Reading bamford's book at the weekend he describes ending Gavin jones holiday by pretending to send him home.

Does he have a ghost writer , seemed a few more things revealed than the average ghost written book

I remember Gavin Jones along with the rest of the influx of Aussies that season, Jones was a big lazy sod, Trevor Patterson was great, Wally Fullerton-Smith,disappointing and Terry Webb got chinned by a mate of mine for chatting up his wife !!

patterson was the most consistent of the season.

other interesting bits on leeds were bamford missing a scouting trip when a ticket was allegedly bought for him , goodway labelled b.a for bad attitude and dave alred the kicking guru playing for bramley.

Alred could say how far the ball would go and how long it would be in the air

Paterson was the best of the forwards that year. Jones as said was a bit of a lump but wasn't that bad. Fullerton-Smith was the big disappointment - an Aussie international who did very little for us. Interesting though that Jones had by far the better career in Aus than Paterson. I wonder if in retrospect Paterson wished he'd stayed for longer?

Trevor Paterson was great for Leeds, sensational in that 1984-85 season and took the club's Player of the Year award.

He never played State of Origin for Queensland - unlike Gavin Jones, Cavill Heugh and Fullerton-Smith - but came on the Maroons' 3-game mini-tour of England in '83 when they beat Leeds and Wigan but lost at Hull KR.

He was playing for Brisbane Easts at the time and left Leeds to return to the Brisbane league before joining Eastern Suburbs (Sydney Roosters) in 1986.

To think that his career with the Roosters amounted to just 46 games (23 as sub) over a five-season stint represents a criminal waste of talent.

He would have been a Headingley legend had he stayed - the guy loved a good time off the field but really put in the effort and never took a backward step.

Speaking of which he wasn't exactly a stranger to the law courts while he was over here either.

Anyone remember the words to the Gavin Jones song? A crude adaption of the theme tune for an American series about a train driver in the old West.

steamin an a rollin?

"Gavin Jones, a steamin' and a rollin'
Gavin Jones, you never have to guess
When you hear the crunching in the tackle
It's Gavin at the throttle of the Loiners express!"

Oneof my better efforts

He was in the Stable's Bar at Roundhay Park one Sunday night and he was so blathered he was shaking like the proverbial dog. To this day, if I've been on a heavy session, the next morning I often say, "I'm shaking like Paterson"

Jones was by far the best player however he was plagued with injuries while over here. He was very clever because as a forward he used to angle his runs and charge at the opposing backs, which was unusual in those days. I remember him having a storming game at Cas. TP & WFS were swinging the lead, here for a holiday. Jones had a clothes shop back in Oz.

Paterson did very well on field then. IIRC he used to smoke and he was the Aussie who ground out a lit cig on the florr in bare feet, not noticing becasue his feet were numb.

That's the one!

He had a lot of hamstring problems as I remember. There was a theory going around that the pitches were too soft for him.

Indeed that is what he said. BSR - before summer rugby.

It probably helped my non concentration @ school but for one season only marked the players in order of performance and drinking hol or not worked out patterson to be the most consistent

Jones was quick for a prop for his time, and did some barnstorming runs more like a back rower. Agree was here for a Jolly.

There was obvious resentment between some of the English players who lost out on their places because of the clubs wholesale recruitment of these Aussies. I felt sorry for Dave Heron in particular, who stuck it out in the reserves but stayed loyal to the club.

Did not one Leeds director label the squad the best in the world?? These guys must have cost a few quid to hire. Maybe it proves you cant buy instant success.

however good the aussies were most only played a fraction of the season in the days of winter rugby

It was a mixed bag with the Aussies in the mid eighties. Some came for the full season, some arrived late and stayed till the end of the campaign, some arrived late and left early. I guess it all depended on their commitments back home.