IN 1962 captain-coach Lloyd Hudson led his side, Central Kempsey Football Club, to victory in the Group 3 competition.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Central Kempsey was the underdog, but the team prevailed 12-7 against the well-backed Port Macquarie side that included former Australian player Frank Stanmore.
More than 50 years down the track, Mr Hudson celebrated another milestone this week, his 91st birthday.
Most of his premiership-winning team mates and other club players joined him for a special luncheon at the Kempsey Heights Bowling Club on Wednesday.
Ken Wilson, who was the five-eighth in the ’62 winning side, instigated the reunion.
“It was a fluke, I was looking up rugby league on the internet and came across something about Lloyd and I worked out it was his birthday,” Mr Wilson told The Argus.
“This fella (Mr Hudson) told me he was 34 when we played in the grand final, but he was having me on - he was 39.”
The players have the utmost respect for Mr Hudson, who has achieved many great feats in rugby league and boxing.
He played rugby league for Australia, NSW and the North Sydney Bears.
One of his fondest memories is playing alongside rugby league great Clive Churchill.
Mr Hudson's former teammate Col Brenton said: “I learnt so much from him.
“He got to know the personality of his players.
"He knew who he had to boss around and bully, while he was a bit softer to others, but in doing this he got them to perform.
“Lloyd always led by example on the field and I have always admired his coaching style.
“I feel so lucky to have played in that grand final.”
Mr Hudson was the oldest player by far in the premiership-winning side. But he was the fittest.
“He was the nucleus of the young team, he led by example and demanded the respect of all the players,” Ken Wilson said.
Only five members of the team were missing from Wednesday’s lunch.
Four have died while John Culver lives in Canberra and was unable to make it.
Mr Hudson is a war veteran and also dominated the ring as a champion boxer.
The men had a ball at the luncheon, reminiscing about their memorable win.
It took 50 years for another Kempsey-based club to match their feat, when the Macleay Valley Mustangs won the Group 2 premiership in 2012.
