Growing up in the 1960s in Dubbo, Les Davidson could always be found running side-by-side with his brother Larry. They'd go fishing together, catch rabbits, play sports and run free before being called in to dinner by their mum. But there was one thing they couldn't agree on as kids; who to support in Rugby League.
Larry Davidson was a fan of the St George Dragons as a kid, while Les didn't particularly care for the Red V. But fast forward 20 years, as Les would run out wearing the Cardinal and Myrtle of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, he'd always remember his brother's fondness for the Dragons.
Although Larry would go on to make his name in the Newcastle Basketball scene. Naturally, 'Bundy' always wanted to get one over the Dragons so he could give it to his brother the next time they saw each other.
"My brother was a St George supporter as a kid, and not that we watched a lot of football, but he loved St George. I think that was my mindset - he loved them, and I wanted to play well against them," smiles Davidson.
"We were right into our fishing and rabbit-trapping and all the rest. We were country boys, so dinnertime we were probably all over the place. I certainly still watch Rugby League - not as much as I'd like to - and I'm sure he does too. He's out in the country still.
"Rugby League was just something I did. The police boys (PCYC) came to my school as a young bloke and said, "we're starting a club side" and they needed kids to play and they just lined us up against the wall and they picked individuals.
"I made the team, the B-team, so that's where my footy love started."
The Rabbitohs of the 1980s suited Les Davidson's playing style perfectly. An aggressive and large forward pack would lay the platform for their skilful backs to score. It was a method that helped elevate Davidson into the Kangaroos' 1986 Tour and earn him a position with the NSW Blues in 1987.
"We pretty much based our game on aggression - certainly in the forward packs. We had a couple of quality backs that finished off our plays. I was just talking to Brucey Longbottom before and he had an exceptional year in '89. Him and Blakey and young Adam O'Neill had a good year that year.
Characteristically, Les doesn't like to talk himself up. He's an easy going, humble bloke who loves his fishing and works at Port Botany. But former South coach John Lang can do the talking for Les, describing him as a player who "could give it and take it" in an interview with The Sunday Mail's Robert Craddock in 2011.
"Les Davidson. He could give it and take it. If someone got Les, he never whinged. Some blokes could give it but when they copped it back they would whinge like a stuck pig," recalls Lang.
'Bundy' remembers the hard work and glory of playing at the Rabbitohs. It was the feeling of mateship that he got at Souths that he counts among some of his best memories.
Those memories are something he's hoping the current squad are making now.
"Mateship pretty much. We trained really hard, we had a couple of hard trainers. We trained hard, played hard and certainly enjoyed our time off the field as well," said Davidson.
"I'd say the same to the boys today: play hard, train hard and certainly enjoy yourselves. I think they're under the microscope much more than we were. If they can avoid the limelight and enjoy themselves that'd be good."
