Paul Joseph "Saity" Sait - South Sydney Player Report

Lock

FG Player - 549

Two time South Sydney premiership winner in 1970 and 1971, who also played in the 1969 premiership decider for South Sydney. Sait was also a member of the 1968 South Sydney premiership winning squad. Sait also won three Pre-Season Cups with South Sydney in 1969, 1972 and 1978. In reserve grade Sait won the 1967 and 1968 premierships with South Sydney.

Sait was a South Sydney junior from Matraville Tigers, who played Juniors reps for South Sydney between 1964 and 1966. He won the 1964 U17 Jersey Flegg Cup with South Sydney and appearred in the 1966 U21 Presidents Cup final.

The following year he made his senior grade debut in 1967 Round 1 in Third Grade against Western Suburbs at Pratten Park. By 1967 Round 10 he had progressed and debuted in Reserve Grade against Eastern Suburbs at the Sydney Sports Ground. In 1968 he made his first grade debut during Round 3 of the Pre-Sesaon Cup against North Sydney at Redfern Oval, before making his first grade premiership debut in Round 4 against Western Suburbs at Lidcombe Oval.

Sait a lock in the pathways, moved to centre during the early part of his career, until the departure of Ron Coote in 1972. Sait was a ferocious competitor, who showed his utility abilities, playing from center, five-eighth, lock, second row and then prop late in career.

Sait would play 13 seasons for South Sydney. He would play 213 First Grade club games for South Sydney, which included 165 premiership and 47 cup games. For South Sydney he would play 272 senior career grade games for South Sydney, which included 224 premiership career grade games.

Sait would captain South Sydney on 12 occasions between 1977 and 1978. Having been made captain in 1977, he made his first grade captaincy debut in the Round 1 Pre-Season Cup against Newtown at age 29. A few weeks later he made his premiership captaincy debut against Manly-Warringah in Round 1.

At representative level, Sait originally starred in the Schoolboy Colts matches of 1964-65. So good was Sait, he was selected to play for New South Wales at lock, from reserve grade in 1969 for the last game against Queensland. His debut for Australia was in the 1970 Rugby League World Cup in the first match against New Zealand. His versitility was used in the final of the 1970 Rugby League World Cup when he reverted to center. Sait would play internationals until 1975, playing his last international against Wales at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Sait played 40 representative games while at South Sydney, playing 5 games for New South Wales and 28 games for Australia, which included 16 internationals. Sait has the rare distinction of representing Australia both as a forward and as a back.

Sait played his last first premiership game in Round 19 1978 against Manly-Warringah at Redfern Oval. Injured for the rest of the season, he would comeback and play a few more first grade games like the Channel 10 Challenge Cup final and a Cyclone Tracy benefit match in Darwin against the Northern Territory, before playing his last first grade game in Round 3 of the 1979 Pre-Season Cup against North Sydney at Redfern Oval. After a 5 more reserve grade premiership games, Sait retired mid-season in 1979. He finished his career, a one club player, all with South Sydney.

Sait was awarded South Sydney Life Membership in 1991. He was named in the South Sydney Juniors Team of the Century in 2008 and the South Sydney Dream Team in 2004. Paul Sait is one of the greatest South Sydney players.

Playing - Height / Weight
        5ft 10in / 13st 7lb

Representative Qualification
NSW City

Date of Birth
Sydney - 4th September 1947 (Died - 2023)

South Sydney Junior Club
Matraville

Previous Clubs
none

Playing Career at South Sydney (1964-79)

South Sydney First Grade Debut
1968 Pre03 v North Sydney    (Pre-Season  - 20y 187d)
1968 Rd04  v Western Suburbs (Premiership - 20y 230d)

First Grade
                           Premiership :         ANZ & Aust Championship :              Ch10 / Midweek Cup :                 Pre-Season Comp :                            Tour
         M   S   R   T   G/A   FG  Pts :   M   S   R   T   G/A   FG  Pts :   M   S   R   T   G/A   FG  Pts :   M   S   R   T   G/A   FG  Pts :   M   S   R   T   G/A   FG  Pts
1968    11  10  (1)  5   -      -   15 :   2   1  (1)  3   -      -    9 :                                 :   1   1   -   -   -      -    - :   1   1   -   -   -      -    -
1969    10   9  (1)  2   -      -    6 :                                 :                                 :   5   3  (2)  2   -      -    6
1970    24  24   -   8   -      -   24 :                                 :                                 :   6   5  (1)  -   -      -    - :   -   -   -   -   -      -    -
1971    16  16   -   3   -      -    9 :                                 :                                 :   1   1   -   -   -      -    -
1972    19  19   -   5   -      -   15 :                                 :                                 :   6   6   -   -   -      -    -
1973    17  17   -   2   -      -    6 :                                 :                                 :   4   4   -   1   -      -    3
1974    18  18   -   -   -      -    - :                                 :   -   -   -   -   -      -    - :   3   3   -   -   -      -    -
1975    14  14   -   1   -      -    3 :                                 :   2   2   -   2   -      -    6 :   1   1   -   -   -      -    -
1976    12  12   -   1   -      -    3 :                                 :   2   2   -   -   -      -    - :   1   1   -   -   -      -    -
1977     8   8   -   -   -      -    - :                                 :   1   -  (1)  -   -      -    - :   3   3   -   1   -      -    3
1978    16  16   -   1   -      -    3 :                                 :   4   4   -   -   -      -    - :   3   3   -   -   -      -    -
1979     -   -   -   -   -      -    - :                                 :   -   -   -   -   -      -    - :   2   2   -   -   -      -    -
 
