GEOFF Naylor was a young Tiger that turned into a Balmain Tiger and a Souths Magpie. Along the way he became a Queensland representative and kept charging head first in to the defence when he was called on and won a grand final with the Tigers.

Why did you end up at the Tigers?

I lived not far from Langlands Park and played from 11 with the Tigers. It was a natural progression to move through to first grade and play for Easts.

I played a lot of AFL too when I was young.

My first-grade debut was at Lang Park in a Woolies pre-season game and Wynnum had a Fijian front rower Inosi Toga and his neck was wider than my thigh. I went in hard and came out pretty quickly. Lesson learnt there.

The 1976 grand final - still disappointing?

Yeah. Wests were too good way too good. They were defending premiers and had a great team but to lose a grand final is a pretty bad feeling.

I was Des Morris’ offsider for a while driving his brewery truck so we had to drive past Lang Park all summer and the score was kept on the scoreboard so I saw it all off-season.

Do you feel like losing in 1976 steeled you for 1977 and a win?

Yeah for sure. Beating the Dolphins is always good. At the end of the first round of games we were in last place so things weren’t looking too good for us in 1977.

We got on a run after that and things turned around. We just weren’t fit at that time of year. We fixed that and then football improved.

You head off to Sydney and the Balmain Tigers. How did that come about?

Sydney wasn’t something I was seeking but I was happy to do it. I think the grand final helped. I loved my time at Balmain. They are such good people in that area. They were a little standoffish for a while but once they knew you were the new Tiger then they were happy.

Rod Morris came down the next year.

Then you come back and join the Magpies?

I tried to re-join Easts but it just didn’t work out so I went to Souths and played in the 1980 grand final which again Norths were just too good.

Then 1981 I did my knee not too far into the year and missed the 1981 grand final and Reardon’s famous try and Souths winning.

Then I retired so that was the end.

You played two games for Queensland in 1980. Did you think you were a chance for the Origin game?

No not really. I was really happy to play for Queensland but I was young and if the Origin thing happened it was going to be older experienced players that got a run not me.

I got to play against Rod Morris and John Lang who were both playing for the Blues. I was living in John Lang’s house in Brisbane while he was at the Roosters that year.

What’s one thing that players know now that you wish you knew?

I wish I knew that six beers on a Tuesday night wasn’t a great idea. All the married Easts blokes would go home after training and the single ones would all go to the Leagues Club for a beer on Tuesday.