The Eye of the Storm magazine - vol 22 july 2017

the

In the of the

EYE Eye of the

Vol 22: July, 2017

“ SINGSING- SINGSING- SING” SING”

All Your Juniors & Seniors Action

Travis Tops The Charts wit h

Ding Dong !

Open Grade Crack It For A Win !

TREVOR

BINSKIN INTERVIEW

Part 2

The e-mag for Gosford Kariong Storm Footy Fans

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YIKES!

Contents Vol 22:July, 2017

18 Page 4 … Editorial 5, 17 … In the Press 6 - 16…

16… Ding Dong; Open Grade Win! 18 - 32 … Interview with Townies Legend, Trevor Binskin (pt2) 33 – 50 … Pictorial Pages 51 … Competition Tables 52 … White Cane Photography 53 … Buy A Photo (you know you want to!)

54 … Open Grade (vs Wyong) 56 … The Back Page (Dr Alan Hewson)

33 6

They say that good things come to those who wait. And heaven only knows …

WE WERE FORCED TO WAIT!!!

Well done to Max and the Open Grade lads on notching a well deserved victory.

Rugby League is a game consisting of a diverse Shocked and saddened to hear news during range of skills and disciplines. Running, tackling, kicking, passing … these are the obvious facets of our game however one, rarely discussed and invariably under valued skill, is that of post try enthusiasm. The Eye is pleased to report that we have a number of very talented post try enthusiasts (PTE) within our ranks. U16s rake, Jimmy Cunynghame is an absolute natural and given his form during the first half of 2017; looks to have a bright future in matters celebratory.

Jimmy C has demonstrated majestic PTE form this season and deserves to be included in rep’ teams for his post try work alone

Honourable mentions are also due to Open Grade PTE veterans; Jordan Groom and Billy James, while Cam Bird continues to race in keenly for a congratulatory hug despite the U15s having so far struggled to produce anything that warrants much more than a limp handshake.

mid June of the death of legendary Wyong Roos official Terry Wand. The Eye was lucky enough to spend a couple of hours chatting with Terry up at Kanwal earlier in the year when the Roos #1 ticket holder shared a number of cracking old footy yarns while also voicing his support that Gosford manage to climb back to first grade level in the Central Coast competition.

Terry was a much loved figure within local rugby league circles and is a major reason why the Roos are the hugely successful club that they are today.

Vale Terry Wand The late Terry Wand

The Eye would like to apologize to Trevor Binskin.

Binskin. In our last edition we exercised poor judgment by including one or two colourful words and this, in a publication that is tailored largely toward juniors, was highly inappropriate.

Our interview with the Gosford legend continues on page 18 of this edition .

Carn the Storm!

- Andrew Stark

All opinions expressed throughout this publication are derived solely from the scattered & random thoughts of the author; none of which are necessarily shared by the GKS club … nor anyone else on the planet really.

In The Press …

The Great Gosford Drought Breaks In Driving Rain

by Andrew Stark

Coast Community News 29th June, 2017

The battling Gosford Kariong Storm Open Grade rugby league team broke through to score their first win in almost six years when they defeated the Toukley Hawks 22-12 in torrential rain at the Darren Kennedy Oval.

The round ten clash saw the Storm men score four tries to two in completing the club’s first senior grade victory since the 21st of August, 2011; thereby ending a 45 game losing streak.

Gosford’s powerhouse left edge back rower, Travis Mantell crashed over to break an early stalemate and despite leaking a couple of tries in the opening half, the Storm took a handy 16-12 advantage into half time. A superbly timed pass thrown by wily halfback Brendan Eather had put Danny Probert away for Gosford’s second try, while RJ Warwick, for the second week in succession, had managed to burrow over from dummy half to create the four point lead.

After the break, the torrential rain really set in and Brendan Eather’s kicking game came to the fore as the playmaker continually forced the Hawks back deep inside their own territory.

The wildly dreadlocked Travis Mantell extended Gosford’s lead early in the new half when he charged onto the ball two passes wide of the ruck and tore through a couple of despairing blue & gold defenders to help push the Storms lead out to ten.

With conditions deteriorating even further, the sole mission left for Gosford was to keep their line intact. Toukley tried hard to muscle their way over during a tense final quarter hour however magnificent Storm defence did repel the home team’s every endeavour.

When the full time siren did finally sound out, the ramifications of its wail was greeted with an air of feint disbelief by many old time supporters. Storm captain/coach Max Russell let fly with a hopelessly understated fist pump and the Gosford players raced to embrace; the full realization of what had just been achieved slowly dawning on each and every member of the squad. After 5 years, 9 months and 29 days; a Gosford victory had finally been achieved. It had been a long and lonely drought which was fittingly broken on a day when the heavens opened up and the team sporting the Storm moniker was very much to the fore.

