Vince Karalius
Encyclopedia
Vincent Peter Patrick Karalius (15 October 1932 - 13 December 2008) was an English
professional Rugby League World Cup
winning and coach who forged a fearsome reputation both as a strong runner of the ball, and as a devastating tackler.
in April 1952. His first try
was against the now defunct Liverpool City in that same time.
His intimidating presence became a telling feature of his play. Respected for his ferocious attitude on the pitch, he was dubbed 'the Wild Bull of the Pampas’ by the Australian press, in reference to the Argentine
boxer Luis Ángel Firpo, who had knocked World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Jack Dempsey
out of the ring back in 1923.
As well as being regarded as a hardman of hardmen, Karalius was noted as being ahead of the times in his generation of British rugby league
. He was a dedicated trainer, paying attention to fitness and stamina in an era that could feature lumbersome forwards. At 5 feet 11 inches and 14 stones he was to become the complete loose forward.
It took until the 1955/56 season for Karalius to establish himself as Saints regular, although a significant part of the 31 games he played that season were in the second row. Many were quick to focus on Karalius’ mean defensive play, but his value to the Saints team was also evident in attack where he combined rugby nous with delicate handling skills to distribute effectively.
The 1956/57 was a watershed year for Karalius. He accumulated 18 tries, no mean feat for a forward and was a member of the Saints side which hammered the Australian touring side by 44-2.
Karalius was acknowledged for his contributions to Saints’ success, including the 1959 'Vollenhoven' Championship Final win by 44-22 over Hunslet
. When Alan Prescott
retired from the game, Karalius was seen by some as the natural successor to the captaincy of the St Helens side. During this period, he led the 1961 Rugby League Challenge Cup
winning team that defeated Wigan
by 12 points to 6. The first occasion that he lifted a trophy for the club, was at Central Park, Wigan
when St Helens won the Lancashire Cup
by 15-9 against the strong Swinton
side. This was repeated in the same competition in the following year.
By 1961/62, St Helens embarked on a rebuilding period as they searched for a new generation of players to press for honours. It would appear that Vince Karalius lay outside those plans when he was sold to his hometown club Widnes in 1962. His final match for the Saints was against Leeds
on January of that year. In all, Karalius appeared in 252 matches for St Helens. He scored 42 tries for 126 points. Despite the move, Karalius would always be remembered by fans and players alike. Alex Murphy
acknowledged the support and protection Karalius offered him during their time playing at St Helens. Indeed, according to Murphy:
After his move to Naughton Park
in 1962, Karalius was appointed club captain. This was a role that Karalius was determined to excel in. Commenting on the move, he revealed the work ethic that was such a foundation for his rugby talent:
In his first season at Widnes, he helped his hometown team finish third in the Championship, which equalled the club's best league placing. The following season, saw him lead his team to Wembley
, where Widnes
were Challenge Cup
winners after they defeated Hull Kingston Rovers
13 points to 5. This was the "Chemics" first trophy success in eighteen years. In 1966 he announced his retirement.
in 1958, when Alan Prescott led the Lions to victory with a broken arm that the Karalius "hardman" status was well and truly enshrined. With Prescott in agony with a broken arm, Karalius was also in trouble with an injury to his back. Tour Manager Tom Mitchell recalls in his book, The Memories and Sporting Life of Tom Mitchell:
During this tour one Australian was moved to write:
Thereafter, the nickname stuck and Karalius was firmly embedded in the sporting public’s conscience as what a rugby league forward should represent.
Karalius represented his country 10 times in his time with the Saints. He also won five Lancashire
caps.
- as coach. Karalius imposed onto the club his own values and visions - fitness, determination and winning. He aimed to turn the club into a force, a vision that was achieved as early as 1974/75. First Salford
were beaten in the Lancashire Cup
Final and then rivals Warrington
were defeated in the Challenge Cup
. This was the first time in their history that Widnes had recorded two trophies in the same season.
At his zenith
, Karalius, stepped down once from his role as coach. He returned to the club for a short spell in 1983/84 leading a strong Widnes side that included future greats such as Joe Lydon and Andy Gregory
to a Wembley success over Wigan.
Karalius was also one of the original thirteen former Widnes players inducted into The Widnes Hall of Fame
in 1992.
