"I'm not celebrating a St George victory," he said amid the celebrations.
"Today I am celebrating a big win for rugby league - I can't remember a better spectacle between two teams."
Twenty-five years later, Harry put it simply: "They just blended into a great side . you only had to tell them once.
"I coached Balmain for six years and could not win a comp and when I came to St George it was easy." The '79 Saints played before an average home crowd of 19,000 and attribute their success to a profound camaraderie fostered by Harry Bath's advanced wit.
Steve "Slippery" Morris and "Rocket" Rod Reddy share the player's-player poll a quarter of a century on, while hardworking prop Bruce Starkey rates an honourable mention for countless, and mostly unsung, hard yards.
Driving his cement truck past the Leagues Club when the Journal phoned, "Starks" encapsulated what that premiership means to many of the men today.
"When you get to my age, you get a real kick out of it," he said.
"When you say your name and someone remembers you from all those years ago, it feels bloody terrific.
I still draw on some of the lessons Harry bath taught us."
1979 Grand Final Team: B.Johnson, M.Brennan, G.Quinn, R.Finch, M.Sorridimi, T.Trudgett, S.Morris, R.Reddy, G.Wynn, G.Grant, C.Young (c), S.Edge, B.Starkey.
Reserves: B.Buchanan, G.Buckley, S.Butler, R.Stone, P.Williams.
St.George 17
Johnson, Brennan, Reddy tries, Grant 4 goals
d.
Canterbury 13
Gearin, Mortimer, Cutler tries, Gearin 2 goals
at SCG.
Referee G.Hartley.
Crowd: 50,991.
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St George Leagues Club
LEAGUES CLUB JOURNAL
