A long-lost treasure belonging to one of the original Immortals – John Raper – has not only been returned to his family but has now found a ‘home’ in the NSWRL’s museum at Ignite HQ Centre of Excellence at Sydney Olympic Park.
The Australian jersey from 1959 – the year Raper made his Test debut against New Zealand and then toured with the Kangaroos – mysteriously re-appeared at the Coogee Bay Crowne Plaza last month, where the Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues were in camp for Game One of the State of Origin series.
Gear manager Paul Tate was given the jersey by someone who didn’t want to leave their name or contact details.
Raper passed away at the age of 82 in February this year, after a five-year battle with dementia.
His widow Caryl, and eldest son Stuart, who is NSWRL’s Referees High Performance Manager, have officially handed over the jersey to NSWRL Chief Executive David Trodden.
“Sometimes fate intervenes in our lives,” Trodden said.
“A jersey the Raper family hadn’t seen in 63 years gets returned to us from an anonymous donor, without the donor knowing that Stuart actually worked for us here at NSWRL.
“It’s a happy accident, which has brought a lot of joy and a lot of memories once again for ‘Chook’s family, his friends and multitude of fans.”
Being reunited with the jersey prompted Caryl to offer her gratitude to the donor.
“I still can’t believe he’s gone – seeing the jumper gave me shivers,” she told nswrl.com
“Just how we got it back and the love that went into giving it back.
“Rugby League was his life… he left the police force, which he also loved, so he could continue with the game.
“I’d like to sincerely thank them for the care they’ve given this jumper. I really, really appreciate it.”
The jersey has the No.15 on the back, which in today’s world signifies an interchange bench player, but for Kangaroo tourists in the 1950s it meant the 15th player alphabetically in the squad.
That is how Stuart Raper and the NSWRL worked out the jersey belonged to John Raper.
“John was very generous with his gear – always swapping it or giving it away,” Caryl said, on a possible reason why it went missing.
The year 1959 was defining for Raper. Not only did he earn the first of his 24 NSW jerseys, he played for Australia and won the first of his eight Premierships with St George Dragons following a 20-0 victory over Manly Warringah Sea Eagles at the SCG.
His jersey for his beloved St George club was No.8 as that was the number for locks until 1989, when the forwards numbers changed.
And it’s the famous ‘Red V’ No.8 jersey that is another one Caryl treasures.
Raper died on 9 February, with a State Funeral held at the SCG on 28 February, and a tribute by the St George Illawarra Dragons on 18 March at the Round Two NRL game against Penrith at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium at Kogarah.
“His death has brought out amazing feelings. He had the best farewell,” Caryl said.
“But the day with the Dragons running out and not playing the No.8 jumper – which they gave to me afterwards - and then having the plaque placed at the ground, that actually affected me more than the funeral.
“It was like that was the ‘goodbye’ to the footballer.
“The funeral was all about the man – the father, grandfather, brother, husband – but at Kogarah it was about his football and I found the end to that very haunting.”
