The Dragons to win dynasty showdown with Penrith by six to 10 points

St George’s 11-straight premierships or Penrith’s five successive grand finals in the salary cap era – which dynasty is more remarkable? A never-before-seen 1960s training schedule might give us the answer, writes DEAN RITCHIE.

This is the 64-year-old individual training schedule for St George’s legendary players leading into the 1960 grand final – far removed from the full-time, hi-tech programs employed by today’s NRL clubs.

Former Dragons winger Johnny King dug out the training plan as debate raged over which dynasty – St George’s 11 straight premierships or Penrith’s five successive grand finals in the salary cap era – was more remarkable.

“It would be a hard game and there wouldn’t be very much in it but St George to win by six to 10 points,” King said.

King released the training timetable he was sent by then St George captain-coach Ken Kearney in the week of the ’60 grand final against Easts at the SCG.

The 1960 season was in the middle of the Dragons unprecedented premiership sequence.

Headed ‘The John King Training Schedule, St George RLFC 1960, Coach: Ken Kearney’, the program includes run distances, time demands, rest times and warm-ups.

Kearney wrote: “Each week you should run 5kms and do the 4-lap time trial. It is necessary for forwards to time themselves every week over 400 metres and 40 metres.”

The 1963 St George team.

In comparison, Penrith’s training schedule for 2024, based on a seven-day turnaround, includes three two hour field sessions, a captain’s run, two wrestle and skill based actions, two 30 minute mobility sessions, three 30 minute weights sessions and three 30 minute massages.

Players are also expected at four team meetings a week, four ice baths/plunge pool and spa sessions along with media commitments, team lunches and community work.

Kearney’s training program must have worked with King scoring two tries that weekend in Saints’ 31-6 win over Eastern Suburbs before a crowd of 53,156.

“Fitness was everything at St George when I was playing there. You had to be fit,” said King, who played in seven of the club’s 11 premierships. “Our coach Ken (Killer) Kearney was very committed to training.

“We only finished training when the lights were turned off. It was hell when it came to training. Training was everything to ‘Killer’.

“If you didn’t want to train or toe the line then you’d go play reserve grade. You got the hint very quickly. He would drop you as quickly as looking at you. You knew how to train.

“When you had guys like John Raper in the side, it was no effort for them, they just trained and trained every day. There was no mucking around at training, you knew you had a job to do and you had to do it well.”

King has a healthy respect and admiration for the Panthers, who play Melbourne in Sunday’s grand final.

Despite losing multiple stars to rival clubs through salary cap pressure, the Panthers have still only used 33 players over their five grand finals.

Training is very different in the current era. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“It would be a hard game but St George by six to 10 points,” King said. “There wouldn’t be very much in it – there wouldn’t be much between the two sides.

“We had so many great players – Reg Gasnier, Johnny Raper, Norm Provan, Billy Wilson, Kevin Ryan, Graeme Langlands, Brian Clay, Johnny Riley – they all played for Australia. It was nearly an Australian side.

“If you dropped the ball anywhere near Gasnier, and he picked it up, it was more or less all over. His acceleration from a standing start was unbelievable.

“Brian Clay was more like a rugby union breakaway. The poor five-eighth he’d play against wouldn’t know what hit when Clay tackled him. Clay was very hard.

“Then we had Raper running behind the backline like a drover’s dog. If anyone made a break, he would knock them arse-over-head straight away. Langlands was a great attacking fullback. His sidestep would leave players standing there looking silly.

John Raper (L) and Norm Provan (2nd R) celebrate their 1961 Grand Final win with coach Ken Kearney. Picture: Winton Irving

“Penrith is a fit side. They are running the same at the end of the game as they are at the start of a game. You have to give them credit. Nathan Cleary is a good footballer, there’s no doubt about that. He is playing with his injured shoulder and only he knows how bad it is.

“He has an ability to read the game and keeps the rest of teammates on board and on the move. They all know what’s going on because he is calling all the shots, like (halfback) Billy Smith did at St George. They are going for their fourth premiership and congratulations but 11 is a lot to win.”

Despite his comment, King has predicted Melbourne to win narrowly.

“I think the Storm might just have the edge but there won’t be a lot in the game,” King said. “There’s nothing between the individual players. The fittest side will show up and win on the day.”

Originally published as The Dragons to win dynasty showdown with Penrith by six to 10 points