TONY Paskins, who captain-coached Forster Tuncurry to two Group Three Rugby League premierships, made a return to the football as special guest at Forster Tuncurry's Old Boys day held at Harry Elliott Oval.
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He was greeted by more than 50 past, present and future Forster Tuncurry legends.
Tony had a ball, hooking into a bowl of chips and gravy, having a beer with his old team mates, while watching the 2019 Hawks beat Taree City to move into fourth place on the competition ladder.
Tony was frustrated the girls didn't play tackle football, and was very impressed with the reserve grade team, in particular local player Keegan Dodd.
He started his career in Randwick's rugby ranks then went to the English Rugby League in the early 1950s.
Despite never playing for Australia he is regarded as one of the best centres to emerge in the immediate post war era.
Tony played for Workington Town (Cumbria) in England after being discovered in a 1946 Lions tour.
He went on to play in the club's Challenge Cup side, captaining the team to victory in 1952, while he also represented other nationalities.
Tony returned to Australia to captain the Eastern Suburbs (now Sydney) Roosters in 1955.
He represented NSW the following year against New Zealand.
He led Country to shock wins over City in 1961-62 when captain-coach at Oberon and captained NSW against the powerful Great Britain side in 1962.
He returned to Sydney as captain-coach of Manly Warringah in 1963 before heading back to the bush to play for Narrabri.
Tony saw out his playing days as captain-coach of Forster Tuncurry in Group Three.
The Hawks made three successive grand finals from 1968 to 1970 with Tony in charge - winning the premierships in 1968 and 1970.
The 68 and 70 outfits are regarded as two of the best to play in Group Three.
Forster beat Taree United in the 1968 grand final and Port Macquarie in 1970, losing in 1969 to Wauchope.
Tony retired after the 1970 grand final when the Hawks defeated Port, captain-coached by Harry Wells.
He then coached Eastern Suburbs in 1973.
Tony was one of the four inaugural inductees into the Group Three Hall of Fame in 2013.
Tony was in his prime at the football and has already asked when the next old boys outing would be held.
Massive thanks to Hawks staff, officials and all the people who helped make Tony's day special at the annual Old Boys day last Saturday evening.
Special mention goes to Jamie Quinn, Stumpy Elliot, Terry Green, Peter Ghosn, Justin Buttigieg and Simon Black.
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