As a 19 year-old already pinpointed as a future rugby league great, Reg Gasnier made his first grade cricket debut in October 1958 batting No 5 and scoring 59 against Waverley.

An outstanding junior cricketer as well as rugby league player, Gasnier debuted as one of the replacements for NSW players O’Neill, Booth, Watson and Saunders. He played only one other match.

Within a year of his cricket debut, Reg’s football career had gone from second grade at the St George Dragons all the way to the Test side and a starting role in the 1959 tour of Great Britain.

“Puff and Magic Dragon”, as he was known, was forced to abandon his very promising cricket career, but is remembered with fondness at the St George club