Vince Karalius played as a loose forward, and was part of the Great Britain squad which won the 1960 World Cup.
17 Facts About Vince Karalius
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2.
Vince Karalius forged a fearsome reputation as a strong runner of the ball and a devastating tackler.
3.
Vince Karalius was highly regarded as a brilliant passer of the ball, often doing so with one of his large hands.
4.
Vince Karalius was one of eight children born to a Scottish father and an Irish mother; his paternal grandparents were Lithuanian.
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Vince Karalius started playing for West Bank ARLFC in Widnes at the age of 15, before signing professionally for St Helens in 1951.
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Vince Karalius made his debut against Warrington in April 1952, and his first try was against the now defunct Liverpool City in that same time.
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Many were quick to focus on Vince Karalius' mean defensive play, but his value to St Helens was evident in attack where he combined rugby nous with delicate handling skills to distribute effectively.
8.
Alex Murphy acknowledged the support and protection Vince Karalius offered him during their time playing at St Helens.
9.
Thereafter, the nickname stuck and Vince Karalius was firmly embedded in the sporting public's conscience as what a rugby league forward should represent.
10.
Vince Karalius represented Great Britain 10 times in his time with St Helens.
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Vince Karalius imposed onto the club his own values and visions: fitness, determination and winning.
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At his zenith, Vince Karalius stepped down once from his role as coach.
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Vince Karalius was replaced in May 1975 by Frank Myler.
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Vince Karalius returned to the club for a short spell in March 1983 as co-coach with Harry Dawson.
15.
Dawson quit as coach in March 1984 with Vince Karalius continuing as team manager.
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Vince Karalius was one of the original thirteen former Widnes players inducted into the Widnes Hall of Fame in 1992.
17.
Vince Karalius was a resident of the Isle of Man, where he died 13 December 2008 aged 76.