Australian Champions To Retire After Cup

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 211, 6 September 1941, Page 5 (Supplement)

Australian Champions To Retire After Cup

JWO of the greatest Rugby League players of all time— Dave Brown and Joe Pearce on Sunday at Sydney announced their retirement.

Ray Stehr said he is contemplating retirement, but will not decide until after the Cup series.

Percy Williams, Newtown's former international half-back, may also retire at the end of the season. Brown and Pearce will complete the League Cup series for Easts before retiring. Stehr and Brown announced their retirement twice previously, but officials coaxed them back. "I am definitely finished this time," said Brown on Sunday. "I still feel fit, but I have other interests." Great Record Btown has plaved in 98 competition games for Easts. He also played two seasons in England. Brown is the greatest point-scorer Rugby league has known. In (he 1933-34 tour of England he played in 32 matches, scoring 285 points—39 tries and 314 goals. r l his is easily the best performance by an Australian player on tour. Of Australia's 21 points in the three Tests, Brown scored 15. In 1935 he created a record for premiership matches, scoring 244 points—3B tries and 05 goals. He also broke "Dally" Messenger's record of 270 points put up in 1911 by scoring 311 points. Famous Family PearceV-aid, "1 am slowing up. and my enthusiasm i-; slackening. "I find it hard to keep rav weight below 1(5 stone now." Pearce hopes to become a State selector next season. "I don't want to go right out of the game." he added. "Dally" Messenger, who has seen all of the greatest players, said, "Pearce is the greatest second-row forward of all time."

Pearce played his 150 th first grade match for Easts on Saturdav. Only his father, the late""Sandy" Pearce (175) and Charlie Lee (153) played in more first grade matches with Easts. "Sandy" Pearce was 41 when he retired. He was regarded as the greatest hooker of all time. Curiously, both Pearces fractured a leg when on tour with an Australian team—Joe while playing New Zealand at Carlaw Park in 1937 on the day when 14 All Blacks beat the Springboks at Wellington. Cousin Bobby Pearce. one of the greatest scullers, adds to the family's freak record of world greatness.