Henson Park heroes: Newtown’s retro stars 44 years on

It’s been 44 years since Newtown stormed into the 1981 grand final. Ahead of Saturday’s Beer Footy and Food Festival at Henson Park, we take a look at where the Jets legends are now.

Newtown Jets grand final squad, 1981. Back row: Warren Ryan (coach), Mick Ryan, Craig Ellis, Steve Bowden, Steve Blyth. Middle row: Col Murphy, Ken Wilson, Phil Sigsworth, Jim Walters, Brian Hetherington, Shane McKellar, Paul Morris, John Ferguson. Front row: D O’Connor (treasurer), Graeme O’Grady, Barry Jensen, Tom Raudonikis (captain), B Caralis (president), Phil Gould, Mick Pitman, Ray Blacklock, F Farrington (secretary)

It’s been 44 years since the Newtown Jets nearly pulled off a grand final fairytale at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Following three successive wooden spoons in the late 1970s, the unlikely pairing of Tom Raudonikis and Warren Ryan soon had the Blue Bags on the road to the 1981 decider. But with a 20-11 victory, Parramatta claimed the first of three straight tiles, while Newtown went full circle – booted from the top fight at the end of the 1983.

Ahead of Saturday’s annual Beer Footy and Food Festival at Henson Park, we caught up with Jets legends including Graeme O’Grady and Barry Jensen to find out how their teammates are travelling more than four decades on.

1 PHIL SIGSWORTH (FULLBACK)

A Newtown junior, the man they call ‘What's-a-packet-a’ did it all in 1981. The electric fullback made his Origin debut and went all the way to the green and gold.

Rugby League Week magazine’s player of the year in 1983, he felt the pain of another two grand final defeats before finishing his four-club career at Balmain in 1987. Now 66, he resides in Port Macquarie.

Phil Sigsworth in action for Newtown against North Sydney, 1982. Picture: Geoff Henderson

2 JOHN FERGUSON (WING)

A crowd favourite across three clubs during 10 seasons in the top grade, ‘Chicka’ crossed the stripe in each of the Raiders’ first two grand final victories.

After hanging up the boots in 1990, he came out of retirement two years later to help the Jets in Sydney’s third tier. Named in the Indigenous Team of the Century, these days he’s happy maintaining a low profile in Townsville.

John ‘Chicka’ Ferguson and Prime Minister Bob Hawke after Canberra’s 1990 grand final victory. Picture: NRL Photos

3 BRIAN HETHERINGTON (CENTRE)

A Wollongong junior, the long-striding centre was one of three try scorers for Newtown in the grand final — his last appearance before returning home to play for Illawarra in the Steelers’ inaugural season.

Still on the South Coast, in addition to more than 230 first grade games, Brian played two Origins and went on to coach the Australian Schoolboys in 1996-97.

Newtown Jets players at full time: (L-R): Shane McKellar (no.20), Tom Raudonikis, Jim Walters and Brian Hetherington.

4 MICK RYAN (CENTRE)

The Tweed Heads centre joined the Jets after four years at Canterbury, and alongside Hetherington formed a potent strike force in the run to the decider.

Rated among the best in his position, Ryan was unfortunate to miss out on representative honours. Finished his nine seasons in Sydney with Easts in 1983, and is now thought to be residing on the Central Coast.

Mick Ryan is tackled by a Canterbury defender in 1982. Picture: Phil Merchant

5 RAY BLACKLOCK (WING)

If ‘Chicka’ didn’t strike on one wing then Blacklock would on the other. In 21 outings in the Royal Blue jersey in 1981, the Penrith junior scored 11 tries. Finished his playing days in 1984 after two seasons in Canberra, and after a long illness passed away at the age of 65 in 2020.

Ray Blacklock gets a pass away against Cronulla. Source: News Corp Australia

6 PAUL MORRIS (FIVE-EIGHTH)

The only teenager in the squad, the Balmain junior’s career was cruelly cut short by injuries in 1985 during his second season at St George. A prodigious talent, his seventh game for Newtown was the biggest of his career. Still a regular at club functions, these days Paul resides in Sans Souci.

Paul Morris during training before the 1981 grand final. Picture: Geoff Henderson

7 TOM RAUDONIKIS (HALFBACK, CAPTAIN)

A prized signing from Wests, Tommy’s legendary status and fierce emotion nearly carried Newtown to the title. Despite only three seasons with the Jets, the man synonymous with Origin’s famed ‘cattle dog’ call remains the most prominent face on game-day merch.

