I first met Tommy as a nine year old. My father, Gary, was first grade coach at the Cessnock Goannas and in 1981 they formed a sister club relationship with the Newtown Jets. Dad and his team would travel down to Henson Park on several occasions to train with the Jets and Newtown came to Cessnock for a pre-season trial against the Goannas in that successful 81 season. It was only a trial game against a bush team but he played with the intensity as if it was a grand final. But the highlight was the following day when both sides gathered together at Tyrell s vineyard to enjoy a beer and a barbecue together - that s when I first saw Tommy the character.
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Brian James
1943-January 10, 2020
A high-quality winger for South Sydney who represented Australia at the 1968 World Cup before retiring at the age of 26.
The son of former Cootamundra Maher Cup prop Jack Swifty James, he came to rugby league via rugby union after attending Newington College and playing a season of first grade with the St George rugby club.
He switched to rugby league with St George in 1961 where he played centre and wing but top-grade opportunities were scarce in the Dragons’ star-studded backline, so he made the decision to transfer to South Sydney in 1966.
He was quickly vindicated, playing more first-grade games in his first season with Souths (18) then he did in four years at St George (16). A winger of above average pace (he pursued professional sprinting in the off-season), James earned his first representative jersey with City Seconds in 1967 before making City Firsts the following year.