Please note: this is the submitted piece in it’s entirety. The editor of the Coast Community News is responsible for the changes that ultimately appear in the newspaper.

OPEN GRADE

vs. Toukley

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY 2017

Sunday, 18th June, Darren Kennedy Oval, Toukley.

Photo – Andrew Stark

Ding Dong the Witch is Dead ----The ----The Eye ----

Gosford climbed back into the winners circle with a magnificent 22-12 victory over Toukley in atrocious conditions at the Darren Kennedy Oval.

As torrential rain bucketed down during a tense second half, the Storm were able to repel the Hawks challenge, and when referee Rob Bowen’s final whistle sounded soggily out … our losing streak had mercifully been halted at forty five.

It had been 5 years, 9 months and 29 days since Gosford’s last senior grade victory and the momentous nature of the achievement reduced grown men to tears * as emblematic parallels were quickly drawn to iconic moments in world history such as the pulling down of the Berlin Wall, the climbing of Everest, the invention of the bar fridge, or even Cronulla breaking through to claim last years NRL crown.

* The Eye will admit to having become very moist

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY 2017

Photos – Andrew Stark

Ding Dong the Witch is Dead

vs. Toukley

Photos – Andrew Stark

Ding Dong the Witch is Dead

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY 2017

TIMELINE TO SUCCESS * 21-8-2011…GKS beat Erina in the final game of the 2011 season; missing the semi finals by the barest of percentages. * 2012 … Despite building nicely during the off season and being in a position to add a Reserve Grade team; GKS are refused entry to the competition by the CCDRL who decide that unless a club can provide Firsts, Reserves & Open Grade teams, they will not be permitted to play. *2013 … Same as 2012 – GKS refused entry into senior football. *2014 … GKS are permitted (at the last minute) to re-enter the Open Grade competition, however lose all 19 games and sadly become embroiled in a late season ring in scandal that earns the club a hefty fine and a 12 month suspension from the competition (issued by CCDRL). *2015 … Suspended from the competition for 12 months *2016 … Allowed back into the Open Grade competition via a slot left open by the Terrigal Sharks (who couldn’t find the numbers). We were forced to wear Sharks jerseys at all home games (by the Terrigal club) and also played our home games at Duffys Road. We duly lost all 18 games, including a couple of hefty defeats; most notably, 102 -14 against Kincumber and a 92 -10 loss at Erina. *2017 … GKS are notified at the eleventh hour that entry into the Open Grade competition had been approved via the slot left vacant by the Berkeley Vale Panthers (who couldn’t find the numbers). We are playing our home games at Berkeley Vale Oval and were defeated in the first nine games of the season. *18-6-2017 … In driving rain, Gosford Kariong break the drought.

Leading 16-12 at halftime following tries to Travis Mantell, RJ Warwick and Danny Probert (+ two goals to Brendan Eather); the Storm add a further try after the break via powerful left edge back rower Travis Mantell which was converted by halfback Brendan Eather to set up a magnificent 22-12 victory.

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY 2017

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY 2017

Ding Dong the Witch is Dead

Photos – Andrew Stark

Photos – Andrew Stark The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY 2017

Gosford ploughed through the rain to secure their first senior grade victory in; 5 years, 9 months & 29 days

Photos – Andrew Stark

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY 2017

Ding Dong the Witch is Dead

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY 2017

Photos – Andrew Stark

Photo – Andrew Stark

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY 2017

vs. Toukley

“We’re Semi Final Bound” Max Russell (Capt/Coach)

Ding Dong the Witch is Dead

vs. Toukley

Photos – Andrew Stark

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY 2017

Gosford 22 Toukley 12

St Edwards 72 Gosford 0

Photo – Andrew Stark Round Ten Last Sunday was truly momentous as Gosford notched its first senior grade win since the 21st of August, 2011. Channelling the great Townies teams of the past, we managed to put 45 consecutive losses behind us and in torrential rain, powered to a magnificent 22-12 victory up at Toukley.

Travis Mantell and Brendan Eather were once again at the forefront of the Gossy performance however every member of the team played his part in what was a truly historic win.

Just as the baby boomers can recall exactly where they were on the day that man first walked upon the moon; Gosford footy fans will forever retain fond memories of the Storm’s legendary lunchtime triumph at a soggy Darren Kennedy back in the winter of 2017. In the wake of the famous victory, the Mayor of Narara declared Monday a public holiday while Thursday’s ticker tape parade held along Carrington Street was a joyous and most colourful affair.

Today we line up against the might of the Wyong Roos with high hopes of extending our winning streak to two. (- The Eye -).

