Ken Emerton and Dean Basham were both inducted into the hall of fame at a function held last Friday, January 21. They join fellow Forster players Tony Paskins (inducted 2013) and Garry McQuillan (inducted 2014).

Mark Hogan (Taree United) and Wally Dylko (Wauchope) were also inducted last Friday

Emerton was a born in Forster but didn't start to play competition rugby league until he moved to Sydney to join the police when he was 16. He played in the Eastern Suburbs junior league and then lower grades with the Roosters before being transferred to Newcastle.

He was still living in Newcastle when he signed for the Hawks in 1968 when Tony Paskins was the captain-coach and he travelled to Forster for training and matches.

It was the start of a golden run for the club when they won premierships in 1968 and 70 and were upset by Wauchope in the 1969 grand final.

While Paskins was in the twilight of his illustrious career, Emerton remembers his as a 'great coach and a great player' of a side studded with quality footballers.

A powerful second rower, Emerton represented North Coast in 1969 and 70.

Emerton eventually returned to Newcastle, playing with Lakes United and Western Suburbs before retiring after captain-coaching second divisions club Swansea.

Emerton thanked the group for organising the hall of fame describing it as a great concept.

At 40 Basham is the youngest inductee into the hall of fame and said he was 'humbled' by the honour.

A Forster junior, Basham played nearly 250 games with the club. He returned from a stint with the Newcastle Knights in 2002 when the Hawks were struggling for players and he made it a personal goal to help the club rebuild.

A second rower, Basham was player of the match when the Hawks thrashed Wingham in the 2004 grand final at Tuncurry, the only time the decider has been played there.

He captained Group Three to a win over Group Two in the then annual representative match, ending the northern group's near decade-long stranglehold on the fixture. He also represented North Coast and won the Group Three player of the year award.

Basham was a member of premiership winning sides in 2004 and 2011 and also captain-coached the first grade side.

"I'm extremely proud to be in the hall of fame and I am embarrassed as well, being so young," Basham said.

"I believe there are a lot of my team-mates and other local heroes I looked up to when I was a ball boy who are as deserving or more deserving than me. But, I'll certainly cherish this and I know it has made my family proud.''

Group Three chief executive, Mal Drury said there are plans to hold another hall of fame induction later this year, possibly in November, to make up for the loss of the 2020 induction due to the pandemic.

Did you know? Great Lakes Advocate online subscribers not only have 24/7 access to local and national news, sport, what's on and entertainment - they also have access to our print edition in digital format, with all the advertisements and classifieds at their fingertips.

.