Bobby Banks grew up developing his sidestepping skills dodging telegraph poles on the way home from training at Hamilton's Learmonth Park when he was a kid.
It was after winning a first grade premiership with Central Charlestown [the club's last title] as a teenager back in 1949, that he went on to play for Queensland and Australia with and against some of the greatest players to ever lace on a boot including the likes of inaugural Immortals Clive Churchill, Johnny Raper and Reg Gasnier.
Back in 2008, he was recognised as one of the greatest players to have played in this region when he was named in Newcastle's Team of the Century in the halves alongside another Immortal, Andrew Johns.
But perhaps his greatest achievement, outside of his extended Marjoribanks family who idolise him [his name was shortened to Banks by commentators when he played], has been his longevity.
Banks celebrated his 91st birthday on Tuesday and following the passing of Ken McCaffrey in February, now holds the honour of being Australia's oldest living Kangaroo. And despite some significant health setbacks that may have claimed a lesser man, he's not planning on giving the title up any time soon either.
"I'm feeling pretty good actually," he told the Newcastle Herald before enjoying a cup of tea with family at the Central Charlestown Leagues Club.
Banks, regarded as an outstanding, organising five-eighth and wonderful defender by those who saw him play, is just a great survivor according to son John.
"He just keeps on going," John said. "He had triple by-pass heart surgery when he was 55 and twice beat bowel cancer in his 80s. The latest thing with him was a gangrenous toe which we were really worried might get him.
"We thought he might have to lose his leg but they didn't want to operate so they just kept treating it. Then his toe just dropped off. He lost the toe and somehow, it didn't spread. Like I said, he just keeps on going."
Banks was a journeyman during his league career.
After his premiership win with the Butcher Boys, he joined Eastern Suburbs in 1950 before moving to Charters Towers in Queensland the following year. He still has legend status in North Queensland.
He played for Queensland from Toowoomba in 1952 [26 times all up] and played the first of his 15 Tests for the Kangaroos a year later. He played in the inaugural World Cup in 1954 and went on three Kangaroo tours.
But it wasn't just rugby league that held his sporting interest.
Banks was also a fine cricketer and son John tells of the day he led a Newcastle Under 16's representative cricket side against a visiting Sydney rep side with his dad dismissing his rival captain - one Ritchie Benaud.
There was also the afternoon he took on future champion Eddie Charlton at snooker.
"Dad used to play snooker for money as a teenager but anything he tried he was good at," he said. "He was just a natural."