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY 2017

In The Press …

Storm Break Long Drought Central Coast Express Advocate 22nd June, 2017 News Local 20th June, 2017

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY 2017

Please note: this is the submitted piece in it’s entirety. The editor of the Coast Community News is responsible for the changes that ultimately appear in the newspaper.

Friends of Gosford Rugby League Series

Part Two of our interview with Gosford Townies club legend

Trevor Binskin

BINSKIN BINSKIN The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY 2017 - Andrew Stark INTERVIEWS Trevor BINSKIN.

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY, 2017 - Andrew Stark INTERVIEWS Trevor Binskin.

Trevor Binskin made his first grade debut for the Gosford Townies in round two of 1975 against the Woy Woy Roosters. The schoolboy star who had previously played for the state at Under 9 stone and Open weight divisions before touring with the famous 1972 Australian Schoolboy team, was suddenly entrusted with steering Norm Pounder’s top grade Townies around Grahame Park.

“Mouse Brown and Trevor Binskin. Both these young players were the combination in last years Gosford High School Universities Shield team that won the state wide competition.

They don’t know the meaning of defeat and some of this enthusiasm has rubbed off on players in the side who at times are found to be taking things a little easy.”

- Bob Scott Gosford Star (3-9-1975).

Above Photo: Trevor Binskin (front row, 3rd from left) with Phillip ‘Mouse’ Brown to his immediate right, in the

Gosford 6 stone team of 1966. By 1975 Trevor and Mouse were the Townies first grade halves pairing.

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY, 2017 - Andrew Stark INTERVIEWS Trevor Binskin.

Norm Pounder

Eye: Gosford was captain/coached by former Manly forward Norm Pounder in 1975 and once you got back from the pre season experience down at Penrith, you were thrown straight into the Townies first grade team.

TB: Yeah, Mouse Brown was playing halfback and I was fiveeighth. They still had Dave Trickett there playing and a few of them thought he should be playing instead of me. I was dropped during the year after getting the man of the match. I had the coach tell me he was out voted and then I had the selectors tell me they were both out voted …so either they were all lying, or at least two of them were.

Eye: Woy Woy went on to win the premiership that year and the Townies finished fourth on the ladder. You knocked Ourimbah out before losing 17-11 to Wyong in the preliminary final.

T.B: Gosford at that stage wasn’t a real happy club. Mick Friend went to Erina in 1976 and I ended up at Ourimbah.

Eye: So was your problem at Gosford, Norm Pounder ?

T.B: No I just think I wanted a change. I actually went out to Erina one night to sign up with them, and it was pouring with rain. I just sat in the car and was trying to look for somewhere to go, or to meet someone and in the end I just turned around and drove out.

The team line ups from round 9 of 1975.

The Townies team included four members of the previous seasons University Shield triumph; Trevor Binskin, ‘Mouse’ Brown, Mick Friend and Mark Austin.

Gosford were defeated 20-6 by eventual premiers Woy Woy.

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY, 2017 - Andrew Stark INTERVIEWS Trevor Binskin.

TB: So that was the closest I came, to signing with Erina, and I got a call from Ourimbah the next day. I liked Daryl Palmer (captain/coach of the Magpies), a great bloke and they had Gary Sharpe, a good mate of mine playing there too. So it was pretty easy to go up there. We all played Southern Division that year, the three of us, it was unheard of. We had a good year representative wise but it wasn’t great in the competition.

Eye: Yeah Ourimbah struggled through the seventies & eighties.

TB: They had no forwards. Just didn’t have the players.

A contractual dispute with Ourimbah turned ugly during early 1977 when the Magpies claimed an option on Binskin for a second year. Trevor wanted out; he wanted to come back to Gosford. Ourimbah refused to release the five eighth and he was forced to miss the opening 6 weeks of the season. Ultimately his contract was bought out by his dad, Roy. “I think Ourimbah have been small-minded about the whole thing … it’s hard when your father has to pay a lot of money just so his son can have a game of football .”

- Rod Payne (Gosford RLFC President) CC Exp 15-6-1977.

Eye: Getting back to the Townies in 77 was hard work after the Magpies dug their heels in with regards your contract ?

TB: I don’t remember.

Above: Trevor Binskin looks to offload against Ourimbah.

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY, 2017 - Andrew Stark INTERVIEWS Trevor Binskin.

During late March of 1976, Trevor was selected at five eight for Southern Division to play the Wednesday night AMCO Cup TV game against the eventual winners of the mid week competition; the Balmain Tigers.

TB: We drew Balmain and they were leading the comp. We only lost 27-8 or something (it was 26-9). Mick Cronin and Johnny Greaves were supposed to be our centres but they pulled out. Gary Sharpe ended up playing. We went down and Sharpy was getting some boots made, so we were driving around the back blocks of Leichhardt somewhere, trying to pick up these boots. And I go, “Feel like playing tonight Gaz?” He was a reserve see.

