top HALL OF FAME
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LIFE MEMBERS- Ron BRIGGS*, Mrs HONE*, Mrs PLANT*, Bill HOLLIS*, Tom JOHNSON*, Dave HOWIE*, Neville HONE*, Pat HART, David BARNHILL Snr., Kevin HOLLIS, Dave SHELDRICK, Reg CLARK*, Judy CLARK ,Frank O’CONNELL and Glenn PRESTON *deceased
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KERRY HEMSLEY
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Kerry Hemsley was the first local junior to make the big time. 1977 was his first year in 1st Grade and he went on to represent Riverina that year. After playing in the Hawks 1979 Premiership side he went to Balmain on the advice of former Tiger Keith Outten who was the Captain of the ‘79 side. He went on to play 145 1st Grade games for the Tigers between 1980 and 1988. His other credentials include a stint in England with Wigan in the 83/84 off-season, playing 13 games and appearing at the Wembley Challenge Cup Final where he scored a try in their loss to Widnes. He also had a stint with a French club. Hemsley came back to Yanco-Wamoon and played in the ’92 and ’96 premiership teams. Kerry is known as “Buckets” which was a name given to him by 1980 Balmain coach Denis Tutty when asked, turning up to his first training run riding his Harley if he was Kerry Hemsley replied “I’m bigger than Texas and meaner than J.R.” ("We’ll call you bucketmouth then", said Tutty) |
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DAVID BARNHILL
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David Barnhill was recruited out of the hawks Under 18’s by the Canberra Raiders in 1987. He played for the Raiders in 2 Grand Finals in 1989 and 1991.Barney left the Raiders to go to St.George where he played 107 games from ’92-’96 and appearing in Grand Finals in 1992, 1993 and 1996. He then moved on to the Sydney City Roosters where he played from1997-1999. A stint in England where he played 30 odd games for the Leeds Rhinos led to a bench spot in the 2000 Challenge Cup final. Also in 2000 he represented Ireland in all 4 matches in the World Cup. Barney’s greatest claim to fame however is representing NSW in 9 State-of-Origin games (5 as interchange) in 1994, ’95, ’98 and ’99. After Barnhill’s retirement he has been assistant coach to Nathan Brown at St.George and is now based in Wagga where he runs the William Farrar hotel. Barney is now the current Riverina Division coach for 2007. |
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BRENDON REEVES
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Although not a local Brendon Reeves went on to the big time after playing all his junior footy with the Hawks. A Yanco Ag High School student he represented the school at Rugby League and Rugby Union. Most weeks Brendon would play a mid-week union match, a League Knockout game on Saturday and for Yanco-Wamoon on Sundays. He was member of Yanco Ag’s winning University Shield side and then went on to represent NSW under 17’s and the Australian Schoolboys side in ’93 taking out the man of the match award against Great Britain. He played for the Illawarra Steelers in 1997-1998 then in 1999 moved to the Manly Sea Eagles and then to the Northern Eagles joint venture until 2002 and again for Manly in 2003 when they went back on their own. Overall Brendon scored 250 points in his NRL career mainly as a goal kicking fullback. Sadly injury put paid to his promising career. |
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Brett Robertson (son of club legend Fred) had a distinguished junior career with the hawks representing Riverina, NSW Country and NSW schoolboys. In 1995 he scored 4 tries in the victorious under 18 grand final side. Brett also played a lot of 1st grade that year scoring plenty of tries. Brett left Yanco-Wamoon to join up with the Canterbury Bulldogs where he spent a few years in the lower grades culminating in a Grand Final in Reserve Grade, which apparently was his last game of footy for this gifted centre/winger. Chris Sheldrick represented the Australian Schoolboys team that toured England in 1991 while playing under 18’s and played hooker in the 1992 1st grade Premiership side. Chris suffered a serious neck injury in that game which led to a premature retirement. He is now a coach of juniors for Griffith Black & Whites. Ken Kerr only played one season for the Hawks Captain-Coaching them to the 1995 1st Grade title to make it 4 in a row. While at the club though he went on to represent NSW Country and NSW Residents side. He also brought coach to be Roy Jewitt with him from England.
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WAYNE EVERETT
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Wayne Everett came to Yanco-Wamoon in 1990 after spending some time with the Illawarra Steelers and in 1991, although the Hawks won the wooden spoon he won the joint Group 20 Player of the year award. 1992 saw Wayne Captain/Coach the side to their 1st grand final win since 1979 and then went on to play in the next 4 winning grand finals coaching again in 1993 and 1996. Wayne became one of Yanco-Wamoons’ favourite sons during his spell at the club and represented Group 20, Riverina, NSW Country, NSW Country Sevens and NSW Residents v QLD. Also on his coaching credits he coached the combined Yanco-Wamoon/Leeton side in a match against the touring Japanese side as a curtain raiser to a Sydney City v Manly country challenge game at Leeton. Shane Ludeke was a talented halfback that came to the Hawks in 1979 while teaching at Leeton. He played in the ’79 Premiership side and then captained the 1st grade side in their losing Grand Final side in 1980. Captain-coaching the side in ’82 he went on to represent Group 20, Riverina and NSW Country.