Passed away in 2021, and with his ashes scattered, Tommy is now an enduring part of Henson Park’s storied history.

Tommy Raudonikis (no.7) grabs former Wests Magpies teammate Alan Neil at Henson Park, 1981. Picture: Geoff Henderson

8 GRAEME O’GRADY (LOCK)

Another key signing from the Magpies, O’Grady’s standout 1981 season included State of Origin selection. Finished with three seasons at St George before heading north to Cudgen in 1985, where he called time on his career at age 40.

Still enjoying life near the Queensland border, his grandson Ky O’Grady is one to watch, having recently been named at lock in the NSW Schools under-12s side.

(L-R) Graeme O'Grady and Mick Pitman, Newtown Jets, 1981

9 MICK PITMAN (SECOND ROW)

Born a Jet, always a Jet. The son of Tom – a Newtown backrower in the 1940s – Mick followed in his father’s footsteps making 63 appearances across three seasons. One of the toughest on the books, once done in Sydney, he headed back to Newcastle where he still resides today.

10 PHIL GOULD (SECOND ROW)

A born leader, ‘Gus’ joined the Jets two seasons after captaining Penrith at just 20. Is said to have played his best footy at Newtown before injuries struck.

Made a seamless transition to coaching, and in 1988 at just 30, became the youngest coach to win a premiership. Now 67, he remains an authoritative voice in the media and a driving force behind the Bulldogs’ revival.

Tom Raudonikis celebrates after scoring in the 1981 grand final. Phil Gould (left) and John “Chicka” Ferguson show their delight above Parramatta’s Peter Sterling. Photo supplied by Terry Williams, Newtown RLFC.

11 STEVE BLYTH (PROP)

A bruising defender, the Wests junior played nearly every game right through to the decider. After battling dementia, he passed away last year, and in a testament to his popularity a large crowd gathered for the 69-year-old’s funeral on the Central Coast, followed by a massive farewell at John Singleton’s pub.

12 BARRY JENSEN (HOOKER)

In an era where scrums were a fight for survival, the tenacious rake left nothing to chance when it came to overpowering his opponents. A noted ball winner with one Origin appearance – before heading to Townsville after his playing days – Jensen became the first player in history to spend time in the sin bin following a series of scrum infringements in 1981.

Barry Jensen scores a try against St George in 1981. Rugby League A/CT

13 CRAIG ELLIS (PROP)

Now based in the Penrith area, the former enforcer rose through the ranks from Marrickville RSL and made a combined 110 appearances in a career spanning 10 seasons with Newtown and Wests.

(L-R) Newtown scrum partners Steve Blyth and Craig Ellis.

BENCH

14 KEN WILSON

A legend of the toe-poke, ‘Squeaker’ holds the record as Newtown’s highest point scorer with 1001, and famously kicked the Jets to the only 1-0 result in history. Played off the bench in the grand final, and the playmaker remained loyal until the club’s final top grade appearance two years later.

A local junior, Wilson died in 2022 and is recognised as one of the Blue Bags’ greatest-ever players.

Tommy Raudonikis (L) and Ken Wilson celebrate after Newtown eliminated Eastern Suburbs to advance to the 1981 grand final.

26 GEOFF BUGDEN

A towering bookend, Bugden’s rapid rise through the local ranks saw him win the coveted Rothmans Medal in 1980 in just his second season of first grade. A two-time Blues prop, he kicked on at Parramatta and won two grand finals.

A successful pecan farmer after his playing days, the 64-year-old has since settled in Lismore.

Geoff Bugden (no.26) takes on Parramatta’s Bob O’Reilly in 1981 decider at the SCG. Picture: Peter Kurnik/Steve Grove

16 JIM WALTERS

A local junior who played his schoolboy footy at Christian Brothers, Lewisham, Walters spent six seasons in Newtown’s top grade. A versatile forward, he turned out for the Jets on 39 occasions, playing primarily at hooker or in the back row. Still in Sydney, he’s a regular at club reunions.

(L-R) Jim Walters and Shane McKellar in their 1981 Newtown Jets kit.

20 SHANE MCKELLAR

A noted finisher in a six-season first grade career that included stints at four clubs, the Goulburn junior crossed for 47 tries in 98 games. Made 15 appearances in his only season at Newtown, and played his final game at Easts in 1985.

A key contributor to Illawarra rugby league after his playing days, the former speedster is now happily retired at Harden.

