Benny Elias

mean the salary cap has to come in in 91? Before 91?

Because I remember back in the day, Benny Elias chose to get a property instead of getting paid.

So that would have been on the salary cap, wouldn't it?

Nah.

Brad Clyde is the lock.

Funny you mentioned Benny Elias, mate.

You've got an association with Benny going back to 1981.

You were part of the Australian schoolboys side with Ben.

Yeah.

[laughs] So be it, you know? But I- I'm from an era where the Balmain Tigers had the great Steve Roach, Blocker Roach, one club; Wayne Pearce, one club man; Benny Elias, one club man.

You know? [laughs] That, that's, you know, Paul Sironen, they one club men.

So I got brought up on that.

And I'm very disappointed that Abdo, even though he's left, sh- hasn't got a comment.

I mean, relying on people like Benny Elias to fill me in.

I mean, that's a big-- [sighs] That's a big ask, I'm telling you here.

Now, um, [lip smacks] it's a very unfair game really, rugby league, when the Ray Man can't get a sven- send-off that's worth his, uh, contribution to the great code.

Yeah.

But where I got interested was, uh, Luai signed the Chiefs, uh, or Pirates.

Tigers legend Benny Elias declared he should've been, I never thought I'd say that, Bet or Benny Elias-

Mm

... couldn't have picked him on a six-man, uh, interchange and given him 10 or 15 off the back end of the game and put every single Broncos fan there walk to, walk out with a smile on their face saying, "I was there for Reynolds' last game." That moment.

I, I remember, uh, being actually at Suncorp, well, no, it was ANZ Stadium it was at the time, while they were rebuilding Lang Park, for Benny Elias' last ever game, uh, for the, uh, the Tigers taking on the Broncos.

Mm.

And he didn't get on the field.

He said a, a bad call won't cost you your season.

If you cast yourself back to '89, South versus Balmain major semi, Benny Elias bites his own hand.

Mario gets sent off.

It was 10 all.