I was very young when Ken Thornett played for Leeds, but I retain some memories of him.
Firstly, I recall that on many occasions he seemed to be able to lean over the touchline, legs planted in the field of play, and pluck penalty kicks for touch out of the air - it was amazing to watch.
Secondly, in a match at Belle Vue, he caught Alan Skene, the South African centre high. Following that a ball was kicked to him and he was hit, held, and battered by Derek Turner, Brian Briggs and some of the other forwards. He still played on, head heavily bandaged. (I think the ref turned a blind eye - different in those days).
The other thing I recall was the way Lewis Jones and Colin Evans used Lewis's famous "hanging pass" to launch Thornett from a scrum with sleight of hand. He was a very quick and strong runner and often made huge inroads into the opposing ranks.

Fond memories

RIP

Ken Thornett was the Mayor of Parramatta rather than the major.

Before my time also but clearly a great player in both codes and in both hemispheres.

When he joined Parramatta he helped lift them into the Play Offs after years of successive wooden spoons.

Also a visionary as IIRC in his book from the mid sixties he proposed an interstate contest between New South Wales and Queensland.

Also before my time, and also from a time before many videos of him are available. From everything I've read though, he sounds like a fantastic player. I love his nickname of 'Bucket', because he never dropped a high ball.

Nice silent tribute from Tom Briscoe yesterday. IIRC when Thornett returned to Australia he forced a rule change down under when performing his trademark knock backs from outside the field of play.