He was a fearless tackler and a powerful runner with terrific ball handling skills, unusual for a forward of that period.

With 1,883-points, Joe Thompson is third in the Leeds' all-time points scoring list, behind Kevin Sinfield (3967-points), and Lewis Jones (3,372-points).

[5] In Test matches Joe Thompson was on the winning side on eight occasions in 12 appearances, with the distinction of selection for Australian tours in 1924, 1928 and 1932.

This included the infamous second Australian Test, enshrined in Rugby League history as the "Battle of Brisbane" with nine players suffering serious injury.

There was something reassuringly solid about that massive figure, that firmly moulded beak of a nose and that determined, jutting jaw.

From the day at Twickenham Stadium when their scouts saw a young forward from Cwmcarn walk to the touchline, spit out a few broken teeth, and then go back into the game as though it was nothing at all out of the ordinary, Leeds knew that they were on a good thing.