Jack Gibson

Super-coach' Jack Gibson started his playing career in St George's lower grades before moving to Easts. He played for NSW in 1954 and captained Easts in the 1960 grand final loss to St George but after a season with Newtown, he looked set for retirement until the club placed him on open contract at the end of 1962. Gibson was snapped up by Wests and played in the muddy grand final loss to St George in 1963 before staking his claim as the most innovative and successful coach of the modern era. In 1967 he took over an Easts side that failed to win a game the previous season and took them to the semi-finals in consecutive years. In 1970 Gibson linked with St George, only to see the club defeated in the 1971 grand final, and then coached Newtown in 1973 when the club captured its only club championship title. About this time Gibson took aspects of the training and professionalism of the American gridiron game and successfully transferred them to RL. With Easts in 1974-75, the club won consecutive grand finals with a thrilling, open attacking style of play. But at Souths though (1978-79) the club did not have the talent to make the semi-finals. Gibson then presided over the champion Parramatta club that won three premierships between 1981-83. His five premierships as coach equalled Ken Kearney's record with St George (1957-61). It is a measure of his standing in the game that champion players from many clubs and eras - from Arthur Beetson to Peter Sterling - speak in glowing terms of his motivation and communication ability. Gibson's three seasons with Cronulla in the mid 1980s did not yield a semi-final appearance and his talent to nurture players was not seen to advantage in the State of Origin arena in 1989-90. As a commentator with Channel 9 he was a master of the one-liner but the serious side of the man is best revealed in his tireless efforts to raise money for a number of charities. Gibson was a stabilising influence during the turmoil that rocked the Easts club during 1990 and oversaw the running of the football club until his retirement in 1993. Biography, When All Is Said and Done (1994).