After retiring from rugby league, Karalius forged a successful business. He was a resident of the Isle of Man
.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
professional Rugby League World Cup
Rugby League World Cup
The Rugby League World Cup is an international rugby league competition contested by members of the Rugby League International Federation . It has been held nearly once every 4 years on average since its inaugural tournament in France in 1954...
winning and coach who forged a fearsome reputation both as a strong runner of the ball, and as a devastating tackler.
Club career
Vince Karalius started playing for West Bank ARLFC in Widnes at the age of 15. He signed professionally for St. Helens in 1951, making his début against WarringtonWarrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
in April 1952. His first try
Try
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
was against the now defunct Liverpool City in that same time.
His intimidating presence became a telling feature of his play. Respected for his ferocious attitude on the pitch, he was dubbed 'the Wild Bull of the Pampas’ by the Australian press, in reference to the Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
boxer Luis Ángel Firpo, who had knocked World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Jack Dempsey
Jack Dempsey
William Harrison "Jack" Dempsey was an American boxer who held the world heavyweight title from 1919 to 1926. Dempsey's aggressive style and exceptional punching power made him one of the most popular boxers in history. Many of his fights set financial and attendance records, including the first...
out of the ring back in 1923.
As well as being regarded as a hardman of hardmen, Karalius was noted as being ahead of the times in his generation of British rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
. He was a dedicated trainer, paying attention to fitness and stamina in an era that could feature lumbersome forwards. At 5 feet 11 inches and 14 stones he was to become the complete loose forward.
It took until the 1955/56 season for Karalius to establish himself as Saints regular, although a significant part of the 31 games he played that season were in the second row. Many were quick to focus on Karalius’ mean defensive play, but his value to the Saints team was also evident in attack where he combined rugby nous with delicate handling skills to distribute effectively.
The 1956/57 was a watershed year for Karalius. He accumulated 18 tries, no mean feat for a forward and was a member of the Saints side which hammered the Australian touring side by 44-2.
Karalius was acknowledged for his contributions to Saints’ success, including the 1959 'Vollenhoven' Championship Final win by 44-22 over Hunslet
Hunslet Hawks
Hunslet Hawks is a professional rugby league club based in Hunslet, West Yorkshire, England. The club, sometimes known as 'the Parksiders' after their former stadium, are currently champions of Championship One.-History:-Early years:...
. When Alan Prescott
Alan Prescott
G. Alan Prescott was an English rugby league footballer and coach of the 1940s, '50s and '60s, playing initially at , and then later at , or /. In 404 matches for St. Helens. Prescott scored 31 tries for a total of 93 points...
retired from the game, Karalius was seen by some as the natural successor to the captaincy of the St Helens side. During this period, he led the 1961 Rugby League Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
winning team that defeated Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
by 12 points to 6. The first occasion that he lifted a trophy for the club, was at Central Park, Wigan
Central Park (Wigan)
Central Park was a rugby league stadium in Wigan, England. It was the home of Wigan RLFC before the club moved to the JJB Stadium in 1999. Its final capacity was 18,000.-History:...
when St Helens won the Lancashire Cup
Rugby league county cups
Historically, British rugby league clubs competed for the Lancashire Cup and the Yorkshire Cup, known collectively as the county cups. The leading rugby clubs in Yorkshire had played in a cup competition for several years prior to the schism of 1895...
by 15-9 against the strong Swinton
Swinton Lions
Swinton Lions is an English professional rugby league club from Swinton, Greater Manchester. The club has won the Championship six times and three Challenge Cups. They currently play in the Championship.-Early years:...
side. This was repeated in the same competition in the following year.
By 1961/62, St Helens embarked on a rebuilding period as they searched for a new generation of players to press for honours. It would appear that Vince Karalius lay outside those plans when he was sold to his hometown club Widnes in 1962. His final match for the Saints was against Leeds
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
on January of that year. In all, Karalius appeared in 252 matches for St Helens. He scored 42 tries for 126 points. Despite the move, Karalius would always be remembered by fans and players alike. Alex Murphy
Alex Murphy
Alex Murphy or Alexander Murphy may refer to:* Alex Murphy one of the top basketball recruits in the class of 2012.* Alex Murphy or Alex J. Murphy, the human name of RoboCop...
acknowledged the support and protection Karalius offered him during their time playing at St Helens. Indeed, according to Murphy:
- “He was my loose forward and he was unbelievable to have on your side. If he said it was Christmas, you took his word for it whatever time of year it was — it was Christmas.”
