League legend helps Army tackle CASRL

Legend: Gary Larsen holds up the Army rugby league jumper with help from Maj Allan Smith.

By Michael Brooke

ONE of the hard men of rugby league, whose ferocious tackling earned him a place in Queensland State of Origin folklore, has been helping the Army team tackle Safety Skills in the countdown to the Combined Australian Services Rugby League (CASRL) Championships in Townsville next February.

Gary Larson, the former second-rower with the North Sydney Bears and Qld Maroons, divulged secrets of the art of tackling with ferocity, while stressing the finer points of safety, to the Army team that will compete in CASRL.

Larson played 24 Origin matches for the Maroons from 1991 to 1998 and was named among Qld’s 25 greatest players.

At a recent team selection trial at Holsworthy Barracks, he showed players how to “drill” their opponents with their shoulders while positioning their heads to avoid head and neck injuries.

“Hurt the players you tackle, not yourselves in making the tackle,” he told players as he demonstrated tackling techniques that help avoid injury.

The tackling dynamo said he was “happy to help Army tackle game Safety Skills” that would help them get on top of their Navy and Air Force rivals.

Larsen coached the North Sydney Bears First Division team in 2004 and one of his players, who is also a soldier, recruited his services in response to the Australian Army Rugby League’s focus on safety skills.

LCpl Kurt Byrant said Larsen was happy to answer the SOS from an old mate.

“A lot of the players thought the Safe Skills session was excellent,” said LCpl Bryant, who is the AARL vice captain.

“Many of the players have grown up idolising Gary for his tackling abilities so it made sense for him to mentor them.”

Cpl Nick Matthews said he remembered Larsen as probably the best second-rower and tackling machine of the ’90s.

Army’s 2006 CASRL inter-service team

Cpl C. Nicholls, 10FSB
LCpl K. Bryant, 1 Mp Bn
Cpl R.H. Dietz, 3RAR
Sgt W. Ratcliffe, AASPO
Pte T. Johnson, 4RAR (Cdo)
Cpl N. Matthews, 4RAR (Cdo)
Sgt B. Jones, ALTC Bandiana
Cpl M. Green, 10FSB
Tpr A. McGregor, 5 Avn Regt
Cpl A. Oliver, 1RAR
Cfn D. Tattersall, 1RAR
Capt I. McCallum, 2HSB
Cpl B. Gleeson, 1RAR
Spr H. Waller, IRR
Tpr C. Hiette, 5 Avn Regt
Pte L. Abdul Rahman, 1RAR
LCpl A. Bourke, 3RAR
Capt J. Driscoll, HQ AAVNTC
Pte P. Inskip, 4RAR (Cdo)
Pte D. Burgess, 3RAR
Pte C. Elliot, 4 AR (Cdo)
Pte J. Jonkers, 10FSB
Pte B. Leach 10FSB
Pte S. Degelder 10FSB
J. McClennan 7CSSB
Pte B.P. Turner 3RAR
Cfn L. Balcomb Aseame ALTC
Lt N. Ellis SOI
Lt R. Kinsella (Trainer) 1HSB
Capt G. Liebich (Trainer) 2HSB
Cpl J. Salter (Medic) 1HSB
WO2 J. Griffiths (Asst Coach) 3CER
Capt A. Lynch (Coach) 1RAR
Capt J. CampbellL (Team Mngr) 10FSB
Sgt P. Rogash ( Asst Team Mngr) 10FSB
Pte G. Robertson (PR) 1RAR
Sgt K. Sullivan (Coordinator) 1RAR