TOTAL  165 163  (2) 28   -      -   84 :   2   1  (1)  3   -      -    9 :   9   8  (1)  2   -      -    6 :  36  33  (3)  4   -      -   12 :   1   1   -   -   -      -    -

SS Cup  47  42  (5)  9   -      -   27
SS FG  213 206  (7) 37   -      -  111 

South Sydney Senior Grade Debut
1967 Rd01  v North Sydney    (Third Grade)
1967 Rd10  v Eastern Suburbs (Reserve Grade)

Lower Grades                                                             : Juniors
                        Reserve  Grade :                     Third Grade :                  Presidents Cup :                Jersey Flegg Cup
Year     M   S   R   T   G/A   FG  Pts :   M   S   R   T   G/A   FG  Pts :   M   S   R   T   G/A   FG  Pts :   M   S   R   T   G/A   FG  Pts
1964                                   :                                 :                                 :   4   4   -   -   -      -    - :
1966                                   :                                 :   5   5   -   2   -      -    6 :
1967    11  11   -   2   -      -    6 :  15  15   -   2   -      -    6 :
1968    13  13   -   3   -      -    9 :   -   -   -   -   -      -    - :
1969    14  14   -   7   -      -   21 :   -   -   -   -   -      -    - :
1970     -   -   -   -   -      -    - :   -   -   -   -   -      -    - :
1971     1   1   -   -   -      -    - :   -   -   -   -   -      -    - :
1972     -   -   -   -   -      -    - :   -   -   -   -   -      -    - :
1973     -   -   -   -   -      -    - :   -   -   -   -   -      -    - :
1974     -   -   -   -   -      -    - :                                 :
1975     -   -   -   -   -      -    - :                                 :
1976     -   -   -   -   -      -    - :                                 :
1977     -   -   -   -   -      -    - :                                 :
1978     -   -   -   -   -      -    - :                                 :
1979     5   2  (3)  -   -      -    - :                                 :

TOTAL   44  41  (3) 12   -      -   36 :  15  15   -   2   -      -    6 :   5   5   -   2   -      -    6 :   4   4   -   -   -      -    - :

South Sydney Senior(FG/RG/3G) Grade Career
                           Premiership :                             Cup :                     All Matches
         M   S   R   T   G/A   FG  Pts :   M   S   R   T   G/A   FG  Pts :   M   S   R   T   G/A   FG  Pts
CAREER 224 219  (5) 42   -      -  126 :  47  42  (5)  9   -      -   27 : 272 262 (10) 51   -      -  153

Captaincy Record at South Sydney

South Sydney First Grade Captaincy Debut
1977 Pre01 v Penrith (29y)
1977 Rd01  v Manly-Warringah (Premiership - 29y)

     First Grade                                           : Lower Grades
Year Premiership(  W- D-L      %) : Other(  W- D-L      %) : Reserve Grade(  W- D-L      %) : Third Grade(  W- D-L      %)
1977           4(  2- 0-2    50%) :     3(  1- 0-2    33%) :                                :
1978           5(  4- 0-1    80%) :                        :                                :

TOTAL          9(  6- 0-3    67%) :     3(  1- 0-2    33%) :                                :

SS   CAREER   12(  7- 0-5    58%)

Suspensions

Year       Grade v           Fine Wk CHARGE
1974 Rd07  FG    Manly          -  3 Dangerous High Tackle

Player Awards

Year  Award
1991 - South Sydney DRLFC Life Membership
2004 - South Sydney Dream Team
2005 - Randwick Council Hall of Fame
2008 - South Sydney Juniors Team of the Century
2023 - Paul Sait Matraville Tigers Community Room - named in his honour

Representative Honours at South Sydney

Domestic                                   CvC / Interstate :                       Tourists :                          Other
                              M   S   R   T   G/A   FG  Pts :  M   S   R   T   G/A   FG  Pts :  M   S   R   T   G/A   FG  Pts
Burge Colts          1964-65                                :                                :  2   2   -   -   -      -    -
New South Wales      1969-74  5   5   -   2   -      -    6 :                                :
Sydney City II       1970                                   :                                :  1   -  (1)  -   -      -    -
Sydney Colts         1970                                   :  1   1   -   -   -      -    - :
Sydney City          1971-75  3   3   -   -   -      -    - :                                :

