Willie Horne and The Rugby League Hall Of Fame Willie Horne, a player who in the opinions of many knowledgeable supporters of the game , from far and wide, should have been one of the very first selections for the Rugby League Hall of Fame. I personally have played both codes and have watched the greatest game for almost 70 years and Willie Horne is undoubtedly the very greatest stand off half I have ever seen play either code. I would rank only Emperor Wally Lewis and the great Alan Hardisty as close challengers but Horne was second to none. His ability to take control of any game against club, county, country and Test opposition is legend of which I need say no more except that he was feared by every team he ever faced and worshipped by his own team at whatever level. His defence was of the first order. No player got past Willie if he was in reach of their legs or their ankles. Indeed many who thought they were out of reach bit the dust in despair. In that respect I think immediately of Brian Carlson the Kangaroo Test winger in the first test 1952 who looked 10 yards clear of Horne but who was brought down in a heap by Willie’s fabulous ankle tap. His deadly hand and foot tackle (Cumberland Hike, call it what you will, we called it “Hand and Foot”) was the scourge of many a giant forward with a big reputation. His speed off the mark was something that had to be seen to be appreciated. This coupled with the very obvious fact that he was more often than not at least two moves ahead of the rest in his mind, made him able to make the most decisive of breaks commonplace and expected week in week out. He did not disappoint. So many defence splitting breaks would see the Maestro of Off Halves go for maybe fifteen yards and look for the support of his three quarters and wings to finish off inevitably on most occasions with a try which Horne, himself, would convert. His ability to make such breaks was down to amazing speed off the mark and an unmatchable rugby brain. This Freeman of The Borough of Barrow-in-Furness had this inborn gift that even though not backed up by Olympic sprinting ability was so excellent that no defence could ever master him even at the close of his long career. He was a first class kicker from the field to touch and also in converting tries and penalties. The 40/20 rule today is an excellent move to bring back some of the best of yesteryear but realistically to Horne this was an every match ploy and many is the time he put defences back well over 50 and 60 yards with his deft talent for placing the kick just where he wanted and many times this would occur with defenders about to smother him. We have so often in the past 25 years or so seen and heard the credit given to all and sundry in regard to the side foot or instep style of goal kicking. I would challenge anyone to name me a player who kicked in this style (certainly in Rugby League) prior to Horne. I don’t believe there was one. Horne brought the innovation into the game and was amazingly successful in its use. It was reported in the Manchester Evening News, October 6 1973, that Willie actually developed the style as a matter of expediency - to quote that article – As kids we played in galoshes because we couldn’t afford boots. If you took a kick straight on, you hurt your toe, so I got over this by side footing the ball like a soccer player. Don’t forget Willie was a kid at school long before the Second World War! Another move credited to others, in particular to Wally Lewis, is the long pass. Willie Horne was using this to great effect in the early 1950s and was the first player I personally ever saw use the move. I tell you this and of this I am very sure indeed - had he played for a more fashionable not necessarily better team than Barrow, Willie Horne would already have been in the Hall of Fame, probably the very first inductee. Consider the following quotes:- 1) Mr. B. Manson, Chairman Of The Rugby League Council. “If there were an Honours List issued for long and faithful service to Rugby League, the name of Willie Horne would certainly have to be included. His prowess as a player, known to us all, has to some extent been recognised by the Council in that this season (1952) he was made Skipper of the side which regained for Great Britain those mythical Ashes.” 2) Harry Bath former Australian great second row forward, speaking of Horne. “To have been a former team mate of his is rather like basking in reflected glory.” 3) Mr. W. Fallowfield, M.A., Secretary of the Rugby Football League at the time. “I fear that no words of mine can do justice to the services which Willie Horne has rendered to the game of Rugby League football.” “He is one of the best tacticians I have seen in either code of Rugby and he will never be able to appreciate how big a part he played in Great Britain’s regaining of the Ashes this season.” (1952) 4) Tom Reynolds, well known Rugby League writer. “No man without initiative, resource or drive could have recorded the wonderful achievements which stand to his credit, but his greatest achievement of all did not come from any of these attributes. Horne will stand out in my memory not just as one of the greatest players I have seen but because of the things I have not seen. In no match I ever watched, with Horne taking part, did I ever see him do a mean or petty action. How proud would we not be if all could sincerely say the same of us?” 5) Allan Cave (Daily Herald) “Willie Horne, former captain of Barrow and Great Britain, who used to take goal kicks side on and was the expert of the long pass is, by Herald Sport vote, named the best stand off half the Rugby League game has known. Horne, one of the game’s quiet men, got there by a healthy margin. Second to this lightly built player comes one of the beefiest No.6s of all time. Vic Hey the Australian pocket Hercules who played such dynamic Rugby for Leeds. Two votes behind Hey we get Cec Mountford present Warrington manager, who was such a quicksilver stand off in his Wigan days, an aristocrat of a player. Then follows Leslie Fairclough of St. Helens teams of the twenties and Emlyn Jenkins one of the grandest players to come out of Wales and a Lance Todd Salford discovery in his great Red Devils. “ “Until this Willie came on the big match scene there had been only one stand off half for me, Willie Davies, the little Welsh schoolmaster who did so much for Bradford Northern, but I rank Willie Horne the equal of W.H.T. with the postscript that I reckon Horne at his brilliant best is superior to Davies on his greatest day.” “To see Willie Horne break through a defence which thinks it’s really something out of the ordinary as defences go is a rich experience. The Australians were reduced to impotence by his artistry and while they expressed their fervent hope, at the farewell banquet (1952 Test series) that Willie would be going with the next Tourists , there was obviously a certain amount of trepidation behind their remarks, because, truth to tell , they’d seen all they wanted of Willie Horne ! “ “As a maker of openings, he’s matchless; as a snapper up of the half chance he’s unequalled; as a captain he has every quality to produce a one hundred percent team show. For all his prowess you won’t find a more modest fellow anywhere.” Forget statistics - I’ve tried to keep away from statistics which can be obtained as cold facts and I’ve rather concentrated on the player and the man, without peer in either sphere. Finally, in 1985 I was at an interview in Australia and my late wife Marjorie and self were being entertained at Brisbane Easts Leagues club and were introduced to Ted Verrenkamp, at the time President of Queensland Rugby League. His first words to me were “Pleased to meet you Ray. Eh! do you know a man called Willie Horne?” Enough said.
Posted on: Sat, 18 Oct 2014 11:56:48 +0000
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