Rocket Rod Silva to lace the boots once again for Legends of League

Canterbury Bulldogs premiership hero Rod Silva is set to replace Cliffy Lyons as the game’s oldest competing great when he pulls on the boots at the age of 51.

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When Rod Silva retired from rugby league almost 20 years ago, he weighed 86kg.

But now?

“Ah, two kilos heavier,” the old Canterbury fullback cackles. “So not too bad, I guess.”

Not too bad?

Now aged 51, Rocket Rod isn’t simply the oldest player competing in rugby league’s annual Legends of League tournament in Newcastle on Saturday, November 16 – thanks to Cliffy Lyons finally hanging up the boots — but also sits among the closest to their old playing weight.

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Former rugby league star Rocket Rod Silva will pull on the boots at age 51. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Which is no small thing considering this Yowie Bay police officer debuted with Eastern Suburbs way back in 1988.

So as for his secret?

“My wife and two daughters,” the Bulldogs ‘95 premiership hero reveals. “Whenever I put on weight, they give it to me.”

Currently working as a PCYC zone supervisor, Silva is also the elder statesman in a Bulldogs outfit that, when it comes to the Legends of League concept, has so far proved unstoppable.

More than simply winning both tournaments since inception in 2017, the Dogs Old Boys have also won every game they’ve played.

Silva is a club legend at Canterbury.

Alongside Rocket Rod, other members of the outfit now gunning for a threepeat include fellow Dogs greats like Mark O’Meley, Willie Mason, Luke Patten, Reni Maitua and captain Andrew Ryan.

Asked about playing in a side yet to taste defeat in the tournament which raises money for the Mark Hughes Foundation, Silva laughs: “You couldn’t really say that I’ve played.

“Basically, I turn up.

“But I haven’t done anything wrong in the past two years, or I don’t think I have. And that’s a big thing, making sure you don’t embarrass yourself out there.

Luke Patten will also take part in the clash. Picture: Chris McGrath

“Also (competing), I guess it’s embedded in us Canterbury players.

“I remember when we went through that season in ’95, from Bullfrog (CEO Peter Moore) right through to the ballboys, everyone expected to still be playing at the end of the year.

“Everyone trained hard. Nobody took short cuts.

“Even the rehab squad was worked so hard that you never wanted to be part of it.”

Set to be played this year at Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium — and with tickets now available on ticketmaster.com.au — the Legends tournament will boast a host of former greats including Steve Menzies, Nathan Hindmarsh, Danny Buderus and Craig Gower.

Elsewhere, Manly great Cliff Lyons is moving from player to coach of the Barbarians team — a shift which now makes Silva the tournament’s oldest competitor.

“So hopefully I don’t go and make headlines for all the wrong reasons,” laughs the retiree who still plays League Tag, Oz Tag and Over 50s State Touch.

“In the pool rounds you tend to find all the boys are fairly relaxed. But once it gets to the finals … that’s when the intensity goes from about 40 per cent to 90 per cent.

“The competitive nature kicks in at that point — blokes start putting shots on and trying to burn each other on the outside.

“But that’s only natural. It’s those same instincts that got them into the NRL in the first place.”

Originally published as Rocket Rod Silva to lace the boots once again for Legends of League