NOT many people can say they’ve played footy with a rugby league Immortal, but Port Macquarie’s Ray Budnick can.
Budnick had the chance to catch up with his old mate Bob Fulton when the Continuous Call Team hit town last weekend.
Budnick took to the park with Fulton during a stint in the army in the late 1960s, and didn’t miss an opportunity to have a chat with the rugby league Immortal on the Town Green. Budnick met Fulton during his training to be a physical instructor, and was in awe of not only the the Manly legend’s playing ability, but also his nature off the field.
“We got along pretty well,” Budnick said. “We used to go out to the pub, but Bob never drank, so he drove us all around.”
Budnick played in a star-studded North Head artillery side that also included St George’s Col Rasmussen and Balmain Tigers five-eighth Keith Howton.
But it was Fulton who Budnick was most in awe of.
“He was just unreal,” Budnick said. “You don’t realise how slow he could make things go. He'd kick a field goal from anywhere, it didn’t matter.”
Fulton also taught the players around him so much about the game.
“He taught blokes a lot,” Budnick said. “He didn’t just play the game.”
