SAINTS were not noted for big signings during those tough years when the 1976 team began to break up.
Instead they relied heavily on the youngsters to take up the mantle – with one notable exception in the shape of big Cumbrian Peter Gorley.
Peter and his brother Les had been mainstays of a strong Workington Town pack that had provided a torrid time for visitors to Derwent Park in the late 70s.
When that team broke up, Les headed south to Widnes, while Saints snared the man Leeds apparently dubbed the Octopus Man given his capacity to get those long arms free for the offload.
The £22,000 transfer fee paid in October 1979 was money well spent for a player in his prime in the midst of a side that was in transition and that had lost its first four league games.
A hard man without needing to adopt ‘a tough guy’ image, Gorley’s long stride and offload were trademarks of his game; qualities that earned him Great Britain caps in the 1980-81 campaign.
Once Andy Platt and Paul Round forced their way into the team towards the later half of the 1983-84 Gorley got a new lease of life as a mobile front rower.
The big Cumbrian stayed there in the Mal Meninga 1984-85 season in which Saints broke their silverware drought.
And Gorley’s surge on to a Harry Pinner pass set up hooker Gary Ainsworth’s opener on their way to a win against the champions Hull KR.
The 1985-86 campaign would be his last in the red vee, returning to Cumbria in the February for a swansong re-united with Les in the Whitehaven pack.
He played 234 times for Saints, scoring 46 tries.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here