The Dirty Dozen: 12 of rugby league’s all-time biggest hitters

RUGBY league can be a brutal business but these 12 legendary hardmen elevated hard-hitting defence to an art form and earned themselves a special place in the game’s history.

Rugby league's all-time heavy hitters include Terry Randall, Mark Geyer, David Gillespie and Barry Reilly.

• BIG HIT: Victor ‘The Inflictor’ Radley
• COACHING: Bennett v Seibold

RUGBY league can be a brutal business but these legendary hardmen elevated hard-hitting defence to an art form and earned themselves a special place in the game’s history.

South Sydney giant Charlie Frith towers over Balmain's Terry Adams in 1980.

1. Charlie Frith

Club: South Sydney (1979-1981)

Games: 49

Rabbitohs forward required only three winters to oversee more carnage than Quentin Tarantino — including his famed tackle on Wests prop Bill Cloughessy, which removed all the charging Magpie’s teeth.

Manly‘s Ron Gibbs flexes his muscles in 1987. Picture: Wayne Jones

2. Ronnie Gibbs

Clubs: Easts, Manly, Gold Coast, Western Suburbs (1983-1991)

Games: 150

Long before rugby league had torpedo pants, they had the human torpedo. Truly, the man was nicknamed Rambo. What more needs explaining?

Nigel Plum overwhelms Sharks half Jeff Robson. Picture Gregg Porteous

3. Nigel Plum

Clubs: Roosters, Canberra, Penrith (2005-2015)

Games: 150

For 10 wonderful years, NRL players knew what it meant to be “plummed”. Raised tackling sheep on his family’s Riverina property, this knockabout bushie took more than one rival to the abattoir while also piling up those Biggest Hitter crowns in Rugby League Week’s Player Poll.

David Gillespie manhandles Robbie O'Davis during the 1997 ARL Grand Final.

4. David Gillespie

Clubs: Canterbury, Western Suburbs, Manly (1984-1997)

Games: 253

Dubbed Cement, Gillespie was part of an infamous “Dogs of War” pack who, for laughs, decided to have everyone strap fibreglass ice-hockey pads to their shoulders. Good times.

Terry Regan (ball) does the hard yards against Canterbury in 1985.

5. Terry Regan

Clubs: Balmain, Easts, Canberra (1982-1987)

Games: 82

Once, “Rego” broke the collarbone of Colin Scott in a tackle. Another time, almost severed Dean Lance’s tongue. Also kneed Teddy Goodwin in the balls. But that one was a total accident, of course.

Trevor Gillmeister almost cuts North Sydney’s Danny Williams in half.

6. Trevor Gillmeister

Clubs: Easts, Brisbane, Penrith, South Queensland (1986-1996)

Games: 233

A good big man always beats a good little man? Yeah, bulls … And for proof, we present The Axe, one of the greatest defenders rugby league has ever seen.

Punishing Penrith backrower Mark Geyer looms over one of his victims.

7. Mark Geyer

Clubs: Penrith, Balmain, Western Reds (1986-2000)

Games: 180

“Intimidation,” MG once said, “beats anything else a man can take out on to the footy field.” And to that, the congregation shouted “Amen”.

Peter Johnston dishes out a bit of punishment with the ball for Parramatta.

8. Peter Johnston

Clubs: Parramatta, Souths, Illawarra (1989-1997)

Games: 133

Rugged Parramatta forward whose tackling style was so ferocious, he was invited for an NFL trial by no less than New Orleans Saints coach Mike Ditka, aka Iron Mike. Said Johnston recently: “When I got there, the players gave me a standing ovation and were chanting, ‘Hitman, Hitman’.”

Gorden Tallis drives Anthony Minichiello backwards. Picture: Brett Costello

9. Gorden Tallis

Clubs: St George, Brisbane (1992-2004)

Games: 214

While he may be famous for ragdolling NSW Origin fullback Brett Hodgson, the Raging Bull also did far, far worse to men far, far bigger. Could knock the teeth from a whirring chainsaw.

Terry Randall goes toe-to-toe with Rabbitohs Trevor Riordan and George Piggins in 1976.

10 Terry Randall

Club: Manly (1970-1982)

Games: 208

According to legend, Randall would sit in the dressing room before games and write every opponent’s name on to a piece of paper. Then he would draw his target for that day’s game from the group. Wonderful.

Bulldog Tim Browne is felled by Panther Adam Docker (inset). Picture: Gregg Porteous

11. Adam Docker

Club: Penrith (2012-2015)

Games: 42

A 90kg assassin, Docker had a tackling technique no less than Phil Gould hailed as “among the best I’ve seen … the kid has no fear”. Yet despite being measured for NSW and Kangaroos jerseys, the young backrower was tragically forced into retirement by an arthritic knee at just 24.

Barry 'Bunny' Reilly left a trail of destruction on the field.

12. Barry ‘Bunny’ Reilly

Clubs: Easts, Cronulla (1967-1979)

Games: 200+

The original “Axe”. Despite his wiry, lightweight frame, Reilly had a fearsome defensive style, not unlike that of Roosters No. 13 Victor Radley.

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Originally published as The Dirty Dozen: 12 of rugby league’s all-time biggest hitters