He says, ‘Nah, I’m not playing’.

I said, “Yes you are”.

Sharpy goes, ‘Who said’.

I said, “I’m reading it in the flaming Daily Mirror!”.

Anyhow I’d just started my new job in Gosford at Norman Ross as a delivery driver. I went up to the boss and said, “I need Wednesday off, I got to play footy … on TV”. He said, ‘You’d better come up with a better one than that son!’. He wouldn’t believe me.

Eye: Ha ha … I read that you actually pushed Balmain all the way that night and the score wasn’t a true reflection of the game.

Eye: Given how tight the game was, you might have been a chance had Cronin played.

TB: Too right. We would of beat em !

Allan McMahon

TB: Yeah, it was a real windy night at Leichhardt. The gale was a southerly, blowing right up your backside, you know. Allan McMahon was playing fullback and they were using those white Mitre balls which would just float in the air. He kicked a couple of times and it went 80 metres. We just kept running backwards. And then you had to fight against the wind to get up the other end again.

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY, 2017 - Andrew Stark INTERVIEWS Trevor Binskin.

Eye: In 1978 Gosford win the competition, beating Woy Woy 23-20 During in the decider.

TB: Yeah, we had the Dawson twins Canberra … he was a good player.

(Chris & Paul),

Ian Miller up from

Eye: And Johnny Bradstock on the wing. Their was a real Newtown connection that year wasn’t their?

TB: Yeah well they just virtually came straight out of grade in Sydney. They (the Dawson’s) used to travel in this little hatchback; their were no backdoors. And they wouldn’t tub, they used to just put the track suit on. Johnny Bradstock would have a shower and sit down and have a beer and say, ‘Oh, I’ve gotta go. I’ve gotta get in the back seat with those two stinkers.’ He used to stick his nose out those little vents, you know the window would only open so much. He was a funny bugger. Good bloke Bradstock. They were strange the other two but …

Gosford’s Record during the Trevor Binskin Era

Above: Chris & Paul Dawson were school teachers playing first grade for Newtown before they headed north to lead Gosford to the 1978 premiership. Four years later, Chris Dawson became embroiled in high controversy when his wife, Lynette went missing at the very time he was having an affair with one of his students. Lynette Dawson is presumed dead; her body has never been found and no one has ever been charged with her murder.

Eye: Well one of the Dawson’s is the subject of all sorts of suspicion these days.

TB: One of em certainly is!

Year

Coach

Position

1975

Norm Pounder

3rd

1976 *

Norm Pounder

missed semis

1977

Garry Hawkins

4th

1978

Chris & Paul

1st

Dawson 1979

Gary Souter

3rd

1980

Gary Souter

3rd

1981

Gary Souter

4th

1982

Trevor Binskin

missed semis

1983

Trevor Binskin

2nd

* In 1976, Trevor played at Ourimbah, who like Gosford, also missed the semi finals that year.

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY, 2017 - Andrew Stark INTERVIEWS Trevor Binskin.

Eye: The Townies won the 78 grand final after Wayne Randall was During sent off for belting you high and late.

TB: Randall signed with us for that year: at the beginning he was playing with us. Something happened, originally someone else was going to coach, maybe Miller. They were chasing someone else and I think the Dawson’s were a late grab. I don’t think Wayne (Randall) was impressed. Plus he must have wanted more money. I remember him turning up to training one day and the next minute he was driving out, so they must have said no. So he went and signed with Woy Woy. Which was pretty hard at that time because he was coaching our U17s, and I was the manager. He still stuck with them and coached them while he was playing for Woy Woy. CC Express coverage of Gosford’s 1978 grand final victory, including a photo of Trevor being helped off after he was belted by Wayne Randall in the 23rd minute.

Eye: Ha ha, so the Gosford U17s coach decks his team manager in the first grade grand final …

TB: Yeah, he was sent off pretty early. But he didn’t miss me. They all reckoned I laid down, but I said, have you ever copped an elbow to the head ? Straight on the jaw and the inside of my mouth was cut and lacerated. I didn’t have a mouth guard in. I was crook for a while.

Eye: So did you stay off ?

TB: I was on the sideline for about 5 minutes. I thought if I’d be right to get through to half time I’d be right. I just ran on the wing for a little while and we actually scored while I was off which put us out to that halftime lead.

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY, 2017 - Andrew Stark INTERVIEWS Trevor Binskin.

“Trevor Binskin was the general of the Townies outfit. His strategic kicking led to the first two tries, and he set up Gosford’s play with great command. Binskin brought off many great covering tackles in desperate situations.”

Eye: You were up 18-7 at the break, but Woy Woy got the second half penalties 13-5 and they won 6 of 7 scrums. Even with a one man advantage, you were under siege.

