Reg Gasnier may have been among the greatest rugby league players, but it was his family values which shone through as “Puff the Magic Dragon” was farewelled in front of hundreds of people on Thursday.
Gasnier's devotion to his wife of 52 years Maureen was laid bare by his children Peter and Kellie while his 99-year-old father Bill was on hand to celebrate Reg’s extraordinary life.
The packed mourners included former teammates Johnny Raper, Norm Provan and Billy Smith, the entire St George Illawarra squad including new signing Benji Marshall and rugby league doyens such as Ken Arthurson, John Sattler, Bob McCarthy and Warren Ryan. NRL chief executive Dave Smith was also among the guests who heard how the Kogarah-raised Gasnier was born on Mother’s Day and died on Mother’s Day just one day shy of his 75th birthday at a Sutherland Shire nursing home.
It was a brain tumour which claimed the life of one of the original rugby league Immortals, whose coffin was painted white with a big red V with a traditional St George jersey placed on top.
His son Peter said his dad would have been unimpressed with being buried in the South chapel at the Woronora Cemetery but it was the largest chapel. He recalled how on tour with the Australian side to New Zealand, Gasnier skipped camp for three days to go fishing at Lake Taupo. While he earned the ire of the senior players, he scored three tries as Australia won the Test match.
Gasnier would finish his career as the most capped Kangaroo, featuring in 39 appearances and becoming Australia’s youngest captain at 23.
Gasnier played his entire junior football at Renown United, before finishing as a one-club man at St George. From there his jobs included working at Renown Bowling Club, commentating on rugby league for the ABC and writing for Big League.
Former St George player Steve Edge spoke on behalf of the Dragons and recalled how Gasnier was called a "traitor" by the French.
“Because his French was so good,” Edge said. “He would translate all their moves and tell the Aussie blokes what was about to happen.”
Edge said fellow Immortal Graeme Langlands told him; “You would love watching him from behind, because you could never catch him”.
His daughter Kellie Williams simply added; “I knew him as dad. I didn’t know what all the fuss was about.”
There will be a public celebration of Reg Gasnier’s life at St George Illawarra’s next home game at Kogarah Oval on July 5.
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