Bruce Walker

Bruce 'Goldie' Walker was a fearless forward who made the bold call to cross the bitter divide between North Sydney and Manly-Warringah, and came up trumps.

The Easts Tigers product joined North Sydney from Brisbane in 1971, aged 18.

Walker, a student at Villanova College, had won an under 17 premiership with Easts, alongside future Queensland Origin team mate, Paul Khan.

Walker spent seven seasons in the red-and-black, before switching to Manly in 1978. In his first season with the Sea Eagles, he won a premiership, playing in the second row alongside the legendary, Terry Randall in the grand final replay win over Cronulla.

A replay was necessary after the teams had finished 11-11 in the grand final three days earlier.

I just wanted to play. And I would like to think that, in every single game I played, I played my very best.

Bruce Walker FOG #25

Walker was then chosen for the Kangaroo tour of Britain and France, scoring a try against top club, Wigan and crossing twice in provincial games in France.

Just days before his 30th birthday, Walker earned a cherished Maroons' call-up, for the first match of the 1982 Origin series at Lang Park, becoming the last player to pull on both a New South Wales and Queensland jumper.

Walker had represented NSW against Queensland in the third and deciding match of the 1975 interstate series at the SCG. He retired as a player in 1983, after playing 235 first grade matches for Norths and Manly.