Geoff Gerard

Durable forward, a P’matta junior, started his career in the centres. A try-scorer in the 1976 grand final loss to Manly Gerard toured with the 1978 Kangaroos, playing second row in all five Tests. Moving to Manly he was a grand finalist in consecutive years (1982-83), going down to his former club P’matta both times. In 1983 he played against NZ in his final Test appearance and went to Penrith in 1985. Gerard played for Hull in 1986-87 and the advent of the fresh reserve rule undoubtedly prolonged his career. In July 1989 Gerard surpassed Bob O'Reilly's first grade record to become the first player to pass the 300 mark (most lists credit him with 303 games but the number is actually much greater because the Penrith club did not count his matches as a replacement player). Awarded a 'Dally M' for services to the game, he spent two seasons as Penrith's lower grade coach after his retirement (1990-91) and following a stint in the Second Division competition, linked with P’matta's coaching staff in 1994. Gerard joined the NSW selection panel in 1998.