 1994 Kangaroo Tourist, and a 1995 World Cup Champion. He won a Premiership with the Manly Club in 1996 and scored 89 tries in 246 first-grade games.

Tezza sadly lost his life at the age of 52 in the Philippines. He had been over there helping build an orphanage for the kids doing it tough. He had complained of some pain and went for a nap, sadly he never woke up, and passed away from a suspected heart attack. Rugby League had lost of it's greatest characters, the lovable larrikin from Erskineville. May he rest in peace.

15/04/2024

Happy Birthday for yesterday to the legend himself, Willie Mason!!!

One of the most fearsome ball-running forwards of all time, they should have nicknamed him Devastator like the Transformer he caused that much damage to opposition defences.

Levels Network

06/12/2023

Happy Birthday to the legend MG!!!

04/11/2023

Neil "Beefer" Tierney was a big, tough, no-nonsense prop who played through the 90s in the Winfield Cup.

Before embarking on his career in the NSWRL, Tierney had already won the Rothmans Medal for Best & Fairest in 1989 playing for Wynnum-Manly in the Brisbane Competition. A phenomenal surge of form late in the season provided the bustling prop forward with six man-of-the-match performances and swept him to a narrow victory to win the medal. Tierney himself didn't think he had a chance, and only attended the awards for entertainment!

Joining the Dragons in 1990, Tierney was a mainstay of the St George pack for the next few seasons, playing in the 92 Grand Final against the Brisbane Broncos.
Joining the Magpies for the 1994 and 1995 seasons, Tierney found more success after joining the Sea Eagles in 1996. He played in the 96 Grand Final winning a premiership and then the 97 Grand Final, forming a devastating front row rotation with seasoned internationals David Gillespie and Mark Carroll. Cement, Spud and Beefer what a nickname combo!

Tierney retired after the 1999 season after not being offered a contract with the newly formed Northern Eagles Franchise, a franchise that not only ended a few careers but killed off the North Sydney Bears.
Tierney represented Queensland in 3 State of Origin Games for the Maroons in 1997.

In his youth, he also represented his school in swimming, athletics, touch football and cricket. He once scored a massive 168 runs, including 22 sixes, in a limited overs inter-school cricket fixture, showing his massive strength.

Tierney was a big, robust forward, with a fearless running style that literally charged into the defensive line. At 190 cm tall and almost 120 kg he was a wrecking ball that was not to be messed with, and an intimidating presence on the field. Is it any wonder he was also a policeman!

16/10/2023

Jarome Luai is on fiiiiiiire! Check out his great voice below!

https://fb.watch/nI66o-AJi6/?mibextid=cr9u03

16/10/2023

Shoutouts and Happiest of Birthdays to former Blues-Origin Answer and forgotten Penrith Panthers halfback Peter Wallace!

Let's not forget he was a former Bronco and was everyone's favourite Scottish Test Team rep!

14/10/2023