I got to watch the 82 Roos train a fair bit in Leeds and you couldn't have met a nicer fella than Eric Grothe. Very quiet and reserved, but incredibly polite to anyone who took the time to approach him for an autograph or just a chat. Still got an ARL pin badge of a kangaroo sat on a rugby ball somewhere at home that he gave away.

On the field he was way ahead of his time - a winger who was a physical specimen with great strength and speed well before sides like the Bulls made it fashionable.

Stories get exaggerated over time, but I can remember him giving Ray Ashton (I think) about twenty yards start and catching him the blink of an eye, as well as his abominable snowman impression in the Bridgend cup game.

Was Ray Ashton his teammate then and doing his usual run around in a circle. I could have caught him pretty quickly when he wasn't running anywhere.

I would have thought you would have shown Ray's family a bit of sensitivity.

He's been officially a missing person since running up his own a[irs[/ie at the end of the 1989 season.

Someone mention Wellard ?

Better player than Leeds new recruit.