League legend Lory Blanchard honoured
Lory Blanchard, a tough-as-nails forward in 16 tests for the Kiwis in the 1950s and the national coach from 1966 to 1972, received his award from NZRL chairman Ray Haffenden in Christchurch last night.
This is very close to my heart, Haffenden said.
Lory was my first coach at Linwood. New Zealand Rugby League only has 20 life members - thats all we want - and for Lory to be in that elite group is amazing.
A very humble Blanchard was pleased to see so many former players from his Kiwis teams at the function, hosted by his former Linwood and Kiwis scrum-half Gary Clarke.
Several former charges paid tribute to the mastermind who coached the Kiwis to a series win in Great Britain on the 1971-72 tour.
Kiwis hooker Jim Fisher said Blanchards coaching and personality got us through, while tough prop John Greengrass told a tale which underscored Blanchards reputation as a players coach.
After a test on the 71 tour, the Kiwis officials were invited to drink free at an upstairs function with the English alickadoos. But the players had to put their hands in their own pockets in the downstairs bar.
Lory wouldnt go upstairs with the fish-heads. He stuck with the boys and said, Ill pay for my own drinks.
Haffenden recalled being a teenager rooming with Blanchard on a Linwood trip to Rotorua.
I got a little bit carried away and got home just before the sun came up.
Young Haffenden crept into his room, expecting a Blanchard blast, only to find Lorys bed hadnt been slept in. The coachs off-field stamina was impressive.
Blanchard, 83, admitted his coaching philosophy was rather different to the modern methods.
I never set strict rules. If they were at training on time they could do what they liked in their spare time. They could stay out all night.
Blanchard remarked rugby league today had more money than in his heyday.
When we went away in 71 we were farewelled and they presented all the players and two of the managers with track suits. But the poor old coach never got one. They said the sponsorship didnt allow for another tracksuit. I had to buy my own in England.
South Island Ex-Kiwis Association secretary Bill Whitehead told of Lorys legendary half-time team talk during a match in the UK where the Kiwis trailed 0-19 at the interval.
The players slunk into the dressing sheds, but Lory didnt say a word. The coach sat in deathly silence until just before the restart and then said: Righto girls, time to go out there again
They reckon they almost pulled the door (off its hinges), Whitehead said.
They did too, Blanchard agreed, before revealing the final score: 21-19.
Blanchard told The Press he treasured his league career and still followed the game but admitted he came to the code by mistake.
He worked on the railways with a league fanatic called Bud Lisle (later a leading official in Auckland).
Blanchard was a senior rugby union hooker for Sydenham and a Canterbury representative in 1947-48.
But he said Lisle was always talking about league so I decided to go down and have a look at a game at Sydenham.
He was on his way to Lancaster Park to pack down for Sydenham and had my boots on the bike.
But he stopped off at the league field and the Linwood coach said come into the sheds.
He read out the team and I heard Lory Blanchard, so I thought why not give it a go.
I never looked back and Ive never regretted it.
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Saturday, April 12th, 2008 at 6:59 pm under