With the Harden Hawks 2017 fast approaching we though it would be a great time to do a flashback on one of the Hawk’s best.
The following Local legend story appeared in the Twin Town Times in early 2014. Chris Ward was a phenomenal Rugby League talent and still bamboozles the opposition in the local Touch Football competition. Enjoy!
“What did you do when a blue erupted?”
“Being a lover, not a fighter, I usually headed in the opposite direction … I probably started a few, but I didn’t finish many.”
This was a reflection of Chris Ward on his Rugby League career when being interviewed for Local Legends.
Chris was quite happy to volunteer that he was born in the Murrumburrah-Harden District Hospital on 25 March 1969, to Rhonda and John.
It seems he was born to play football in that he began his Rugby League career in 1975 or 1976. Louie Keefe was his first coach. Chris was part of his Under 9 team’s premiership win, with Fleet Stevens as coach.
Chris started playing First Grade in 1987. He coached 2 Hawks’ teams to Grand Finals in 1996 and 1999, but both teams were defeated on the day. No shame in that.
Even though Chris didn’t bring up the matter, in 1994 he was awarded the Eric Weissel Medal – he was described in Rugby League Review as “a clear winner … having admirably led the Hawks.”
Rugby League Review went on to say, “There is no denying Ward’s brilliance at fullback, his safe hands when the pressure is on, joined by his unorthodox running style and dazzling goose-step.”
Chris was further described by Rugby League Review as thriving at the club level, with his competitive edge and respect for all opponents warranting him being awarded the Weissel Medal.
Rugby League Review said that like all of the finalists, “Ward is fair, a crucial aspect of the Weissel Medal. He plays the game to win but is gracious in defeat, when the hard stuff is dished out, Ward is there soldiering on, doing the job without too many frills.” Indeed, a ringing endorsement.
Loyalty to Harden-Murrumburrah is also a critical part of Chris Ward – with the on-field talent he consistently displayed, Harden’s old footballing mates, the Young Cherrypickers, tried to win him over to the power of the Dark Side (with apologies to Darth Vader) but Chris stuck with the Hawks.
Chris volunteered his worst footballing injury as being a hairline fracture of his jaw. “I didn’t have to have it wired, but I was on soft foods for 6 or 8 weeks …it had its moments early on with the pain …liking my food, it was pretty hard staying on the soups and pureed stuff. I travelled to Perth to a wedding … and spent most of my time in KFC so I could eat mashed potato and gravy.”
Asked about what has changed in Rugby League since he was playing, Chris offered that once Harden-Murrumburrah left Group 9 Saturday became the day of play, rather than Sunday – the young blokes “like to get on the drink Saturday night” and recover on Sunday.
With a lot fewer jobs in the town now, compared to earlier days, some players also need to travel home to play and then travel back in time for work on Monday mornings.
For Chris, the most important thing about Rugby League was the friendships he made – not only with the blokes in his teams, but the ones he played against.
Chris was destined to be on the farm. When he finished school, he worked for Harden’s Ian Hubble Livestock for a couple of years (1985-86) and then with John on the family property. Between 2004 and 2012, Chris ran a successful butchery in Harden.
With the railway not being now what it used to be in the town, and the abattoirs having closed down, so many young people have left the town. This has affected the number of sporting teams that can be mustered.
Chris nominated Riley Manwaring as one of the best sportspersons in town, with future avenues open to him in football codes such as League and Union, along with Nathan and Matthew Schofield as cricketers.
Chris sees things as looking quite bright for Harden-Murrumburrah. As for Harden’s refurbished main street, Chris said, “Everyone I’ve heard that’s driven down the main street and hasn’t been here for quite a while is very impressed. We sort of hit rock bottom and we’re on the way up.”
Chris sees the establishment of some more businesses and industries in Harden-Murrumburrah as critical for the future of the town. Such examples are the forthcoming Pepe’s Ducks and the employment it will bring for people already in the town and yet to come to the town, and Jackson’s Hotbake, “Especially if it stays open on Saturdays and Sundays.”
To the suggestion that some people would say Chris is the most talented Touch Footballer in Harden-Murrumburrah, Chris modestly replied, “Some people might say that.”
One of Chris’ main interests in life is horses: breaking them in, riding, campdrafting and racing. As for racehorses, Chris said his little syndicate is looking for the next champion.
He said that the most important thing he learnt from his parents was the value of a dollar – such value of course being closely aligned with the hard work it takes to earn a dollar.
Chris’ only memory of his grandfather, renowned cattleman Jack Ward, was when Chris was about 2 years old: his grandfather, most probably after a cattle sale, arrived in Chris’ backyard with a packet of Twisties for him. Yes, sometimes the most important memories stay with us for a lifetime.
Chris’ proudest moments in life were when his children Jock and Chloe were born. He sees social media as being a negative pressure on today’s young people.
Chris nominates his hidden talent as singing in the shower and he enjoys reading autobiographies. His favourite films are Braveheart and pretty well anything Clint Eastwood.
Chris is a Bruce Springsteen fan, but in attending 2 of his concerts has been disappointed both times due to the fact that The Boss didn’t sing many of his most popular songs. As for his favourite food, Chris is a roast man.
The last thing Chris borrowed was money from his son, and he hasn’t as yet paid him back. Keep on reminding him, Jock. Asked for his strangest habit, Chris nominated wearing the same pair of Speedos (underwear) when playing football, win, lose or draw.
In answer to what Chris would never throw away, he confessed that his wife, Nicole, would say, “Everything.” He likes “keeping old stuff.” Recently Chris and Nicole sold their baby change table after having kept it for 16 years – they also recently became aware that they are now expecting a baby.
If Chris could invite three guests (living or dead) to dinner, who would they be? Chris said: Bart Cummings, to pick his brain about the racehorse game; Brad Fittler, because he’s his favourite footballer, and Bruce Springsteen so he could ask him why he’d let Chris down a couple of times.
Chris’ fears are heights, and dogs he doesn’t know. If he won Lotto he’d have a pretty fair holiday and pay a few bills. Does Chris ever get embarrassed? When Nicole tells home truths about him and when his kids “tip him in it.”
One thing people may not know about Chris, is that many years ago he danced with “Dame Edna” at the Bowling Club.
Asked if he might consider a cameo appearance in 2014 with the Hawks, Chris said that he might have to stay retired for another year or two, considering his soon-to-be new baby addition.
Chris, thank you for sharing your life with us in Local Legends.
* Weissel Medal references used with kind permission of Rugby League Review.
