In November of 1975 deposed Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam famously said, “Well may we say “God save the Queen”, because nothing will save the Governor-General!”

To state the obvious, 1975 was a different time.

The Vietnam War ended, Steven Spielberg’s Jaws was released at cinemas around the world and off course the Eastern Suburbs Roosters pummelled St. George 38-0 in rugby league’s biggest grand final victory which stood until Manly hammered Melbourne at ANZ Stadium 40-0 in 2008.

In front of 63, 047 fans at the Sydney Cricket Ground, arguably Easts’ greatest ever team made light work of the Dragons.

This was the day mighty St. George skipper Graeme Langlands and his white boots made headlines in the annals of time. The myth goes Langlands wore the new boots without wearing them in and then put it the worst game of his career. Unfortunately this isn’t the case.

Prior to kick-off, Langlands received a painkilling injection which went horribly wrong.

Langlands came from the field during the crushing loss, returned in the second half only to be replaced again. Roosters captain Arthur Beetson spent the first few minutes after the win with the inconsolable Dragons fullback.

Let’s not forget superstar dual international Russell Fairfax either. At the peak of his powers, Fairfax injured himself in an Amco Cup match with youngster Ian Schubert shifting from the wing to fullback.

Fairfax was forced to watch the biggest game of the year from the sidelines.

It was also the first grand final aired on television in colour.

But this story isn’t about Langlands, Fairfax, the lopsided scoreboard or Beetson.

This story is about a man named John Rheinberger.

As history remembers the ’75 decider, it’s easy to forget Rheinberger.

So let’s go back twelve months prior to the 20^th of September, 1975.

Rheinberger, a talented sportsman who would go on to play Sydney grade cricket, was trying and failing, to make a dent as a winger for Eastern Suburbs rugby union.

The Easts rugby club really didn’t see much in him and Rheinberger was eventually punted from their fourth grade team. Rheinberger couldn’t be any further away from a Grand Final at the SCG.

Jack Gibson’s Roosters gave him a slim hope. He was graded with the tricolours at the start of ’75 and went into the club’s Under 23’s squad.

Under the tutelage of Gibson and the leadership of Beetson, Easts dominated the premiership season going into the finals with a 20-2 record. They won the minor premiership by a clear 10 points from Manly-Warringah.

They were stacked.

Ron Coote, John Peard, Mark Harris, Fairfax and then Schubert, Johnny Mayes, Elwyn Waters and Beetson.

In an upset, third placed St. George defeated the Roosters 8-5 to be the first team through to the grand final. The minor premiers came back the next week and eliminated Manly 28-13 to book a re-match with the big red V. But it was in this preliminary final that Rheinberger’s life would change forever.

With fifteen minutes to play and the Roosters dominating, Rheinberger was just another no-name on the bench. With ten minutes to play, he was thrown into the middle of the SCG after international centre Harris collapsed on the ground with a broken leg.

Rheinberger played the last ten minutes of the preliminary final.

Coach Gibson then flung Rheinberger into the grand final.

It wasn’t just the biggest game of Rheinberger’s career, it would also be his only starting appearance in first grade rugby league.

How many other players can you name that accomplished what Rheinberger did?

The answer is zero.

Call him a one hit wonder, the right guy in the right place at the right time, the luckiest bloke in the world. The fact is Rheinberger was good enough to have a chance and he took it.

He returned in 1976 but broke his collarbone in a trial against the Dragons and never saw first grade again.

John Rheinberger: one first grade start, one premiership.

@woodward_curtis

video source: This is Rugby League