Lack of an animal in the pack held Leeds back in the 80s IMO.

Losing Rathbone on debut didn't help.

While Dixon was as hard as they come he wasn't an enforcer/nutcase.

Rathbone did porridge for quite some time after retirement from the game.

Any idea what he went down for?

Can't find any record online but it definitely rings a bell.

He certainly met the "animal" criteria.

I seem to recall it may have had something to do with Class A drug smuggling.

Great thread this. Dave Heron would have been a great player in the summer era, particularly in his younger days, great balanced runner and ball player.

Mr Rathbone sadly passed away a few years ago. I heard a tale that allegedly led to a spell at her majesty's pleasure. I have never been able to verify it , so won't put details but it was far more colourful than the one noted by Mr Eve.

Imagine Sonny Corleone taking a phone call and reacting in a more aggrieved manner and you will be in the right ball park.

When Kevin Ashcroft thinks you are too fearless for your own good, you are in a rarified stratosphere of toughness.

Remember Alan Rathbone taking a particular dislike to Ray Price one Odsal evening during the '82 Kangaroo Tour. I think it was the foggy game that probably wouldn't have gone ahead otherwise.

IIRC, he blindsided Price hitting him as he was being spoken to by the ref. Not sure I'd seen anyone do that before or since.

Sounds a unique approach.Bet he didn't get 6 matches for it.

Without checking I'd be pretty sure it was an early Challenge Cup round. It was one of those games Leeds were supposed to lose by a margin and somehow dug out a win against all the odds. Wayne Heron's finest moment in Leeds colours and the BBC couldn't miss tvoc's joyous celebration. Possibly the last such moment captured on celluloid.

The 1986 Bradford Northern tour fixture against Australia was definitely foggy, particularly in the first half. I was stood on halfway and struggled to see the near touchline. It was also Mario Fenech's only game for Bradford as he only turned up in order to manipulate and escape a lengthy ban handed down to him in by the NSWRL in the Winfield Cup.

Didn't get any ban.

Referee raised his index finger and shook it at him though to register mild disapproval.

Perhaps that's where Singleton went wrong. Should have done it whilst Bird was getting in ref's ear.

Is Glenn Stewart getting any more than 10 mins for putting Kevin Brown into next week? Singleton deserved a ban but 6 weeks versus 10 mins seems a bit out of kilter to me.

Quote: William Eve "Didn't get any ban. Referee raised his index finger and shook it at him though to register mild disapproval.'" Like this? Best play-the-ball ever. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62XSX_w8aQk

Quote: William Eve "Didn't get any ban. Referee raised his index finger and shook it at him though to register mild disapproval.'" Like this? Best play-the-ball ever. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62XSX_w8aQk