Tommy Raudonikis dies aged 70

[Shoe1]

People need to remember, otherwise in 40 years there will be silvertails on here mourning scam.

 

[frank stokes]

I thought he was awful. The savage hair-pulling of Steven Knight in 78 was appalling.

Tommy was from a time when men were men and complaints were pointless...

You wanted respect than you had to step up and earn it - Tom was only 5'7" and 73kg but he played like he was 7 foot...

he was no choir boy but he weren't nobody's altar boy either and, yeah, he let em all know that you might beat him, but you were gonna damn well earn it...

 

[Tragic Eagle]

RIP Tommy. You were the toughest half back I ever watched.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

I thought he was awful. The savage hair-pulling of Steven Knight in 78 was appalling.

Certainly used thuggish tactics on the field but as a small player himself that did seem to fire up his teammates. On the other hand I never heard of any off-field scandals or bad behaviour, his reputation was that of a knock-about bloke who was good-natured and always happy to have a beer and a yarn with strangers in pubs, which was how I found him to be a few times down Newtown way.

 

[BOZO]

Certainly used thuggish tactics on the field but as a small player himself that did seem to fire up his teammates. On the other hand I never heard of any off-field scandals or bad behaviour, his reputation was that of a knock-about bloke who was good-natured and always happy to have a beer and a yarn with strangers in pubs, which was how I found him to be a few times down Newtown way.

I met Tommy once
He said to me . What are you doing supporting a club like Manly
But as you say he was good nature and down to earth

 

[47MVEagle]

Classic story about him in Johnny Lewis' biography, hopping on a light plane straight after a footy match (after stopping off at a bottle shop to grab a case of beer for the flight) with Johnny & one of his champion boxers to put on an exhibition bout in some country town.

 

[weev]

Fair to say he lived in the golden age of league, and he sure knew how to sell the tribalism simply because he lived it.

Gone to the big fibro shed in the sky. RIP.

 

[Bill Hamilton]

As a young bloke dad was really crook and moved the family from Mosman to Auburn to be closer to his business. Apart from the culture shock, you can only imagine what it was like living in Auburn in the 1970s and supporting Manly. It really was quite hazardous to your health. I went to every Wests/Manly game at Lidcombe Oval dressed in the maroon and white and sat on the hill behind the posts. For most of the game I had one eye on the match and one eye keeping a lookout for a half filled beer can being flung at my head.

Regardless of the score I would always stay after the games to get autographs from players from both sides. The first time I met Tommy he made a crack about me travelling so far from Silvertail country, I explained I had just moved to Auburn and told him about my dad being crook. He signed my autograph book and just talked to me for what seemed like hours but in reality was probably a few minutes. Tommy was all class and became a hero of mine from that day. I have shed the odd tear or two since hearing the news.

Every team this weekend should wear black arm bands and every game should observe a minutes silence out of respect for him. RIP Tommy.

 

[QLDSeaeagle]

Yeah, he was playing for keeps alright.

 

[globaleagle]

Rest in Peace, legend.

 

[BOZO]

This is a documentary about the motivation of sports Gladiators

Tommy Typified the spirit of the motivated Gladiator

The Gladiators (1979): 60 Minutes Timeless, Short Video

Reporter: Ray Martin Producer: Andrew Haughton. Every top coach has his secret ways of psyching up a football team to reach the outer limits of aggressive play. Roy Masters of Wests, like Ron Barassi of North Melbourne, is known as an expert motivator, though his methods are regarded as highly...

www.9now.com.au

 

[Fibro Eagle]

Gone too soon
What a great rugby league man he was and his legacy will forever be remembered
I for one was a fan of his I was born in Lidcombe watched many a game at the oval , But I was a Manly fan Hence why I’m a Fibro Eagle
RIP Tommy

 

[ManEagle]

Sad news.
I will always remember a tough as nails passionate half that never took a backward step.
A huge part of the leagues glory days.
Man would I love our team to show a smidgeon of his toughness and desire to win.
Not RIP Tommy... Rip in mate the only way you knew how.

 

[Jethro]

Tommy.

​

CATTLE DOG !!!!!!​

 

[BOZO]

Tommy Quote...

Losing in Sinful !

Stop Sinning Manly !!!

 

[The '47ers]

Born at Bathurst, the son of a Lithuanian immigrant father and a Swiss immigrant mother. He joined the RAAF as an Engineering Apprentice in 1967 and spent three years under training at RAAF Wagga.

League great Tommy Raudonikis dead after long battle with cancer

Rugby league legend Tommy Raudonikis dead after long battle with cancer

www.foxsports.com.au

Not directing this at you mate, but Fox has him as son of Ukrainian parents. I'm with your version. You'd think after his 70 eventful years and the way media blow wind up his backside you'd think they'd at least get it right!

 

[wombatgc]

He’s been fighting the cancer fight for a long time.
‘I remember watching an Australian story episode about him,
‘and when he talked about how many different cancers he was fighting, I remember saying to my old man, if anyone can hang in there, it’ll be Tommy. Tough as nails.
You can finally rest in peace now Tommy.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Not directing this at you mate, but Fox has him as son of Ukrainian parents. I'm with your version. You'd think after his 70 eventful years and the way media blow wind up his backside you'd think they'd at least get it right!

I just got that from Wikipedia, but I see that same version is in this story too:

"His toughness is likely attributable to his upbringing, raised in a Cowra Transit camp for migrants, the son of a Lithuanian soldier who escaped a Nazi PoW camp and a Swiss immigrant mother."

As a fan of the Wests Magpies as a kid, I idolised Tommy Raudonikis.

Growing up a diehard fan of the Western Suburbs Magpies, Tommy Raudonikis was a sporting hero of mine. Later on I got to meet him and discover he really was the larrikin of league folklore

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[QLDSeaeagle]

I thought he was awful. The savage hair-pulling of Steven Knight in 78 was appalling.

That was a scalp massage, the swinging arm was the real thing.

 

[tookey]

Can't say I have ever seen a footballer with so many tributes as I have today

Rugby league loses its most defining character with Tommy Raudonikis’ death

Rugby league has lost a true mate following the death of Tom Raudonikis - and many of us who played with, or coached him, have now lost their best one.

www.smh.com.au