Chasing the club’s first premiership in close to three decades, immortal Ron Coote was one of several missing pieces that helped easts bring silverware back to bondi in 1974.
With supercoach Jack Gibson back for his second stint in charge of the Roosters, Ron Coote’s Eastern Suburbs side dominated the 1974 regular season, winning 19 of 22 matches to claim the minor premiership.
But in the opening week of the finals, Easts’ hopes of claiming the club’s first premiership in 29-years took a hit when they were beaten by the Malcolm Clift-coached Canterbury Bulldogs in the major semi-final.
“I can’t remember exactly what happened in that game but I know we didn’t play like the Roosters side we’d been for most of that season,” Coote recalled.
“We hadn’t lost many games up until that point so it was a bit of a shock to the system but Jack Gibson got us back on track.”
After losing 19-17 to Canterbury, the Roosters bounced back and belted Western Suburbs 25-2 a week
later to book a spot in the grand final at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
“I played in nine grand finals so it’s a bit tough to remember one from the other, but winning with the Roosters for the first time was pretty special alongside the great Arthur Beetson and a really talented football side,” Coote said.
“It was always a great afternoon whenever you played at the Cricket Ground.
“By that time of the year, the ground had softened up a bit but if you played there early in the season, it was
like concrete.
“We’d all end up with gravel rashes across our legs and our knees and they’d be with you for the rest of
the year.”
After a brutal opening exchange, both sides traded penalty goals in the first 10 minutes courtesy of John Brass and Stan Cutler.
Easts’ fullback Russell Fairfax, who quickly became a fan favourite after joining the Roosters earlier that year from rugby union, set up Beetson for the opening try and Easts’ led 7-4 at the break following a second penalty goal to Canterbury.
“He was a great player Russell Fairfax and he was a star that season after coming across from rugby,” Coote said.
“Everything you hear about Arthur is correct. He was a fantastic player and his ability to control a game and direct players around the park was second to none.”
In the second half, Coote set up Mark Harris for Easts’ second try of the afternoon to extend their lead to eight points.
Five-eighth John ‘Bomber’ Peard added two further penalty goals for Easts, then created space for Jim Porter in the closing stages, who came off his wing and set up Bill Mullins for the Roosters’ third try, sealing a 19-4 victory and the club’s first premiership since 1945.
After a long celebration, the nucleus of that grand final side returned a year later and beat St George 38-0 to claim back-to-back premierships.
“We had a special group at the Roosters. Players like Johnny Mayes, Artie, Bunny Reilly. We were all great mates so we had a pretty good time celebrating those premierships,” the game’s 14th Immortal said.
Incredibly, Coote played in nine grand finals in 11 years between 1965 and 1975. He won titles with South Sydney in 1967, 1968, 1970 and 1971 before claiming back-to-back titles with Eastern Suburbs in 1974-75.