- Geoff Wilson, Central Coast Express, Grand Final Coverage, (16-9-1978).

TB: You had to put it into the middle of the scrums in those days. In the end I was just throwing it into their second row, so I didn’t get penalized.

Eye: You finished well behind the Roosters on the ladder that year but beat them in both the major semi and the grand final.

TB: Yeah, we bombed the hell out of McKenzie and he just couldn’t handle it. Bruce Pearce played fullback all year for us but got hurt.

So we had to find a fullback. Whoever you pick has to be able to catch a ball. McKenzie was the biggest bomb error you’ve ever seen. I used to kick the ball out of sight and Crooky (Gosford fullback, Grant Crook) caught everything and McKenzie dropped everything.

In both games. McKenzie never laid a glove on a bomb. He was letting them bounce by the end. Both games we scored twice and led 10-0 I think, from kicks. The games were similar in that we led early and just held on.

Eye: The following year ?

TB: That was a debacle.

Eye: You made the preliminary final, losing to Woy Woy 26-8.

TB: Bloody Bernie Haviland sent four of us off.

We finished the game with nine men and still scored a try. The game was a joke.

Right: Three seasons after being bombed into submission by Trevor Binskin, Steve McKenzie was flawless at fullback for Parramatta when the Eels claimed their maiden first grade premiership.

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY, 2017 - Andrew Stark INTERVIEWS Trevor Binskin.

Eye: You were one of the four to get marched; charged with, “using an elbow to the head of an opponent not in possession of the ball”.

TB: I nearly killed him.

Eye: Who was it ?

TB: He was that bloke who came up from Sydney … Gary Nissen.

We actually had some tie in that his dad and my dad had played rugby together at Drummoyne.

Eye: Oh really, small world eh … you just never know who you might meet at the end of a cocked elbow.

Right: Trevor celebrates a big win over Erina with Gary Souter during 1982. Souter was a former first grade forward with both South Sydney & St George who assumed the Townies captain/coach position for three seasons, 1979-1981.

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY, 2017 - Andrew Stark INTERVIEWS Trevor Binskin.

Eye: Gary Souter coached for three years into the early 1980s …

TB: He came with plenty of raps. He’d come out of Sydney and knew all the new tactics and training methods. His years as coach were pretty much carbon copies of each other. We just weren’t good enough to win. We didn’t have enough quality players.

Eye: By the time 1982 had rolled around, the captain/coach was a bloke named, Trevor Binskin.

TB: Souter approached me during 81 about coaching the next year.

He said, why don’t you put your hat in the ring. I said, I don’t really want to do it. He said, no you’ll handle it, you’re virtually doing it now. Which I was. I did it when the Dawsons were there. They were pretty hopeless; they didn’t know nothing. I was running the show back in 78, so it wasn’t any different.

Eye: So how was your first year as the official coach ?

TB: First year was pretty tough. We missed the semis but I think if we’d won the last game we almost make it. I probably learned a lot. Plus their were some blokes there that probably should have moved on, so we had a bit of a clean out the next year.

Eye: Yeah a whole bunch of Gosford players went to Ourimbah in 1983; seven or eight I think.

TB: They were mostly reserve graders anyway. Wasn’t a lot of great talent went that way. But we bought some blokes from Sydney and pulled a few kids through; blokes like Darryl Turner, Anthony Clarke, Warren Hillier and Shayne Rawling.

Eye: I note you flogged the Magpies 64-0 in late June which was a week prior to the controversial Steve Merritt incident in the game against Toukley.

Darryl Turner

TB: Well I owed Merritt one. He’d knocked my tooth out. He smashed me. I had my mouth guard in and my tooth still came out.

So I owed him one from the year before. I must have lined him up and got him.

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY, 2017 - Andrew Stark INTERVIEWS Trevor Binskin.

Steve Merritt’s footy card – Manly 1980

TB: Merritt was actually a mate of mine, but he didn’t end up a mate of mine. He didn’t like it at all. I became the first player cited on video evidence on the Central Coast. When we looked at our tape, it didn’t look good. But they had their own footage. We had a front rower, Steve Bullow¹, down from Queensland playing for us.

He was a lawyer of some sort. So I’ve gone in to the hearing with him and said, this is my legal representative … and they soiled themselves. They were just a bunch of old referees sitting on the other side. So they said, this is the evidence we’ve got and they rolled the film and you see me coming across and he’s running the ball. Anyway, right as we come into contact … there’s only two stanchions in the whole of Grahame Park, in the grandstand … and it was right behind one of them. By contrast our tape was shot from a bit further down and you could see everything. So we just said, why are we here?

You can’t see me do anything. I could of tackled him around the legs, you wouldn’t know. We just stood up and said, anything else? They said, nup, and we walked out.

