Legendary Ron Coote Pays Tribute to South Sydney Icon Gary Stevens Following His Passing

Ron Coote dedicated over a decade to rugby league during one of the sport’s most challenging periods, and he described the late Gary Stevens, who passed away on Wednesday evening, as the toughest tackler he ever encountered.

“When Gary delivered a hit, the opposition didn’t get up,” Coote reflected on his former teammate from South Sydney, who was 81 years old.

“The game was incredibly tough back then, and plenty occurred on the field, yet Gary never backed down and always stood his ground.”

“He was a tremendous asset for South Sydney, and I’m grateful I had the chance to play alongside him rather than against him.”

Born in 1944 in Pagewood, right in the heart of Rabbitohs territory, Gary Stevens, Souths player number 539, celebrated two premierships during the club’s golden age, amassing a total of 228 grade matches from 1964 to 1976.

He rounded off his career with 25 first-grade appearances for Canterbury in 1977 and 1978.

Renowned for his exceptional fitness and defensive skills, Stevens represented Australia in 11 Test matches from 1972 to 1975, along with seven games for New South Wales and three for City Firsts.

In recent years, he battled dementia, receiving support from his children and former teammates.

“His wife passed away a few years back, and he had been residing in a nursing home for quite some time,” Coote shared.

“Gary was a fantastic player, a true tough character.

“Off the field, he was a gentleman, but once on the field, he wouldn’t let anyone push him around.

“We shared many matches together, and I can honestly say I’ve never encountered a better or more formidable tackler.

“It’s unfortunate we didn’t track tackle counts in those days; he would surely have been at the top every week.

“Today is a tragic day for rugby league and for South Sydney.”