After his move to Naughton Park
Halton Stadium
The Stobart Stadium Halton is a rugby league stadium in Widnes, England. The Widnes Vikings play their home games there as do Everton Reserves...
in 1962, Karalius was appointed club captain. This was a role that Karalius was determined to excel in. Commenting on the move, he revealed the work ethic that was such a foundation for his rugby talent:
- "Some players come back to spend their last seasons at their own hometown club like horses being put to grass. I came back to WidnesWidnes VikingsWidnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
determined to give 100% effort."
In his first season at Widnes, he helped his hometown team finish third in the Championship, which equalled the club's best league placing. The following season, saw him lead his team to Wembley
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
, where Widnes
Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
were Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
winners after they defeated Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...
13 points to 5. This was the "Chemics" first trophy success in eighteen years. In 1966 he announced his retirement.
International career and the "Battle of Brisbane"
At 25, Karalius was selected to make the 1958 Tour to Australia - a tour that would go down in rugby league history. It was during the Battle of BrisbaneBrisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
in 1958, when Alan Prescott led the Lions to victory with a broken arm that the Karalius "hardman" status was well and truly enshrined. With Prescott in agony with a broken arm, Karalius was also in trouble with an injury to his back. Tour Manager Tom Mitchell recalls in his book, The Memories and Sporting Life of Tom Mitchell:
- “The team went out with Karalius at the far side of the dressing room still on the bench. "Vinty we are out. Come on" "Sorry, Thomas, can't - it's me back". I got in behind him and did enough to get him standing up. Slowly across the room to the sunlit opening leading to the pitch - then a step or two and like a boxer getting up after a knockdown, he teetered with a push onto the arena, gaining movement with every stride. Without him on the field the position was the same as the captain - certain defeat. How he stood up to the first ten minutes I will never know as my eyes steered their gaze from him to Prescott. As I write this 39 years on I permit myself a heartfelt "Phew! No Ashes! No basking in the future unending sunshine of happening to be there as Team Manager".
During this tour one Australian was moved to write:
- "Long-jawed Vince Karalius, the wild bull of the Pampas, is a dedicated wrecker of Australian forwards."
Thereafter, the nickname stuck and Karalius was firmly embedded in the sporting public’s conscience as what a rugby league forward should represent.
Karalius represented his country 10 times in his time with the Saints. He also won five Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
caps.
Retirement
Six years after he retired from playing Karalius returned to WidnesWidnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
- as coach. Karalius imposed onto the club his own values and visions - fitness, determination and winning. He aimed to turn the club into a force, a vision that was achieved as early as 1974/75. First Salford
Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...
were beaten in the Lancashire Cup
Rugby league county cups
Historically, British rugby league clubs competed for the Lancashire Cup and the Yorkshire Cup, known collectively as the county cups. The leading rugby clubs in Yorkshire had played in a cup competition for several years prior to the schism of 1895...
Final and then rivals Warrington
Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
were defeated in the Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
. This was the first time in their history that Widnes had recorded two trophies in the same season.
At his zenith
Zenith
The zenith is an imaginary point directly "above" a particular location, on the imaginary celestial sphere. "Above" means in the vertical direction opposite to the apparent gravitational force at that location. The opposite direction, i.e...
, Karalius, stepped down once from his role as coach. He returned to the club for a short spell in 1983/84 leading a strong Widnes side that included future greats such as Joe Lydon and Andy Gregory
Andy Gregory
Andrew "Andy" Gregory is an English former rugby league footballer. A Great Britain international representative /, he is an inductee of the Wigan Hall of Fame...
to a Wembley success over Wigan.
Karalius was also one of the original thirteen former Widnes players inducted into The Widnes Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame
A hall of fame, wall of fame, walk of fame, walk of stars or avenue of stars is a type of attraction established for any field of endeavor to honor individuals of noteworthy achievement in that field...
in 1992.
After retiring from rugby league, Karalius forged a successful business. He was a resident of the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
.