“I became the first player cited on video evidence on the Central Coast.”

- Trevor Binskin

If they’d have of said, we want to look at your tape, I would have been stuffed!

Eye: You seem to have become more and more cranky, the longer your playing career went. You were also sent off against Woy Woy a fortnight prior to the Merritt drama.

TB: Noel Annand I think. Same story; someone belted me and he was just the silly idiot that took it up at the next ruck. I just went bang. But I only ever got sent off against Woy Woy, never against anyone else. ¹ Stephen Bullow is today a barrister at law, practicing in Brisbane.

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY, 2017 - Andrew Stark INTERVIEWS Trevor Binskin.

Left:

The cover of the match day program shows Trevor Binskin (bottom right)

being knocked over by a Woy Woy leaper during Gosford’s 17-4 victory in August of 1983.

Eye: Ha ha, do you want to elaborate on that ?

TB: That was Woy Woy, Gosford games; that was it.

Eye: So Trevor, tell me about the epic 1983 grand final against Umina.

TB: The grand final that never died. That was a joke. They just kept turning us around. You can only go so far. First game was 10 all, we went an extra ten minutes each way, it was still 10 all and we went another ten minutes each way and they said, that’s enough .

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – July, 2017 - Andrew Stark INTERVIEWS Trevor Binskin.

Eye: Really, so there were two periods of extra time ?

TB: Yeah, we played for two hours and they said, you can come back next Sunday. Someone then said, that’s the day of the Sydney grand final, so they said, you can play it early (12 noon).

So, same thing, by fulltime it was 10 all again. I said, so are we just going to keep turning around; I’m damn well running out of players here. I looked out across my backline and their was no one out there I knew. I had five reserve graders looking at me. And the officials said, oh well, we’ll go another ten minutes.

Eye: You’re kidding me ?

TB: I looked at Sammy Ferraro (Umina lock), and he was stuffed, and I was stuffed, and I just said, right oh Sammy lets go. And any rate they still had Gary, that big fella, Gary …

Eye: Lewis.

TB: Lewis yeah; he was still, somehow, I don’t know how he was still running around after two games, but he was. He just got the ball from five yards out and we just couldn’t hold him out.

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – july, 2017 - Andrew Stark INTERVIEWS Trevor Binskin.

Eye: Heartbreaking …

TB: But I still remember, we’d practice and practice and practice our field goals. I can still remember during normal time in the first 10 all draw, we set it up and of course they thought I was kicking it, and it just went the other way to Tony Plater … and he says he hit it sweet, but it just shaved the upright on the wrong side of the post. I thought, that’s it. Their was about a minute to go. We couldn’t have done it any better and he’s botched it. Tony ended up getting a real cheap shot in the replay and broke his jaw. It was a dog shot, he didn’t have the ball, didn’t look like getting the ball, the bloke just walked up and punched him from the scrum. How did the ref not see it ?

That was probably the decision that cost us.

Because after that, we were stuffed. We didn’t have Tony, and they still had their bloke. We had enough injuries as it was …

Eye: So that was it, you’d had enough and hung up the boots ?

TB: Well I thought, I couldn’t do any more. And we still didn’t make it. So … it was pretty hard to take actually. I think we should have been made joint premiers. As soon as the second one was drawn we shouldn’t have had to keep going.

Doesn’t bloody matter though does it. I mean, who really cares. No one remembers who got beat. I was finished at 27. I was just … I’d packed a lot of footy into 15 years or 20 years. I just needed a break. I probably should have just had 6 months off or something and come back.

Right: Trevor from the cover of the 1983 grand final program

Above: Tony Plater

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – July, 2017 - Andrew Stark INTERVIEWS Trevor Binskin.

“In what is believed to be his farewell performance, Gosford captain Trevor Binskin was producing his magic of old and was a constant thorn in Umina’s defence - Central Coast Express, (16-9-1983).

Gosford Townies 1983

Eye: Thanks for the chat Trevor; I really enjoyed it.

TB: You’re welcome Andrew.

Friends of Gosford Rugby League Series

t he

Pictorial

Pages

Photos – Andrew Stark

Blake Taylor & Harlem Dargin U15(2)s

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY 2017

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY 2017

Jayden Findlay U16(2)s

Starting wingers, Jayden Findlay & Lucas Sansom pack into the front row during the closing stages of the U16(2)s big 34-18 win over Ourimbah at Col Gooley Oval.

Below: Dynamic dummy half TJ Ghilardi races over for a try at Woy Woy.

