Now for my reasons:
Barry Nelson - Rock solid individual, who joined Canterbury in 1950 as a player. He played nine seasons at Canterbury and spent seasons at Gundagai and Wollongong (part of work transfer) and also two years at Newtown. Returned to Canterbury in the mid-1960's where he has served on the committee since. Was involved behind the scenes as part of the 1969 reformation. He was elected to Chairman in 1982 and his elevation to the top spot helped bring the League and Football Clubs back together, provided strong leadership at the top and worked very closely with Peter Moore and the League Club. Nelson was great in tough times and he held the club together when Moore, Mortimer and Ryan were all blewing with each other. Nelson should leadership of the highest order when he twice refused Mortimer a release and said his records would be whiped from the club. He was tough and outstanding during the Super League and Amalgamation talks. He's still a revered and respected figure in the club, who the current CEO said regularly seeks advice and support from. A huge supporter of the current setup with board, management and coaching.
Kevin Ryan - This influence at Canterbury on the field is never forgotten, but off the field is largely forgotten. It was Kevin Ryan that swung the balance Peter Moore's way when the battle for control at Canterbury heated up in 1969. Ryan knew change had to be made and he went about convincing the members with a lot of support. Ryan wanted to sign Lionel Williamson and when the League Club wouldn't give the money, that sparked outrage and controversy. Ryan brought professionalism and attitude to Canterbury when he arrived in 1967. He left after 1970 and he set a great platform of success for the club. If he was named 70-Year captain, it wouldn't have been a bad choice.
Gary McIntyre - A much malligned figure and totally unfairly so. When Gary brings out his book, it will reveal the entire truth about salary cap and the way the club was treated after agreeing to sign with Super League. People will open their eyes and realise that Gary loves the club like no tomorrow and the club was only getting one back after promises from News Limited and other League authorities weren't given. McIntyre came onto the League Club board in 1968. He's one of the original members of the Squash Club at the League Club and got onto the board. The League Club was in crisis at the time as they wouldn't give the Football Club money to buy Lionel Williamson (that triggered Kevin Ryan) and wanted to stop supporting club facilities. McIntyre was up night and day getting the votes for the Ryan/Moore ticket. McIntyre's big move was in 1980 when he became President of the League Club. The club was dead and buried in 1982 when McIntyre put forward a resolution to remove some of his own League Club directors and have four of the seven League Club positions as Football Club appointments. That allowed the Football Club to have control of the League Club purse strings. We couldn't pay our players in 1981-82 so bad was our League Club. If these changes didn't happen or got defeated the board had the numbers to move the League Club away from Rugby League. McIntyre said as League Club Chairman that no player will ever go without pay, no player would have to pay for legal expenses (eg, Bugden & Mortimer) and the League Club will under-write any Football Club losses. McIntyre played a huge role in getting the club across to Super League and as a result netted us $32.65mil from the investment. The move to Super League saved Canterbury. The club was promised four players from Perth and Hunter as compensation for Lamb's retirement and the loss of the four to Parramatta. When News renigged on that Canterbury set about changing the landscape. The criteria was designed to kick Canterbury out of the competition (along with Souths), but the move to Homebush (cash in on the hype) and the retention of our loyal servents got us through with flying colours. We're a better club for his involvement and he should be back running the League Club.
Peter Moore - Much has been written about Bullfrog and he deserves a lot of the plaudits he has received. The greatest strength of Moore was that he always managed to surround himself with good people. No one will ever know how good Moore was, because he was part of a strong team. Moore was the main man behind the 1969 reformation and with the support of Kevin Ryan and figures within the League Club swooped to power. Moore set about the scholarship system in 1970 with Chris Anderson of all people his first protege. He knew it was a big job to make Canterbury a success and he started from the bottom-up, much like Todd Greenberg now. Moore did business in a different way and it was successful on most occasions. He had his blues and made his mistakes. He had steadfast support through within the club that made him successful. When he was in charge and like now with Greenberg you only heard from one voice aside from the captain and coach.
George Peponis - As a Chairman the jury is still out on him and he now has the board that he wants. As a player though a different story. Peponis was a different player to the type of players in the game at the time and certainly now. He was studying to become a Doctor during his playing days and from a Greek background. He was one of the few intelligent players in the game of his era. Peponis rise to the Australian captaincy in 1979 influenced a large and new region of supporters to embrace Rugby League and the Bulldogs. Captaining Australia is a huge honour and Peponis by achieving that status lifted the profile of Canterbury no end. The crowning moment for Peponis was captaining Canterbury to its first premiership in 38 years. Certainly an inflential figure.
