MANY of your readers, especially Rugby League followers will remember former player, coach and sports commentator Mal Cheney.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In May 2008 the former Parramatta player was diagnosed with a brain tumour (glioblastoma) and after an operation in Canberra ICU, Mal was given only two days to live.
Not Mal. After chemotherapy and radiography treatments in 2009 at Wollongong, Mal continued his fight but with partial paralysis in his left side.
His wife Lesley, daughter Ashlee (Batemans Bay) and son Matthew (Malabar) have been beside him all the way.
Whilst in Wollongong Peter Fitzgerald (Illawarra president of the Men of League) and old team mate John Vincent were encouraging.
Over the last four years Mal has continued his convalescence at home at Batemans Bay. A few months ago Mal’s health took another turn for the worse and he is now resident of Edgewood Park Nursing Home at Denhams Beach.
During his illness many of his old mates, including representatives of the Men of League, have visited which he has appreciated to the utmost.
Mal’s Rugby League career began at Tarcutta in Group 13 in 1966 then to Turvey Park in Wagga Wagga, where he captained the Under 18s.
He was transferred to Broken Hill where he helped the Geebungs to a premiership win over Wilcannia in 1969. In 1970 he was transferred to Gosford, a nice change from Broken Hill, where he teamed up with Ourimbah, coached by Eric Rowlands.
After making the finals in 1973 he got the opportunity to sign with Parramatta in 1974-75. Cheney played 16 top grade games and was part of Terry Fearnley’s reserve grade premier side, beating Cronulla at the SCG in 1975.
Cheney then went to Waratah Mayfield for the next two years which was coached by John Spencer. In 1978 he got his first coaching appointment at Batemans Bay, where he was to settle for the rest of his life. He coached for three years, winning grand finals in 1979 and 1986 against Milton Ulladulla and Warilla respectively. Cheney returned to coach Ourimbah in 1982 before returning home to Bateman’s Bay.
When he finished with his coaching Mal continued to take an interest in the game and took up positions with the local media, both with newspapers and 2EC radio up until his illness forced him to withdraw from these important roles.
To assist Mal in his plight the Men Of League have organised a benefit night at the Batemans Bay Soldiers Club on February 15. The event will be advertised progressively.
T. Hardman, Chairman, South Coast Men of League.