Above:

TJ Ghilardi U11(1)s

Photo’s – Andrew Stark

Photo’s – Andrew Stark

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY 2017

Dylan Gale U13(2)s Dylan charges over between the Woy Woy sticks and is duly congratulated

by Finn and Tyson

U8s

Photo’s – Andrew Stark

U8s

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY 2017

Preston Bierton U15(2)s

Photo’s – Andrew Stark Presto gallops up field during an eventful round 8 afternoon at Umina. Cam, Isaac, Blake and Birdy watch on keenly as the Blue Haven defence attempts to scramble.

Below: Blake looks to skate his way between a couple of Colts during the U11(1)s sensational 24-10 victory over Kincumber during round 10.

Above:

Blake Hodge U11(1)s

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY 2017

Photo’s – Andrew Stark

U6s

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY 2017

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY 2017

U7s

5 Bunnies in the tackle and the ball has been stripped …

Penalty Gosford !!!

Photo’s – Andrew Stark

Above:

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY 2017

U14(2)s

The ageless Billy Curnoe could well be informing our U14s that he’s been refereeing on the Coast since 1967. That’s well before the birth of most of their parents.

Below: The Under 8s on the front foot against Erina.

U8s Photo’s – Andrew Stark

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY 2017

Photo’s – Andrew Stark Andrew Hall & Liam Gleeson U12(3)s

Andrew unfurls an,

“I’m Going Back To Bed” post try celebration during the early morning win over the Warriors. Liam decides to play the part of the unrelenting alarm clock.

Gokhan Emeli U14(2)s

Photo’s – Andrew Stark The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY 2017

Cayden Simmons U12(3)s

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY 2017

Kyle Dowling & Ben Shepherd U13(2)s

Photo – Andrew Stark

Photo’s – Andrew Stark

Cameron Sanchez U14(2)s Cameron sportingly enquires as to the health of the Magpie he had just smashed in one of the hits of the season during round 8.

The U14(2)s made it four wins on the trot when they scored a free flowing 36-10 over Ourimbah.

Jack Taylor Liam MacNaughton

U14(2)s

U14(2)s

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY 2017

Xavier Hansen

Above: Xavier on the charge against Ourimbah with Blake and Gokhan in support.

Below: ‘Tiny’ goes for a dash late in the game against Woy Woy as Jordan wills him on.

U14(2)s

Nathan Peers U13(2)s

Photo’s – Andrew Stark

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY 2017

Angus Strelcs

Angus Bills

U10(3)s

U10(3)s

Photo’s – Andrew Stark

Below:

Above: ‘Big Angus’ (left) & ‘Little Angus’ (right) in action against Wyong.

Aaron tears through the centre of the Roos defence during Gosford’s great round 9 win.

Aaron Walters U10(3)s

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY 2017

Riley Pennell & Isaac Gardiner U15(2)s

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY 2017

Tyler Pittman & Jayden Ford U16(2)s

Photo’s – Andrew Stark

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY 2017

Storm Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves

Annabel LeMaistre & Kirra Hodge U10(3)s Tired of warming the bench, the young ladies of the U10(3)s appear to decide to kick some sense into their coach, Ed. Jolted into realizing the error of his ways, Ed throws Annabel & Kirra into the action. The girls proceed to play in the key roles of Dummy Half & First Receiver during the second half as Gosford are able to storm home to record a thrilling win over Wyong.

Photo’s – Andrew Stark

Matt LeMaistre & Dylan Kesby U11(1)s

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY 2017

Photo – Andrew Stark Matty busts an impressive, ‘crazy legged’ move as Dylan watches on in awe, during the U11(1)s victory at Woy Woy.

Suli Hakalo U16(2)s

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY 2017 Above: Suli swats a pesky Rooster away while Joel looms up in support during round 9.

Below: Peek-A-Boo! Brock pokes his head into the engine room during the loss to Woy Woy.

Photo’s – Andrew Stark

Brock Arnott U16(2)s

2017 COMPETITION LADDERS As of 3-7-17

Opens

Pts

St Edwards Kincumber The Entrance Erina Ourimbah Wyong Terrigal Northern Lakes Toukley

20 18 16 15 15 14 8 8 4

Gosford Kariong

2

U14(2)s

Pts

Umina Budgewoi Berkeley Vale The Entrance

20 16 15 10

Gosford Kariong

10

Wyong Terrigal Ourimbah Erina Toukley

9 8 4 4 0

U16(2)s

Pts

x Wyong Erina Toukley - blue +Northern Lakes *Toukley – gold Woy Woy

18 16 14 12 12 8

Gosford Kariong

6

x* Ourimbah +St Edwards

4 4

U15(2)s

20 Erina 16 +Kincumber 14 Blue Haven 10 +Terrigal 8 Toukley 6 Ourimbah *Gosford Kariong 2 0 *The Entrance +, * … Games, results pending

