THE FOOTBALL CLUB 1972 was a year to rejoice for the Ryde-Eastwood Hawks capturing both the first grade and reserve grade premierships in the NSWRL Second Division competitions. Under the guidance of experienced captain-coach Laurie Fagan, the Hawks toppled traditional rivals Wentworthville 18-14 in the Grand Final at Cumberland Oval on September 17, 1972. Ryde-Eastwood’s premiership-winning 1972 first grade squad was: Dave Barsley, Reg Hatton, Harry Harris, Ernie Gillon, Allan Gill, Frank McGarry, Bob Stiff, Ron Raper (captain), Steve Nicholson, John Stapley, Brian Sullivan, Bobby Hayden, David Knox; Reserves: Jeff Waldie, George Junkiewicz, Jim Willding, Eddie King, Warwick Shakespeare, David Ross, Ron Storey. Ryde-Eastwood were crowned 1972 Reserve Grade champions after tossing St. Marys 15-9 at Cumberland Oval. Skippered by tough prop Peter Davies, the Hawks proved a slick outfit, winning 19 of their 23 matches and scoring 569 points while conceding a mere 138. Ryde-Eastwood’s champion 1972 Reserve Grade squad was: Eddie King, Jim Willding, Bob Storey, John Raikuna, John Jewiss, Ken Hogg, Keith Webber, Daryl Alexander, David Ross, Chris Royston, Dave Gummer, Allan Miller, Peter Davies (captain); Reserves: George Junkiewicz, Chris Ware, Jeff Waldie, Warren Shakespeare, Mick Grant, Dick Mulheron, Rick Russo. 1990 - GOLDEN YEAR FOR CHAMPION HAWKS Ryde-Eastwood stamped themselves as the undisputed kings of semi-professional football after slamming Hills District to lift the inaugural Metropolitan Cup on August 26, 1990 at Parramatta Stadium. The team was captained by former Kiwi international Olsen
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Filipaina. Fellow Kiwi international half back, Clayton Friend, and ex-Balmain pivot Mick Campbell helped engineer the premiership triumph with super games. It was Ryde’s eighth consecutive title after previous Grand Final victories in the Parramatta and Balmain Junior Leagues, and their second trophy of the season after earlier clinching the Guildford Knockout Cup. The Hawks completed a unique trifecta when their crack youth outfit toppled St. Patricks Dundas 17-12 in the Balmain U/21Grand Final at Leichhardt Oval. 2000 - SECOND METRO CUP TITLE July 15, 2000 is a date forever etched in the mind of RydeEastwood’s Football Club players, coaches and administrators. It was the day the courageous Hawks won their second Metropolitan Cup first grade premiership title at Penrith Stadium. Ryde-Eastwood showed their champion qualities to outclass minor premiers St. Marys 24-10, and bring home the coveted trophy for the first time since 1990. Victory was sweet for coach Dave Nugent after the Hawks’ heart-breaking loss to Wentworthville in the 1999 Cup decider at Belmore Sports Ground. The final Metropolitan Cup was held in 2002 and the RydeEastwood Hawks were defeated in the Grand Final by the Sydney Bulls. In 2003, the NSWRL restructured the competition and launched the Jim Beam Cup which comprised Sydney Metropolitan clubs and also some Central Coast clubs. The Ryde-Eastwood Hawks competed in this competition in 2003 and 2004 but without success.