Reunion to highlight 50-year anniversary of premiership-winning team

Lismore Wests, Wests Alstonville and Lismore Workers rugby league clubs will gather for a reunion on April 13.

A special focus will be on the 1974 team who won the Group 1 premiership.

The reunion will be held at the South Lismore Bowling Club and is being organised by Gary Tyler and Steve Morrow.

Tyler said the 1974 team was littered with talent with some players going on to higher honours while others were standouts locally for several years.

"They were a really good team and it was a strong competition back then," he said.

"The captain-coach Dave Wonson was a bit of a legend.

"He coached them the following season as well

"Danny Morton played country firsts and Steve Bartlett went on to play for Eastern Suburbs in Sydney.

"Primo Casagrande and Charlie Tyler played around here in rep sides and Geoff Gaggin was a good player, too.

Brothers Les and Noel Cleal played at the club in 1975.

They came across from Warialda and had decorated careers in Sydney.

Noel represented NSW and Australia and was a recruitment manager for many years.

Former NSW State of Origin and NRL coach Graham Murray coached Workers in 1985.

He landed in Lismore after playing for Parramatta and South Sydney.

Former NRL coach Matthew Elliott played for the club in the 1980s before it folded in the 2000s.

About 13 players from the 1974 team have already confirmed for the reunion," Tyler said.

"Steve Marrow played in a lot of great teams and mentioned last year that we should do it.

"A few of the older blokes aren't in great health, but I know how much they're looking forward to it.

"That makes it worthwhile and it's pointing towards being a pretty special event."

All former players, coaches, managers, officials and supporters are welcome.

"It's going to be a big event," Tyler said.

"We started out talking about it and asking around to see if we could find everyone.

"Now it's looking like we're going to have a few hundred people there.

For more information contact Gary Tyler on 0427245347.