THEY don’t breed them any tougher than rugby league personality forward Neil “Bing” Pringle.
A fine ball runner and cover defender in his heyday, the legendary Newtown and Balmain lock held his own against some of the greatest rugby league champions during the rough and tumble 1970s.
Pringle, 72, took a trip down memory lane last Friday at the Port Stephens Family of League luncheon at Soldiers Point Bowling Club, where he was joined by Cronulla’s former mercurial fullback David Peachey and ex-Australian Kangaroos forwards John Muggleton and Royce Ayliffe.
Now living at Kirra Beach on the Gold Coast, the affable Pringle told a packed audience of his early rugby league days as a Newtown junior – starting his career at the age of six with De La Salle Marrickville and winning four premierships with the Addison Royals (a merger between De La Salle and Lewisham Christian Brothers).
He represented Newtown in the S.G. Ball and Jersey Flegg Cup competitions and in 1967 was selected by the Bluebags to play in the Presidents Cup as a raw-boned 15-year-old.
Pringle was set to be graded but was sent back to the Junior League when officials discovered how old he was.
He was eventually graded in 1971 and after playing reserve grade was promoted to play in the end-of-season Endeavour Cup knockout tournament for the eight clubs that missed out on the finals.
Pringle partnered Ron Fogarty in the centres but made his official top grade debut as a lock forward against Eastern Suburbs at Henson Park at the start of the 1972 season.
The charismatic lock would go on to play 64 matches for Newtown under the coaching of Harry Bath and Jack Gibson and represent NSW Colts and City before joining the Balmain club in 1975.
Pringle became a Tigers legend, notching up 84 top grade appearances and forming a potent combination with gifted ball playing English international and fellow forward Brian Lockwood.
Both figured in Balmain’s Wills Cup and Amco Cup-winning teams in 1976 with Pringle scoring a sensational try off a Lockwood flick-pass in the mid week knockout final against North Sydney at Leichhardt Oval.
He stayed at the Tigers until his retirement from Sydney football at the conclusion of the 1982 season and finished his career as captain-coach of the Cessnock Goannas in the Newcastle competition.
Nicknamed “Bing”after famous crooner Bing Crosby, Neil has always been known to perform a song or two at rugby league functions.
During his career, Pringle packed down against Immortals Arthur Beetson and Ron Coote and the likes of John Sattler, Malcolm Reilly, John O’Neill, Terry Randall, John Donnolly and Craig Young.
He also overcame a crippling virus when struck down in late 1979 with peripheral neuropathy, an extreme inflammation of the nerve ends.
He was almost paralysed but fought back to get on the field for the Balmain Tigers before stepping aside for the budding lock forward and future great, Wayne Pearce.
Pringle also reflected on his touring days to New Zealand with a combined Sydney team, where they played five games in 13 days; working for Tyrell Wines and helping the Goannas reach the Grand Final against Robert Finch’s Maitland, losing 20-12 in front of 17,000 spectators.
The luncheon audience was also entertained by excitement machine Peachey, fresh from his induction into the Cronulla Sharks Hall of Fame.
Peachey made a special trip from Dubbo on the day and reflected on his illustrious career with the Sharks – scoring 110 tries in 232 matches – and with South Sydney and English Super League club Widnes.
Muggleton, a Balmain junior who won four premierships with the Eels and now lives at Salamander Bay, played three tests with the Australian “Invincibles” on the 1982 Kangaroos tour of England and France.
Master of ceremonies Charlie Haggett and the Family of League Foundation Port Stephens committee, led by Peter Arnold and team, deserve praise for organising a thoroughly enjoyable charity event for a wonderful cause.
By Chris KARAS
