Gary Bukowski was a Magpie for life. He played for the Souths type when Davies Park was a rugby league golden ticket and then went to Sydney and played for the Western Suburbs variety. Always wearing black and white and loving a Magpie.
How did you end up at Davies Park and a Magpie?
I played Queensland Under 18 when I was 17 and Wayne Bennett was coaching director then and not coaching for a year, but he was very good at knowing junior players. He got me to Souths.
Can you remember your debut for Souths?
Wests at Wests and I came on for 10 minutes at the end and British forward Any Platt chased me around the field trying to hurt me until Chris Phelan said ‘that’s enough’.
I never forgot how Chris Phelan looked after me.
Favourite ever Magpie you played with at Souths?
Richo Hill was great to play with, he was a crowd favourite, and I loved playing with him.
Your son Cameron has played 42 Cup games for Wynnum and is on a development deal at the Broncos and made his NRL debut this year - how would you handle him?
I wouldn’t run straight at him I know that; he’s got a very good tackling technique.
What made the Magpies special in that era?
It was such a strong club across the board, from 1980 Souths was always in multiple grand finals, 1980 was all three, 1981 was two of the three, 1982 was two of the three, 1983 was one of the three, 1984 was all three and 1985 was all three.
You just felt you were part of something bigger than just you, that you belonged and the superstars like Mal and Peter Jackson, Bob Lindner and Gary Belcher just loved the place. They never acted like they were a big deal.
Lots of Souths players only ever wanted to play for Souths.
Chris Phelan or Norm Carr - who do you love more?
Just the emotion in that 1985 season around those two was great, the emotion of the day and them retiring was just special. Norm played on again in 1986, but it was so good to be there in 1985.
Chris Phelan protected me as an 18-year-old forward but Norm Carr was just the perfect example for a rugby league player.
Should Norm Carr have played for Australia?
I think him not playing a Test is right up with Des Morris.
Do you think if the disaster of 1984 doesn’t happen the magic of 1985 doesn’t happen?
I think when you lose a grand final by a huge margin like the Magpies did in 1984 you will either drop your head or it will make you more determined.
End of 1987 the Wests Magpies come knocking; was going to Sydney something you always wanted?
I always wanted to go and Wests were on a big recruitment drive myself and Craig Teitzel was going to Wests but the number of players leaving for Sydney was more than ever. Gary French was going to the Broncos. Scott Tronc had gone down 12 months earlier too from Souths to Wests.
Laurie Freier was the coach and he came down to watch me play for Souths and then I signed. Laurie got sacked mid-year and John Bailey took over during my first year but I loved it at Wests.
Another Magpie Bob Lindner was at Wests too in 1990?
Loved playing with Bob Lindner, I used to remind him constantly that he was at Souths in 1984 and lost the grand final then went to Wynnum and lost in 1985.