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TONY MORGAN and SHANE LUDEKE (at rear)
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Tony Morgan was one of the best hookers to play Group 20 and represented on numerous times. He began his Rep career in 1975 as the Riverina and NSW Country under 18’s hooker and then at 1st grade level played for Riverina for several years. The highlight of his talented career was playing hooker for Country in 1978, 83 and 1984. He was unlucky not to make the NSW team but just couldn’t nudge out the city guys. Noel “Harry” Hogan played for the Hawks from 1978-82. He made an instant impression in his 1st year with the club by making the NSW Country side and was a member of the 1979 Premiership side. Harry rattled a few reputations in the City v Country match and the most notable being Canterbury Bulldogs ‘wild-man’ Geoff Robinson who he absolutely creamed. A story has been told of when he turned up for Country training the Captain/Coach thought he was one of the strappers and was overheard saying “how did he get into the side” when told he was a player. Apparently the said coach said after the match, “Now I know why” in response to Harry’s ferocious forward battles during the game. Ross Norton was a classy centre-5/8 who played for the Hawks from 1979-81. Ross was also a member of the ’79 Premiership side and a year later when on to represent Riverina and was NSW Country 5/8 for the City v Country match. |
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ROSS NORTON |
Rob Adamson, although only playing one season for the Hawks was one of country football’s better half-backs and coaches. He Captained the first Yanco-Wamoon side to win a premiership since Yanco merged with Wamoon in 1970. That same year, 1973 he also represented Riverina and NSW Country. Darren Tuckett, another outstanding hooker produced by the club Darren started his long representative career in 1982 making the Riverina Under 18’s. 1993 saw him win a place in the NSW Combined High Schools team. Tuck made the Group 20 side in 1984,85,86,87,91,94 and 1995. He was also a member of the ’92-’96 Premiership sides and in ’94 was the joint Group 20 Player of the year and also the top try scorer. To cap off a great career he also played for Country in 1989.
Two Under 16 Hawks in Gary Ellis and Sean Watson moved to the Leeton Greens, making a name for themselves there before Gary went on to play for Canberra Raiders Under 23's and Sean for Cronulla 1st Grade
Yanco-Wamoon has also had a few International Reps while at the club Niumaia Korovata – Fiji in the 1995 World Cup v Aust. & England Pio Kubawai – Fiji in the 1995 World Cup v Aust.& England Michael Mondo- Papua-New Guinea in 2000 World Cup.
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DARREN TUCKETT
BRYAN NORRIE Australian schoolboy 2001
ANDREW PAULS (in enemy colours !!!) NSW country rep in 2000 |
A list of other players who have represented includes; Fred Robertson- Riverina 1972,73(Trial),74(trial) Col Makeham-Riverina 1973 (trial) Des Hollis-Riverina 1973 Nicky Bamblett-Riverina 1973 Geoff Woods-Riverina 1973 Jeff Moon-1974 State Schoolboys & Riverina 1980,82 Neville “Darky” Wornes- Riverina 1974 & v Great Britain touring side. Terry Coelli- Jnr Riverina 1974 John Gahan- Riverina 1975 Mark Miller-Riverina 1976 Bob Sheridan-Riverina 1985 (won Country Championships) Glen Schmetzer-Riverina Under17's1987,Under19's1989,1991, Seniors,1995,96 Jason Boots- Riverina Under17's,1987 Stuart Heffer-Riverina Under 19's,1989 Andrew Eglinton-Riverina Under17's,1990, Under19's,1991,1992 Warwick Neyland-Riverina Under19's, 1991 Chris Tuckett- Riverina Under17's 1992 Niumaia “Horse” Korovata-Riverina 1995,1997 & Country 7's,1997. Paul Strutt-Riverina 1996 John Jones-Riverina Under19's,1996 Andrew Meurant- Riverina Under19's,1996 Mark Booker- Riverina Under19's,1996 Paul Looby-Riverina Under19's,1996 Lee Grant- Riverina & CountryUnder17's,1996.Country Under18's 1997. Brock Thompson- Riverina Under17's,1996 Josh Mellington-Riverina Under17's,1996 Tom Wilson-Riverina Under17's,1996 Danny Russell- Australian Youth side 1998. Paulas Mondo- Riverina 2000 Andrew Hurst-Riverina 2000 Shane Wallace-Riverina 2000 (Captain), Riverina 2001 Rohan Loudon-Riverina 2000, Country 2nds 2000 Andrew Pauls- Riverina 2000, Country 1sts 2000, Riverina 2001 Warren Weir-Riverina 2001 Michael Loudon-Riverina18's 2001**, Country18's 2001 Nick Puntoriero-Riverina18's 2001**, Riverina 21's tour of New Zealand 2003. Pat Vecchie- Riverina 21's tour of New Zealand 2003 Brent Pike- Riverina 2005 Andrew Smith- Riverina under19's, 2005, Riverina 2007(selected but didn't play due to work commitments) Troy Preston- Riverina under 18's, 2006 Geoff Johnson- Riverina 2007
Yanco-Wamoon juniors (all Yanco Ag High School students) who have made the transition to the NRL include- David Woods (Parramatta, Penrith, Canberra) Simon Gillies (Canterbury) Ben Gillies (Canterbury) David Alexander (Penrith, Manly, North Sydney) James Matthews (Illawarra, Easts, City 1sts, until tragically killed in a car smash) And the latest Bryan Norrie ( Riverina18's 2001**, NSW Combined High Schools 2001(Best & Fairest v QLD), NSW Country18's(captain), Australian Schoolboys tour of Great Britain 2001 (man of match in test v Great Britain), Leeton Sportsperson of the Year 2001 and played with St.George/Illawarra, Penrith and now signed with Cronulla for 2008 )
** (1st Riverina side to take out Country Championships for 27 years defeating Newcastle 52-12 in the final, 2001)
Hopefully more to be added !!!!
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