TOTAL                        12  11  (1)  2   -      -    6

International                                Internationals :                          Other
                              M   S   R   T   G/A   FG  Pts :  M   S   R   T   G/A   FG  Pts
Australia            1970-75 16  14  (2)  2   -      -    6 : 12  10  (2)  2   -      -    6

TOTAL                        28  24  (4)  4   -      -   12

ALL REPS                     40  35  (5)  6   -      -   18

Year Pos  Team                 Versus               Match         T  G/A  FG

1964 Lock Burge Colts          v Messenger Colts    Colts         -  -     -

1965 Lock Burge Colts          v Messenger Colts    1st Match     -  -     -

1969 Lock New South Wales      v Queensland         4th Match     -  -     -       [Selected from Reserve Grade]

1970 Res  Sydney City II       v NSW Country II                   -  -     -
1970 Lock Sydney Colts         v Great Britain      Tour Match    -  -     -
1970 Res  New South Wales      v Queensland         3rd Match                      (Selected but DNP)
1970 Res  New South Wales      v Queensland         4th Match                      (Selected but DNP)
1970      Australia            (1970 RL World Cup Squad)
1970 SRow Australia            v New Zealand        RLWC1970      -  -     -
1970 SRow Australia            v Great Britain      RLWC1970      -  -     -
1970 SRow Australia            v France             RLWC1970      -  -     -
1970 Cntr Australia            v Great Britain      RLWC1970 F    -  -     -

1971 Lock Sydney City          v NSW Country                      -  -     -
1971      New South Wales      (Queensland Tour Squad)
1971 Lock New South Wales      v Queensland         1st Match     -  -     -
1971 Lock New South Wales      v Queensland         2nd Match     1  -     -
1971      Australia            (New Zealand Kangaroo Tour Squad)
1971 Cntr Australia            v New Zealand        1st Test      -  -     -
1971 Lock Australia            v Auckland           Tour Match    -  -     -

1972 Lock Sydney City          v NSW Country                      -  -     -
1972      Australia            (Rugby League World Cup Squad)
1972 Res  Australia            v Great Britain      RLWC1972      -  -     -
1972 Lock Australia            v New Zealand        RLWC1972      -  -     -
1972 Lock Australia            v France             RLWC1972      2  -     -
1972 Res  Australia            v St Helens          Tour Match    -  -     -

1973      Australia            (Kangaroo Tour of England & France Squad) 
1973 Lock Australia            v Salford            Tour Match    -  -     -
1973 Res  Australia            v Wakefield Trinity  Tour Match    -  -     -
1973 Lock Australia            v Dewsbury           Tour Match    1  -     -
1973 Lock Australia            v Widnes             Tour Match    -  -     -
1973 Lock Australia            v Oldham             Tour Match    1  -     -
1973 Lock Australia            v Bradford Northern  Tour Match    -  -     -
1973 Lock Australia            v Great Britain      1st Test      -  -     -
1973 SRow Australia            v Hull KR            Tour Match    -  -     -
1973 Lock Australia            v Featherstone       Tour Match    -  -     -
1973 Lock Australia            v Great Britain      2nd Test      -  -     -
1973 Lock Australia            v Great Britain      3rd Test      -  -     -
1973 Lock Australia            v France B           Tour Match    -  -     -
1973 Lock Australia            v France             2nd Test      -  -     -

1974 Lock Australia            v The Rest           Tour Match    -  -     -
1974 SRow Sydney City          v NSW Country                                       (DNP - Withdrew due to suspension)
1974 Res  New South Wales      v Queensland         1st Match                      (Selected but DNP)
1974      New South Wales     (Queensland Tour Squad)
1974 Lock New South Wales      v Queensland         2nd Match     1  -     -
1974 SRow New South Wales      v Queensland         3rd Match     -  -     -
1974 SRow Australia            v Great Britain      1st Test      -  -     -
1974 SRow Australia            v Great Britain      2nd Test      -  -     -
1974 Res  Australia            v Great Britain      3rd Test                       (Selected but DNP)

1975 SRow Sydney City          v NSW Country                      -  -     -
1975 Res  Australia            v New Zealand        RLWS1975 Rd1  -  -     -
1975 Lock Australia            v Wales              RLWS1975 Rd1  -  -     -

After retiring Sait, coached the Western Suburbs(Illawarra) in 1980 and 1981, winning both premierships, before he would return to South Sydney as coach of the Third Grade team between 1982 and 1984.

Ref - SSFC / RLH p58 / RLL v4n1 p3 / RLL v6n2 p29 / RLR n167 p25 / BTV / BLA-23 p18 / Wiki / RLP


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