By Jon Geddes

IT should have been a difficult decision, but three of Australia’s most knowledge rugby doyens didn’t hesitate in naming Mark Ella and Ken Catchpole as the most influential Shute Shield players they have seen.

Former Wallabies Simon Poidevin and Brett Papworth, along with the great scribe Norm Tasker, provided their picks while on a panel at the rousing Rugby News 100th Anniversary Lunch back in 2022.

Poido and Pappy both opted for the legendary five-eighth Ella, while Tasker’s choice was the champion Wallabies’ halfback Catchpole.

THE ELLA GENIUS

“MARK Ella was the most natural, talented footballer I have seen in any code,” Poidevin said.

And such praise from a man with his stature in the game is some kind of accolade.

 “Mark was totally understated, cool under any circumstances,” Poidevin said. “He had this big engine, he was a great defender as well.

“And gee, that guy could read a game and put you through some gaps.”

The former Wallaby warhorse recalled a game NSW played against a fearsome Manawatu side, including six All Blacks, which demonstrated Ella’s genius.

“It was absolutely pouring down rain and there must have been an inch of water on the field,” Poidevin said.

“We won the game and in the last minute we were about 40m out and this ball comes back to Mark. And I see him with two All Blacks screaming through at him. He somehow slipped and dropped a goal straight between the posts.

“I just looked at him like ’how did you do that? It was incredible and he just laughed.’”      

THE TOUGH MAGICIAN

ELLA’S performance on the Wallabies’ history making 1984 Grand Slam tour when he scored a try in each of the four Tests was the pinnacle of his career.

“He was the magician who was just able to guide that backline with Campo and everyone else,” Poidevin said.

But that aspect of Ella’s game overshadow the other traits of his game which helped make him a rugby legend internationally.

“Any time in defence I never felt ‘I’ve got to cover for this guy at 10’, because he was really tough,” Poidevin said.    

That was also illustrated when Ella skippered the Wallabies 1982 tour to New Zealand after a lot of Queenslanders pulled and the games involved much more trench warfare.

“He did a fantastic job as a very very young captain on a tough tour with 13 or 14 of the normal starting team not there,” Poidevin said.

Poidevin also disclosed some interesting insights into his former Randwick, NSW and Wallabies teammate.

 “He hated training,’’ Poidevin said. “Mark was just bloody lazy and didn’t like the idea of doing any speedwork or laps or that sort of stuff out there.”

He said while Gary Ella was a pretty good trainer, their other brother Glen was even worse than Mark.     

THE DISAPPEARING ACT

PAPWORTH said he played in an era from the late 70s to the 90s when the Galloping Greens from Randwick made 16 straight grand finals.

 “It was ridiculous,” Papworth said. “So you’d go to Coogee and in their side would be 10 Wallabies.”

He will never forget the day his Eastwood side beat that star-studded Randwick outfit because it was such a rare occurrence.

And Papworth also carries first-memories of Mark Ella’s brilliance.     

“I played 10 at club footy level and my opponent was Mark,” Papworth said. “You’d look up to talk to your 12 or 13 and you’d look back and Mark had gone.

“Where has he gone? And he’d gone down the short side or done some magic.”

A RECURRING RUGBY NIGHTMARE       

MARK, Glen and Gary Ella have left Tasker with emotional scars from the time he coached Gordon against Randwick in the 1980 Shute Shield grand final.

“We had won the minor premiership in first grade, third grade and fourth grade, we were the club champions,” Tasker said.

“We had won everything except for that day – we got beaten 41-3 in the first grade grand final – which sort of put a small damper on a very good year.

“There were three Ellas in the program, but I’m sure there were about 11 on the field.

“That was 42 years ago and I reckon there is not a day passed since that match hasn’t run into my head at some point.

“I replayed it 1000 times and haven’t been able to win any of them.”           

A STAR BY HALF       

CATCHPOLE debuted for the Wallabies as their 20-year-old captain in 1961 and unfortunately today his legacy doesn’t receive the recognition that it deserves.

But Tasker highlighted Ken Catchpole’s brilliance and reminded everyone of his talents. And there is no one better qualified than Tasker to rate a player’s ability through his various roles as a rugby writer, referee and top-level coach.

“I saw a thing in the paper not long ago about the best 25 rugby players of all time and Catchpole wasn’t there,” Tasker said.

“Now when I first watched the Shute Shield in 1954, television wasn’t even in Australia. I’ve seen a bit over those years and l’ve seen many great players.

“There are many great players who get to a certain level, then there are the odd one or two who get to that level plus – and Ken Catchpole was that man.”

Tasker pointed out in that era halfbacks like Catchpole and John Hipwell were playing behind packs that were going backwards.    

“The biggest thing was he was lightning fast and had a marvellous pass, which again was lightning fast, but went exactly to where it was supposed to go,” Tasker said.

He said Catchpole had an amazing mind for reading where the holes were, where support was needed and was an unbelievable cover defender.

“I’ve seen all the good ones, but none of them touch Catchpole,” Tasker said.