Ken Thornett : Tue Aug 16, 2016 2:39 pm  

RIP Ken Bucket Thornett

Re: Ken Thornett : Wed Aug 17, 2016 8:57 am  

Vale Ken Thornett, as the Aussies put it. My father still rates him as the best full back Leeds have ever had and he's supported Leeds since the late 1930's. There will be hardly anyone on this forum who will acknowledge or recognise him or his name as they only know about Sooper League and the Rhinos. http://www.eraofthebiff.com/p97.html

Vale Ken Thornett, as the Aussies put it. My father still rates him as the best full back Leeds have ever had and he's supported Leeds since the late 1930's. There will be hardly anyone on this forum who will acknowledge or recognise him or his name as they only know about Sooper League and the Rhinos. http://www.eraofthebiff.com/p97.html

Re: Ken Thornett : Wed Aug 17, 2016 11:16 am  

Before my time but I have heard others say the major of parramatta was a top class player.

RIP

Re: Ken Thornett : Wed Aug 17, 2016 1:17 pm  

Mark Laurie wrote:

Before my time but I have heard others say the major of parramatta was a top class player.

RIP

Me too. I heard about him through my old man and his tales of the top players of his youth so i am aware of his impact at the club. Hopefully they will give him a fitting tribute.

Re: Ken Thornett : Wed Aug 17, 2016 2:54 pm  

Williams Dad was right about Thornett he was the best along with 3 others from the 1961 team namely Lewis Jones, Barry Simms and Jack Fairbank all great

Re: Ken Thornett : Wed Aug 17, 2016 3:48 pm  

Was a hero of my dad and uncle. When you see photos of him he looked an athlete in an era when players didn't. Im sure he was a great player in his day. To have a stand named after him at Parramatta says everything.

Re: Ken Thornett : Wed Aug 17, 2016 4:42 pm  

I was very young when Ken Thornett played for Leeds, but I retain some memories of him.
Firstly, I recall that on many occasions he seemed to be able to lean over the touchline, legs planted in the field of play, and pluck penalty kicks for touch out of the air - it was amazing to watch.
Secondly, in a match at Belle Vue, he caught Alan Skene, the South African centre high. Following that a ball was kicked to him and he was hit, held, and battered by Derek Turner, Brian Briggs and some of the other forwards. He still played on, head heavily bandaged. (I think the ref turned a blind eye - different in those days).
The other thing I recall was the way Lewis Jones and Colin Evans used Lewis's famous "hanging pass" to launch Thornett from a scrum with sleight of hand. He was a very quick and strong runner and often made huge inroads into the opposing ranks.

Fond memories

RIP

[Bullseye]

Re: Ken Thornett : Thu Aug 18, 2016 7:56 am  

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/parr ... qucg2.html http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/s ... -1-8072009

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/parr ... qucg2.html http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/s ... -1-8072009

Re: Ken Thornett : Thu Aug 18, 2016 10:40 am  

Very sad news. "Bucket" was the best fullback fullback I have seen and one of my all time favorite players. I was fortunate to see most of his games for Leeds home and away and also have vivid memories as described by Fred Pickup. Particularly the attacking move from a scrum where SH Colin Evans would do the run around with SO Lewis Jones who would supply the 'hanging pass' for Evans to regather and give a back pass to Thornett who timed his run on the burst. I also remember Thornett's powerful hand off. He was big, fast, brave with great hands. I do not recall him ever dropping a ball and there was a story that the bookies stopped offering odds on this happening. He was one of those players than would have been a sensation in any era. RIP Kenny.

Re: Ken Thornett : Thu Aug 18, 2016 11:12 am  

Fred_Pickup wrote:

I was very young when Ken Thornett played for Leeds, but I retain some memories of him.
Firstly, I recall that on many occasions he seemed to be able to lean over the touchline, legs planted in the field of play, and pluck penalty kicks for touch out of the air - it was amazing to watch.
Secondly, in a match at Belle Vue, he caught Alan Skene, the South African centre high. Following that a ball was kicked to him and he was hit, held, and battered by Derek Turner, Brian Briggs and some of the other forwards. He still played on, head heavily bandaged. (I think the ref turned a blind eye - different in those days).
The other thing I recall was the way Lewis Jones and Colin Evans used Lewis's famous "hanging pass" to launch Thornett from a scrum with sleight of hand. He was a very quick and strong runner and often made huge inroads into the opposing ranks.

Fond memories

RIP

I remember that game at Wakefield too Turner actually stamped on his head