Arthur Coorey - One of the shrewdest and most influential businessmen in the Sydney market and certainly at Canterbury. Coorey has been involved at Canterbury since 1975 and has used his extensive business contacts to snare the club many players before other clubs could get hold of them. The classic examples being Bruce McGuire, Darren Smith (return) and Ben Hannant. Coorey had a very close bond with Steve Mortimer and still does to this day. His return to the Board in 2008 has added much experience and knowledge to the current setup and has been an invaluable supporter of the CEO and Chairman.
Steve Mortimer - The eldest of Canterbury's most famous family. The Mortimer brothers were all outstanding players in their right with Steve being the eldest, the most flamboyant, emotional and at times outspoken the stand out. Mortimer played the game the way Rugby League should be played and influenced many people to support the club and played a key role in Terry Lamb returning after his original snub in 1979. Mortimer knew how to rally the masses and this was proved in 2002 when he took over as CEO. His removal as CEO is the lowest act in Canterbury's history. Mortimer could run a ticket with seven dead ducks alongside him and they would sweep the floor. As captain he was emotional and passionate and led the club to two premierships, although admittedly in 1984 he wasn't the original captain. As a player he influended many fans and the Mortimer brothers are the symbol of many good thing about Canterbury. It's hard to just single out Steve as both Peter and Chris were part of the Mortimer legend and both outstanding players in their own right.
Warren Ryan - The most successful and influential coach in Canterbury's history by a long way. Ryan changed Canterbury's approach to football and he took professionalism and application to a whole new level to which Kevin Ryan and Peter Moore had previously set. Ryan made enemies along the way, but he also made very tough decisions. One of those was dropping a slow and aging winger and also took the captaincy off him. Ryan knew what it took for us to win premierships and set about to achieve that with no regard for what others thought of him. He battled against his CEO and Captain the whole time he was there and was still successful. Langmack admitted that Ryan's influence won them the 1988 title and since that time Ryan's legacy has been paramount at Canterbury. The bloke is a pure Canterbury legend and it's absolutely criminal that no coach was named for the 70-year side as Ryan is the only person for that honour.
Terry Lamb - A local junior and played all 13 years of his junior career with the Chester Hill Hornets. Lamb progressed into the Jersey Flegg side and was a star performer in the 1979 premiership. Lamb moved up a grade in 1979 at Chester Hill on the eve of the finals where he snuck them into 5th spot in the last two weeks. He took them to the Grand Final and his talent was there for all to see. Peter Moore and a huge mistake he made at the time didn't want to know him or even grant him a trial for the U/23's, which is all Lamb asked for. Lamb was told to look elsewhere and went to Wests on the advice of a few people - namely Ken Gentle. Wests went under in 1983 and Lamb was on the open market. Manly were prepared to spend all they could to get him and Moore was ready to fix up his biggest mistake. Lamb told Manly that he couldn't join them because his Mum would never talk to him again (Arko said that in his book). Lamb was hestitant to join Canterbury as he's not a Catholic. Once Punchy and Turvey told him they weren't Catholics he signed on the dotted line. Lamb brought immediate success to Canterbury and four grand finals in the time he and Turvey were together says it all. Lamb's stature as a player got better with age and in the early 1990's he was Canterbury ahead of Moore and Anderson. When the 1988 side began to fall apart Lamb stood alone and it was his experience and leadership that guided Canterbury through a tough period with outstanding success. Lamb's standing will always be above Kenny and Sterling IMO because he was able to lead Canterbury in an era of change whereas Parramatta stumbled. The difference between both clubs was Lamb. What happened in 1995 was simply amazing and Lamb deserves all the plaudits for that. The club was totally divided, but in Lamb they had a strong leader and a much respected person. Lamb drove himself to glory that year and players made themselves feel 10-ft tall. Lamb after his playing days has been involved with the club as a coach/trainer, director and club official. He's still having an influence to this day and it's most deserving that he was named captain of our greatest ever side. Lamb is widely regarded as the greatest clubman Canterbury has had by those who have been around the joint for 35-50 years and he's without peer as the greatest player the club has seen.
Willie Mason - A very controversial choice and a very controversial character. How Mason will be remembered at Canterbury is a mystery, which everyday was a mystery for Mason. He got the club in the headlines for good or bad reasons, he generated support and he was recognisable on the field. Mason knew how to draw the masses and the Willie Wig made him an instant headline. Mason's departure in 2007 triggered the change Canterbury needed to make off the field. Before his departure Mason made comment to the Chairman on behalf of the players that the CEO and Football Manager had to go and also stated that the current Coach was his preferred choice as Coach. Everything Mason said later came off. Upon his departure Mason said four players will walkout as a result and they did (Tonga, Hughes, SBW, Maitua). Mason triggered the changes we now have and if it wasn't for him standing up we wouldn't be enjoying the fruits of the rebuilding era we are now enjoying. Mason in some ways is an accidental hero, but will always be loathed and despised. The Mason issue is very emotional and heated, but he did deliver on the field.
