Vale John Berne

The South Sydney Rabbitohs are mourning the passing of former premiership player John Berne, who passed away on Monday in Sydney, at the age of 72.

He was born John Edward Berne on 14 March 1954 at Andersontown (Belfast), County Antrim, Northern Ireland. He was one of five boys born to Gerald and Mary Berne, who decided to move their whole family to Sydney in 1961, when John was only seven years old. This proved to be a safe move in view of the political issues that were to follow in Northern Ireland throughout the 1970s.

Mr Berne finished his Secondary Schooling at Marist Brothers Pagewood, where the winter sport was Rugby League, a sport in which he excelled. John made the South Sydney SG Ball Cup side and at 18 years of age he approached the Randwick rugby union club to take up his services, but owing to his lack of experience they advised him to play in their Colts side. That didn’t suit young John because he wanted success fast and then went back to play Rugby League with Souths’ Jersey Flegg side. Souths graded him as an amateur in 1972, where he played seven third grade games for them and at the end of that season switched codes to play for Randwick.

He spent three seasons at the ‘Galloping Greens’ and played 41 games for them, all in first grade, scoring six tries. John also won two titles with the club in 1973 and 1974, where he partnered scrum-half Alan Sing. He was Randwick’s best and fairest player in 1973, who went on to represent New South Wales on six occasions, and toured Great Britain and the United States with the Australian Wallabies on their 1975-76 tour. Sadly, he managed only one Test appearance on tour against Scotland, where he was brutally kicked by Scots forwards and played no further part on that tour.

At the height of his rugby career John then decided to switch codes again and sign a contract with the Rabbitohs, which was reportedly worth $55,000. Souths tried to lure the talented centre to the Club previously without success, but this time he had financial reasons for switching to the professional code because he was getting married and wanted to buy a family home. Famed Rugby League journalist Ernie Christensen said this about his signing at the time: “Berne is a fine acquisition for Souths and will be an attraction for their loyal Redfern Oval fans.”

Mr Berne made his first grade debut at the Rabbitohs in 1976 against St. George in their round one clash, to become our First Grade Player Number 610. On the day he partnered Terry Fahey at centre, who was also making his first grade debut. Souths were in a rebuilding phase in 1976 and they were joined by David Grant and Englishman John Burke, as one of the Club’s major imports to turn their success around. In his first season at the Club he played in 21 games out of 22 on offer, and scored four tries. In the four years he spent at the Club John played in 73 first grade games, scoring nine tries and three goals.

In early 1978 John married Anne Hickman, sister of Michael and Chris Hickman, who both played rugby with Easts. She was also the grand-niece of legendary Rugby League centre, Dave Brown.

In 1980 Berne moved to neighbours Easts, where he spent only one season and added another 14 first grade games to his credit. In 1981-83 he played at Cronulla and 26 more first grade games, scoring nine tries. John retired at the end of 1983 season but was coaxed to come back to Easts by their coach Arthur Beetson, for one more season in 1985, where he played another nine games and scored one try. While his professional career did not reach similar heights to his rugby career, Berne gave great service to all the clubs he played for in his nine years of top grade Rugby League.

Two of his sons also excelled in the rugby codes, with the oldest Shaun Berne, proving to be a very capable fly-half/centre at Randwick, who played 63 first grade games for them from 1998 to 2005. In 2001 he played for Bath in England. He captained the ‘Galloping Greens’ in 2004 when they were premiers, and again in 2005. He was also the Club’s best and fairest in 2004, an Australian Under-21 representative in 1999, who represented New South Wales 46 times from 2002 to 2006. Shaun then continued his rugby career in the UK.

His youngest son, Michael Berne, was a South Sydney junior, who played two seasons with the Rabbitohs as a utility back in 2002-03. He played in one first grade game for the Rabbitohs in 2002 against North Queensland in round 25, where he also scored a try on debut. He was the leading try scorer in First Division/Second Grade in 2002. Michael then left Souths to play in England for Salford City Reds for one season. He came back home to play for Randwick, where he played 57 games for them and then finished his rugby playing career in England.

John’s daughter, Mairead Berne, is best known for role in the 2010 Australian film, The Hitchhiker.

On behalf of everyone connected with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, we offer our deepest and most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr John Berne in this most difficult time.