Grandfather Eric Kuhn, Jock Ward and Father Chris Ward at the Riverina Versus Western Division match held over the weekend at West Wyalong.
The Riverina side was missing a number of players for the match and managed to keep WD to nil all 20 mintes in before WD took control of the match and went on with it. Jock played in the Centres and will be awaiting news from the coaches if he has made the Riverina side which will take part in the Country Championships in 2020. Jock works very hard at his game and has the genetics and the mentoring of his father and grandfather to assist him.
Chris started playing First Grade in 1987. He coached 2 Hawks’ teams to Grand Finals in 1996 and 1999, 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 was also a critical part of Chris’ career – with the on-field talent he consistently displayed, Harden’s old footballing mates, the Young Cherrypickers, tried to win him over on a number of occasions.
Eric played with Barmedman between 1953 and 1956. Before transferring to Harden in 1957. That same year, Eric was coached by Manny Hinton in the Riverina Side, and went to Sydney to play against Newtown where he came up against Johnny Raper. In 1958, Harry Melville came from Sydney to Captain/Coach Harden and they picked up the Maher Cup late in the season. In 1959, Matt Grenfell coached, and Harden held the Maher Cup all of that year. Eric also played in the 1959 Grand Final for Group 9, but Harden was defeated by Temora. In 1960, Mick Kelly was Captain/Coach for Harden, and Harden held the Maher Cup for a few games but lost the Cup to Tumut half-way through the season. Eric played in the Group 9 Grand Final that year, but Harden was defeated by West Wyalong. In 1961, Eric went to play for Bathurst Railway as Captain/Coach – they were Minor Premiers in Group 10, won the knockout in Parkes and the Alan Ridley Shield.
Eric was back in Harden for 1962, this time as Captain/Coach – that year Harden held the Maher Cup for several games and won the Group 9 Competition which was the first time Harden-Murrumburrah had done so. In 1963, Eric played as Captain of Fred Bowser’s Murrumburrah team, in the Barbwire Cup, and won the competition. In 1964, Eric was out of the game because he needed a shoulder reconstruction. In 1965, Eric coached Galong and they won the Grand Final against Boorowa. In 1966, Eric returned to Harden, with Nicky Cullen as Coach. In 1967, Harden was changed from Group 9 to Group 8, with the latter taking in places (amongst others) such as Canberra, Goulburn, Yass and Young. In 1968, Eric was back as Captain/Coach of Harden, which was beaten in the Final against Queanbeyan. Eric said that this was the year of Jackie Whybrow’s first game of First Grade Rugby League. Eric put Jackie in Harden’s side as Half, with Eric relinquishing his usual position to play in the Front Row. Eric finished his formal footballing career in 1968, at the age of 35.
