Red and Green legends turn out for ton of fun

RUGBY LEAGUE BABINDA’S Bill Wakeham Park again rang out with the Colts’ club song on Saturday as players young and old relived past glories for the centenary of rugby league in the town.

Past players gathered on Friday night and more than a few had sore heads for the main events on Saturday.

In scenes not often wit- nessed in Babinda since 1999, when the senior club folded, some of the town’s most favoured – and feared – sons donned the famous green and red jersey again for a series of exhibition games.

Names such as Sam Zappala, Jansen Yeatman, Rod “Hairy” McCrae, Brian Beven and Clifford “Buff” Ambrum were a bit slower than in their heyday but still showed the big crowd flashes of brilliance.

Zappala – a rough and ready second rower in his days winning CDRL premierships in 1982, ’85 and ’87 – was emotional after his game on Saturday with men he considers lifelong friends.

“This whole weekend was about mateship, memories and a love of rugby league,” he said.

Club stalwart Ron Poppi was amazed at how many people came back, and how far they travelled.

“Kevin Lane played in the 1950s and he came up from Melbourne, former coach Steve Foster came from Sydney and I was shocked when the grandson of Lenny Rogers arrived from the Tablelands and made himself known to Watty Jago,” he said.

He added that demand for the specially commissioned 100th anniversary books had been so strong that more would probably be printed.

One of the organisers, Adele Panebianco was overwhelmed by the turnout on the day.

“I actually had to go for a walk down the street and then come back,” she said. “Thanks to Adele Panebianco, Jo-Anne Poppi, Ron Poppi, Fiona Trindall, Nathan Panebianco, Paul Destro, Brendan Poppi, Leanne Keily and Matt Lock as well as our Yarrabah Delegates.”