RIP Dennis Ward

[HoldenV8]

Manly's 1972 premiership winning halfback Dennis Ward has passed away in Brisbane.

He was voted man of the match in the 1972 Grand Final win over Eastern Suburbs and was retrospectively awarded the Clive Churchill Medal as part of the Centenary celebrations in 2008.

He represented NSW on 5 occasions and played 6 tests for Australia. He played 26 games for Canterbury (1964–67) and 80 games for Manly (1968–72).

Ward is the 6th member of our 1972 champions to have sadly passed away. Ken Irvine (1990), John O'Neill (1999), Allan Thomson (2006), Fred Jones (2021), Bob Fulton (2021) and Dennis Ward (2021). 7th if you also count coach Ron Willey (2004).

Condolences to his family and friends.

 

[HoldenV8]

Along with back rower Allan Thomson who returned home to Newcastle to play for Lakes United after the 1972 Grand Final win, Ward left Manly and took up a stint as captain-coach of the Western Suburbs Rosellas. He played 63 games for the club from 1973–75 and became the first player selected to tour while playing for the club when he was chosen to go on the 1973 Kangaroo Tour.

After playing 63 games for the Rosellas, Ward retired at the end of 1975. In 1977 he became the coach of Wynnum-Manly in the Brisbane Rugby League. He later became the coaching director of the Queensland Rugby League and was also the National Coaching Director of the New Zealand Rugby League for a time.

Dennis Ward played a part in the greatest try that never was. Playing halfback for Australia, it was his kick in the 1972 World Cup Final at the Stade de Gerland in Lyon, France, that was chased and caught by what television replays confirmed was an onside Graeme Langlands. Unfortunately though, the French referee ruled Langlands was offside and that was that. The game was a 10–10 draw and Great Britain were the champions. To his credit, after seeing a replay on the TV in the change rooms after the game the referee went to the Aussie rooms and apologised to Langlands for his error.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Only the vaguest memories of seeing him s few times on TV games with Manly when I was a kid. He was a small sidestepping type half and with Bozo next to him at 5/8 they made fools of any substandard defence. His record says he has to be in any conversation about great Manly halfbacks.
Vale, farewell champ.

 

[Tragic Eagle]

RIP and thank you for great memories.

 

[manly al]

Good that Dennis Ward was a member of that initial premiership 72 side . Played well that day and think that he made the Aussi world cup side at the end of that season . Just recall him as a nippy and lively half with Ian Martin as his half 's partner . A pom named Graham Williams and John Mayes at half back for Manly just before and after 72 but again seemed to be a well performed half for the club over quite a few years . Went on to have major roles in the Q R L and Brisbane club scene and systems , Another Manly favourite son gone too early unfortunately.

 

[master blaster]

One of my favourite players growing up. R.I.P Dennis Ward

 

[40 nil]

Dennis Ward, a great player, sometimes known as 'Dennis the Menace' or 'Twinkle Toes' for his evasive stepping & running. Along with Bozo, he was a prolific kicker of field goals, esp. pre 1971 (when the value was reduced from two points to one.)

 

[Terry Zarsoff]

Apparently he also went by the nickname ‘Webby’, because his teammates thought that he had swallowed a Webster’s dictionary.

 

[40 nil]

Dennis Ward played a part in the greatest try that never was. Playing halfback for Australia, it was his kick in the 1972 World Cup Final at the Stade de Gerland in Lyon, France, that was chased and caught by what television replays confirmed was an onside Graeme Langlands.

Here is the try