Book description
This is the story of a football champion who crammed more highs and
lows into an 11-year career than just about any player of his
generation. Carrying the surname of his uncle and Immoral Reg, he had
blinding pace, a shimmy, a step and an innate sense of timing. Whether
it was for St George Illawarra, NSW or Australia, he could seemingly
sniff out a try at will. As former NSW coach Phil Gould once remarked: Â
Mark Gasnier, the best centre I have seen. Yet for a game that came to
him so naturally, Gasnier s career was never so straightforward. His
famous bloodlines and the notorious hoodoo that had seen the Dragons
fail to win a premiership in three decades meant the weight of
expectation never went away. A drunken phone call during a NSW bonding
session that led to his sacking on the eve of his Origin debut, the
curse of injury and the ultimate decision to walk away from the game and
play rugby union for Paris glamour club Stade Francais only add to his
complex journey. Those obstacles only made the finish _ when he returned
to the NRL to win the grand final with St George Illawarra_ sweeter Â
before he shocked everyone again with the early announcement of his
retirement. Throughout his career, Gasnier was guarded with the media.
For the first time, he candidly tells his story. Over his long career,
good judges have rated Gasnier as being the equal of his uncle, league
Immortal Reg Gasnier. In fact, Phil Gould once described him as the best
centre he had ever seen. The man with one of the most famous names in
Rugby League history was always going to have to play throughout his
career with a certain level of expectation. Fortunately Mark has not
disappointed. Though to be fair, Mark did disappoint many of the St
George faithful, when after over 8 years with the Dragons, as well as
several games with the Blues and Kangaroos, he left the club to link up
with French Rugby Union side Stade Francais. Halfway through 2010,
Gasnier declared his intentions to return to League, and signed a new
deal with the Dragons. Initially skeptical, fans were quickly swayed as
Mark helped St. George Illawarra repeat their Minor Premiers title, and
then go on to Grand Final glory. Mark is now retired from the game and
lives in Sydney with his wife and child. Mark Gasnier is firmly regarded
as one of the best player's in the game at Club, State of Origin &
International levels and can be described as a true asset to the game of
Rugby League even in retirement.
