Joe Busch

Born at Maclean on the Clarence River in 1907, 'Chimpy' Busch (so-called by his family because of his small size) trialled with Easts in 1927. He had to borrow his gear and walked to Bondi Junction from Pyrmont for the trial match but impressed Easts officials after he was asked to play halfback (regular clubman Norm Pope decided to go to the races). Securing a first grade position Busch, in quick succession, played for City and NSW against England before being called into Australia's Second Test team. There, he formed a great partnership with NSW Country pivot, Eric Weissel. Busch will be forever remembered for his involvement in the infamous 'no try' incident in the third and deciding Test against England on the 1929-30 Kangaroo tour. With the match deadlocked at nil-all, he crossed over in the corner but the crowd invaded the field and the touch judge put his flag up. The try was disallowed and Australia was then defeated in an historic Fourth Test – a win that would have secured the Ashes. Busch later played four seasons with Leeds in England before returning to take on the captain-coach role with Balmain. The Tigers went down to a champion Easts side in the 1936 final but Busch's playing career had already ended midway through the season because of a leg injury.