X, +, * … Games, results pending

U13(2)s

Pts

Warnervale Wyong Terrigal Budgewoi Woy Woy Blue Haven Kincumber

19 18 16 11 8 6 6

Gosford Kariong

4

U12(3)s

Pts

Gosford Kariong

20

+Wyong Northern Lakes Budgewoi Blue Haven +The Entrance

12 10 7 7 0

+ … Result pending

U10(3)s U11(1)s

Pts

Erina The Entrance *Terrigal Blue Haven Berkeley Vale

16 16 14 14 12

Gosford Kariong

8

Kincumber *Wyong Toukley Woy Woy * … Game pending

6 5 5 2

Pts

Pts

The Entrance – black Erina

18 17

Gosford Kariong

16

Umina Wyong Toukley Warnervale *The Entrance – gold Woy Woy *Northern Lakes * … Game pending

14 13 7 5 2 2 2

Photo of the Month The Eye is pleased to welcome our latest corporate partner, White Cane Photography who will be supplying our ‘Photo of the Month’ throughout the 2017 season.

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE July, 2017.

“One Day Son, That’ll Be You Carving Up The Tigers Right Edge”

This wonderful, narrative laden image fully contextualizes the post modern conundrum with which rugby league finds itself within the contemporary sphere.

A big thank you to those talented snappers at White Cane Photography.

Proudly sponsored by

White Cane Photography For all your blurry, half missed imaging needs 3/93 Victoria St, East Gosford, 2250

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – JULY 2017

So SoHow HowDo DoWe WeGet GetAAPhoto PhotoFor ForUncle UncleStavros Don & Aunt & Aunty Hillary Peg??

Whilst the motivation for putting The Eye together each month is in no way financial, It would be good to recoup all those bus & train fares; public transport levies accrued chugging to and from the myriad of footy ovals scattered across the CCJRL region.

So to keep Red Bus, Busways and even State Rail happy, all the photo’s appearing on the pages of this fine, up standing publication … come and are available for purchase in all their high resolution JPEG slip me $10 magnificence for just $10 (via Paypal, cheque, money order, Dan on game day Murphy’s gift card, gold bullion, krugerand, or my personal … I’ll be the favourite; good old CA$H). Email me (Andrew) at 10dollarjpegs@gmx.com and let me know which image you’re after bleary eyed, disheveled … or simply grab me on the sideline and let me know in person. looking bloke with the dodgy Jolly well haircut … played

Gosford

oh yeah, and the big camera !

Buy one $10 photo & get a bunch of others free

Wyong 44 Gosford 0

St Edwards 72 Gosford 0

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE –JULY, 2017.

Round Eleven Oh dear, didn’t we come back to earth with a thud. Just seven days beyond our majestic victory up at Toukley, we ran slap bang into those red hot Kanwal Roos and duly suffered a hefty defeat.

Despite a positive opening twenty minutes, in which our defence did the business and in which big Travis was denied what most agreed was a fair try, we fell away rather badly. Most disappointingly, our discipline waned and by games end, one or two of the boys had slipped into full billy goat mode.

Best on ground for the Storm was dummy half Cam Phillips who played his heart out in a well beaten side.

Jamie Probert on the right edge, and prop Mitch Redding, until injured, were the pick of the rest on a day best chalked down to fake news.

Today we are given the mouth watering opportunity to derail Ourimbah’s semi final aspirations while also reigniting our own. Go get em Gossy! ( - The Eye - )

Gosford Kariong Storm Open Grade

2017

Team Photo - Andrew Stark

GKS TRIVIA NIGHT is proudly supported by EYE of the STORM Publications

the Back Page

Dr ALAN HEWSON & The Light Fingered Approach Photo – courtesy of the Central Coast Express Advocate

Retired local gynaecologist, Dr Alan Hewson was interviewed recently on ABC Radio and

at one point the conversation drifted from practicing obstetrics to playing rugby league.

The 90 year old former Gosford High three-quarter revealed that he had played in the school’s 1943 footy team and that he had been blessed with a natural turn of speed.

The Eye of the Storm – July 2017

Photo courtesy of the Newcastle Herald

Left:

Alan Hewson (circled) as a member of the 1943 GHS team. Right: Dr Alan pictured during more recent times.

Alan relayed an amusing suggestion made to him after the High School had defeated the Mt Penang Boys Home during the war years; a game in which he’d managed to flash over and score a couple of spectacular tries.

Once the game had concluded, Alan was singled out by the Boys Home’s team coach who with a straight face and a twinkle in his eye, whispered,

“We need a fast winger up here. Why don’t you go and pinch a few things and get sent up!” the Back Page

‘Eye of the Storm’ – Vol 22, July, 2017 e-mag compiled, photographed, written & designed by Andrew Stark © 2017 Contact - 10dollarjpegs@gmx.com