Canterbury Bankstown’s top 20 sporting heroes countdown Part 3
PICKING the greatest sports heroes from our bulging bag of stars is no easy task and forgive us if we have not included your favourites.
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THIS is third part (10-6) of our countdown for our greatest local sporting heroes from Canterbury Bankstown we reckon might well make the list but is extremely hard to chose between the champions from different eras.
During a long career, our sports writer Lawrence Machado has interviewed legends such as boxer Muhammad Ali, footballer Pele and cricketer Sir Garfield Sobers.
Now he wants to start a local debate about who are the greatest local sporting heroes from the Canterbury Bankstown area.
His research sparked a couple of healthy debates, such as who is the greatest Bulldog: Steve Mortimer or Terry Lamb. He might be nicknamed “Turvey” but we’ll claim the great Mortimer for this survey. And is East Hills Boys High our best sporting school?
But what do our readers think? Tell us who you think deserves a top 20 accolade as we continue the list online and on social media.
Is there a slice of local sporting history we can help write?
Send us your list of top sports heroes in our area to: editor@theexpress.com.au
10. Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs were fortunate to have three Hughes siblings Garry, Mark and Graeme playing for them during the 1980 premiership days.
The highly talented and skilled trio were members of some of the great Bulldogs teams, including the premiership-winning team of 1980. They are nephews of the Bulldogs former chief executive, the late Peter Moore and played alongside the Mortimer brothers, Chris, Peter and Steve, helping to make the Bulldogs the entertainers of the league.
Garry, 65, was gifted with pace and flair and retired in 1984 before going into club management. His sons, Glen, Steven and Corey, also played for the Bulldogs continuing the amazing family legacy.
Mark, 63, who could play as centre or lock, skippered the Bulldogs six times and retired in 1983 due to injuries.
Graeme, 62, has the distinction of playing rugby league and cricket for NSW, said to be the last person to do so. A top forward, he played for NSW aged 19 and retired in 1982, and is now a respected commentator.
9. Melissa Rippon, 37, the sister of fellow Olympian Rebecca Rippon, was a formidable member of the Australian water polo teams at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympics.
The Chester Hill great won bronze at the last two Games before claiming the gold medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. She also skippered Australia at international championships and is the stepsister of another Olympic water polo star Kate Gynther.
8. Terry Lamb, 56, is a Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs great who had the skill to be at the right place at the right time on the rugby league field, which saw him score 164 tries in his career. Born in Chester Hill, the mercurial Lamb played for NSW in the State of Origin and Australia.
Lamb attended Sefton High School and played his junior rugby league at the Chester Hill Hornets club during the years 1967—1979 where he won many awards.
A local ground is named the Terry Lamb Complex in Chester Hill. He played locally in junior representative sides, but played professionally first with Western Suburbs Magpies before signing for the Bulldogs.
7. Johnny Warren, OAM, who died of lung cancer in 2004 aged 61, is regarded as one of the most influential footballers Australia has produced and has a medal awarded each year in his honour by the A-League.
Warren began his career, playing for Eastwood Wanderers, Bankstown Berries and Canterbury-Marrickville Olympic and went to play 42 times for the Socceroos.
He played in the Socceroos’ first World Cup appearance in 1974 and was captain, coach and commentator in his half a century of involvement with football.
In 2004, Warren was awarded a FIFA Centennial Order of Merit in recognition of his dedication to football.
His famous words (and legacy): “I told you so”.
6. Tony Roche, 73, is regarded among the greatest tennis players in the world, winning 12 Grand Slam doubles titles with John Newcombe, one French Open and five-times runner-up at Grand Slam singles. He is one of Davis Cup stalwarts associated with Canterbury Bankstown Tennis Association, including John Cottris, Phil Dent and Bob Giltinan.
Roche figured in the golden era of Australian men’s tennis alongside Newcombe, Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall.
He is now a highly respected coach who has helped Ivan Lendl, Pat Rafter, Lleyton Hewitt and Roger Federer to Grand Slam titles.