Peter Banner RIP

It was with much sadness that the club learnt today of the passing of former player Peter Banner.

Banner, who was best known for his playing days at Salford, had a short spell at Leeds in the late 1970s. Born and raised in Rochdale he signed professional terms with Salford in 1967.

Banner played in three consecutive Lancashire Cup finals with Salford. He scored a try in Salford's 25–11 victory over Swinton in the 1972 Final at Wilderspool. He also played in the 9–19 defeat by Wigan in the 1973 Final and played in the 2–6 defeat by Widnes in the 1974 Final at Central Park.  He was a key part of the Salford team that won the 1973-74 First Division Championship.

Banner played in Salford's 7–12 defeat by Leeds in the 1973 Player's No.6 Trophy Final at Fartown. Banner appeared for Salford in a 0–0 draw against Warrington in the 1974 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final at The Willows and also played in the replay held at Wilderspool, which Salford won 10–5.

Unlike most players of his era, who stayed with Salford to the end, or very close to the end of their careers, Peter’s came to its conclusion rather more quickly with his transfer to Featherstone Rovers, as part of a player exchange with Rovers’ scrum half, Steve Nash.

This was a quite remarkable transaction as it saw the exchange of the then current, England international scrum half, with the then current, Wales scrum half, at a time when the Welsh team, Banner, was a really significant factor on the international stage.

Leeds coach Syd Hynes had hoped to secure Banner from Salford but did not miss out a second time when he persuaded the Leeds board to sign Banner from Rovers in 1976. He made 24 appearances for Leeds, making his debut on 22nd August 1976 at Odsal against Bradford, earning the heritage number 1075.

Speaking back in 2020, Banner said, “Syd Hynes, the Leeds coach had tried to sign me from Salford, but Featherstone had beaten them to it.  Eventually being signed by Leeds was the best thing that could have happened to me, at that time, and I loved every minute of it there."

During the 1975 World Cup Peter had made an impact with St George and Parramatta and had discussions with them that did not materialise.  In the early part of 1977, however, whilst still at Leeds, he received an offer from Newcastle NSW. It had been his ambition to return and play in Australia and now, aged twenty-eight, this was his chance. Terms were agreed between Newcastle and Leeds, and Peter was contracted to begin the following season with Newcastle, in April 1977.

In the March of that year, however, Leeds we got to the Final of the Challenge Cup, beating St Helens at Wigan in the semi final, and wanting Peter to be involved in the Final, at Wembley, Leeds had booked his flights to return from Australia and play.  The Rugby League, however, ruled that he was no longer a Leeds player and could not play.

Leeds, nevertheless, went on to defeat Widnes in the Final, and win the Challenge Cup, and the Leeds Club responded by sending Peter his Wembley Cup Winners Medal as he had played in every round up to leaving for Australia.  Not only this Syd Hynes sent him his £300 winning pay as well!

Peter kept in touch with Hynes when he moved to Perth in Australia until Hynes passed away in December last year. In a relatively short but successful time at Leeds, Peter added both the Yorkshire Cup, and Challenge Cup Winners Medals to those he had won at Salford, making a complete collection of English Rugby League Silverware.

Having emigrated to Australia, he played his last game for Coffs Harbour in 1986, thus ending  a twenty-one year career.

On behalf of everyone connected to the Rhinos, we would like to pass on our deepest condolences to Peter's family and friends at this time.