Chris 'Louie' Mortimer

30km - 2:14.00. Golf courses and The Bay. Progressively quicker as I was going, but chalk it up as another rubbish run. Impossible to get out for arvo runs whilst i'm not working and gorging myself on junk food, yes even more junk than normal.

I mentioned Michael Shelley as 'the world's toughest human' a few posts back. The legendary defensive centre, Chris 'Louie' Mortimer is equally tough. Along with Peter Kelly, front row forward and Clive Churchill Medalist, they were recruited to the Panthers to teach the promising young team what it takes to win.

And show them they did, in 1989, Chris Mortimer broke his hand. The Panthers made it to a play off match, Louie removed the cast and took the pins out himself with a drill, and played one of the most courageous games ever. But most importantly, that day set the benchmark for the young talented Panthers including Greg Alexander, Brad Izzard, John Cartwright, Mark Geyer, Brad Fittler, now they knew what it took to win.

The following season the Panthers made the Grand Final in Kelly and Mortimer's final season. The example had been set and their work was done, the Panthers went on to beat the Green Machine, the original salary cap cheats who made the Broncos and Storm look like Mother Theresa, in the 1991 Grand Final.

30km's