Steve Bowden missed the grand final after this altercation with Manly’s Mark Broadhurst in the minor semi final.

SUSPENDED

STEVE BOWDEN

Bowden missed the grand final through suspension but earns a spot on this list for his role in the ugliest all-in brawl in more than fifty years. Pitted against Manly heavyweight Mark Broadhurst, the image of Bowden turning the Kiwi’s eyes into pincushions still drives T-shirt sales at Henson Park.

Now 70 and based in Melbourne, the one-game Origin star has accumulated wealth through successful investments in the hotel industry.

COACH: WARREN RYAN

Kicking on to win two premierships as a coach, Ryan made a name for himself on the back of his breakthrough success at Newtown. After finishing last in 1978, with ‘Wok’s’ arrival, the Jets flipped the script and three seasons later almost snared a fourth top grade title.

Now 83 and following a long stint in the ABC commentary box, Ryan is often seen catching up with friends in Sydney’s southern suburbs.

Steve Bowden (L) with coach Warren Ryan during a punching bag session at Henson Park, 1981. Pic Warwick Lawson

JETS FLY HIGH: COL MURPHY ON A GOLDEN ERA AT HENSON

The Bears are back in the big league, but for many Sydney fans, Newtown still wears the retro crown.

Forty-two years after they were axed from the top flight, no one waves the Jets flag with more pride than Col Murphy.

Blue Bags to the core – while he didn’t make it on the field – he was in the late-great Tom Raudonikis’ squad that ultimately fell to Parramatta in the 1981 grand final, and still lives in the same Newtown house he was born into 67 years ago.

Charismatic as ever, Murphy lifts the lid on a golden era set to take centre stage at Saturday’s Beer Footy and Food Festival, where Henson Park will again burst with hipsters and diehards for the NSW Cup clash with St George Illawarra Dragons.

“When I was a kid, Johnny Raper’s family lived down the road and you’d always see big names on the streets,” said Murphy, who after his playing days returned to coach the foundation club to a hat-trick of Metropolitan Cup titles from 1995.

“Even now, walking the streets and laneways, it’s amazing how many people you see who are relatives of famous players.

“You still see the odd jumper from back in the day too, although that doesn’t surprise me. We had to wash our own jumpers back then; at least one of mine got pinched off the clothesline.”

Tom Raudonikis jumps for joy after scoring for Newtown in the 1981 grand final. Teammates Phil Gould (left) and John "Chicka" Ferguson show their delight. Photo supplied by Terry Williams, Newtown RLFC.

With upwards of 10,000 fans expected to flood the Inner West venue, Murphy continues to be amazed by the club’s rising cult status.

“What the likes of Terry Rowney and Barry Vining have done at the club is brilliant,” said Murphy.

“The way they’ve linked with NRL clubs to keep the jumper alive and engage with younger generations is unbelievable. Geez, I remember running onto the field one day in the ‘80s and you could hear someone talking on the hill.”

From a time when party brands like KB beer and Winfield backed the game, for Murphy, an annual footy festival is way too long between drinks.

“It was a party every week back then,” Murphy recalled.

“After the game we’d head over to the Henson Hotel before linking up with the team we just played at the old Newtown Leagues Club at Stanmore. From there, we’d kick on to wherever we could, although there were a few places that didn’t want us.”

Col Murphy (right) and Australian boxing icon Johnny Lewis pose for a photograph at the celebration for Tommy Raudonikis day at Henson Park, 2021. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

Late nights aside, it was the arrival of future supercoach Warren Ryan that helped launch the Jets to the ‘81 decider — a move that still brings a smile to Murphy’s face more than four decades later.

“There was a great atmosphere at Newtown. Obviously, Warren attracted some great players, including Tommy and Graeme ‘Snake’ O’Grady from Wests.

“Graeme was a great pick-up, a good organiser, and super smart. I remember Warren talking and drawing on the chalkboard once, and I asked ‘Snake’ to explain what he was saying, but he just turned and said, ‘Don’t worry, Col, you’re in reserve grade.’”

With Jets memorabilia lining the walls of his garage, Murphy’s house has become the perfect venue to kick off each year’s club reunion. And although this year’s event is scheduled for the final round, Murphy remains just as excited about Saturday’s extravaganza and signed off with one special request.

“Some of Tommy’s ashes have been sprinkled on the field at Henson and also on the hill,” said Murphy.

“So before the game or at halftime, it would be good if they announce to the crowd that Tommy could be under their feet.”

For more info on The Beer Footy & Food Festival – click HERE