You may have some information which I do not have to challenge some of my suggestions, or I may have made a mistake somewhere, so please let me know. Make sure you grab a drink because this one may take a while to check out.
According to the Canterbury annual report of 1973, these players played these amounts of games during the Wills Cup
Chris Anderson 6, Phil Charlton 3, Max Cole 6, Geoff Connell 5, Dave Cotter 2, Stan Cutler 2, Ray Dodd 1, Garry Dowling 3, Les Ewing 4, Grahame Faint 0, Dave Gandy 1, Ernie Graham 1, Graham Herring 2, Tony Herring 5, Les Hutchings 2, Bernie Lowther 4, Dennis Manteit 4, John McDonnell 5, Terry Murphy 2, Bill Noonan 4, Ray Payne 2, John Peek 3, Barry Phillis 4, Greg Purcell 1, Don Rogers 4, Harold Stringer 5, Henry Tatana 4, Norm Thomas 5, Peter Winchester 2, Phil Young 4.
Charlton: Was named in FG Rd 2 & a reserve for FG Rd 6. Not named in any side Rd 4 injured semi-final. So, he played in 1 of Rd 1 or Rd 3. As Noonan moved to hooker in Rd 3, a prop is needed so I am putting Charlton in as he was in RG & most likely the next to get called up. So, Rd 2, 3 & Playoff
Cole: As Cotter didn't play Playoff, I am assuming that Cole was promoted to starting side as centre with Anderson moved to wing.
Connell: Did not play Playoff (flu see DM 16-3) so played Rd 1-4 + SF.
Cotter: Named in reserve grade Rd 1 but replaced Rogers in first grade (see SMH 16-2); named in reserve grade Rd 2,3,4. Played first grade SF (see SMH 12-3 + BL V55 N6). Rd 6 named but did not play as he played in Rd 1 & SF.
Cutler: named in reserve grade Rd 1 & played FG (see DM & Sun 23-2); named in reserve grade Rd2 & 4, reserve for reserve grade Rd 3, not named SF; Playoff started after Dowling late due to car accident (see SMH 18/3); Played Rd 1 + PO.
Dodd: named in reserve for reserve grade Rds 1 - 3; named in reserve grade Rd 4 not named SF; Playoff DM 16-3 says will share 1/2 game with Purcell.
Dowling: named in reserve grade Rds 1- 3; named in first grade Rd 4. named on reserve bench SF; PO replacement in first grade (see SMH 18/3); so, first grade Rd4 + PO & MAYBE SF as a replacement.
Ewing: not named SF & PO, so played Rd 1-4
Faint –named in reserve grade Rd 1 (see DM & Sun 23-2) which refers to Cutler having played Rd 1. I think the story in SMH 18-2 is a player misidentification.
Gandy – Playoff was the only game he was named in.
Graham – named in reserve grade in Rd 1-4, not named in any team SF; Playoff Either G.Herring or Graham to play (see DM 16-3) but McDonnell did not play so both played in the playoff.
Herring G – named in reserve grade Rd 1-4; named as FG reserve Playoff (see DM 14-3). Either Herring or Graham to play (DM 16-3) but McDonnell did not play so both played. Played SF (as a reserve) & Playoff.
Herring T –injured for playoff (see DM 16-3) So played Rd 1-4 + SF
Hutchings – named in reserve grade Rd 1-4 + SF; played in FG SF (scored a try) & Playoff (see DM 18-3 & 22-3); So, SF + Playoff.
Lowther – injured for SF (see SMH 12-3) & Playoff (see DM 16-3) Named in first grade Rd 1-4
Manteit – SF injured (see SMH 12-3); Playoff injured (see DM 16-3) Named in FG Rd 1-4
McDonnell –Named in first grade Rd 1-4+ SF + Playoff, but did not play in Playoff (see Sun 19-3) so therefore played in Rd 1-4 + SF
Murphy – Named in first grade Rd 1-3 (but did not play in 3)
Noonan – injured & missed Rd 2 (see DM 23-2) & Rd 4 dropped (see DM 7-3& Sun 14-3); named in first grade SF + Playoff. Played in first grade Rd 1,3 +SF + Playoff.
Payne – named in Reserve for reserve grade Rd 1; named as a reserve for FG Rd 2 & reserve grade Rd 3 - 4 Unfit SF (see Sun 14-3), not listed Playoff. Played in 2 of Rd 2-4. Named as reserve in Rd 2 & Rd 4 has 3 replacements, so suggest that it is Rd 2+3 & Tatana plays Rd 1.
Peek – named in reserve grade Rd 1-2, first grade Rd 3,4 & Playoff. Named reserve for first grade SF.
Phillis – Playoff injured (see DM 16-3). definitely played in Rd 1,4 & SF. Could have played 1 of Rd 2 & 3 which means that Noonan played hooker in one of those. As Noonan didn't play in Rd 2 & 4 I suggest he was hooker in Rd 3; therefore, Phillis played Rd 1,2,4 & SF.
Purcell – named in reserve grade Rd 1 - 4, not named SF; Playoff (see DM 16-3) says will share ½ game with Dodd. So played in Playoff only as a replacement.
Rogers – named in first grade Rd 1 but did not play (see SMH 16-2), named as reserve for FG Rd 2 + Rd 4; not named Rd 3, Played in SF (see photo SMH 15-3) & Playoff, so played Rd 2 & Rd 4 + SF + Playoff.
Stringer – Stringer was only cleared to play by his English club prior to Rd 2 (see Sun 23-2) so played in Rd 2-4 + SF + Playoff
Tatana – named in reserve grade Rd 1+2 +4; Reserve for reserve grade Rd 3; name in FG SF. Played in 4 + SF (goals) + Playoff (missed goals). As he was reserve for reserve grade in Rd 3. So played in either Rd 1 or Rd 2. Suggest Rd 1 so Payne plays in Rd 2 + Rd 3.
Thomas – Playoff injured (see DM 16-3) so played in Rd 1-4 + SF; named as reserve in FG Rd 4 (see teams DM 7-3)
Winchester – named in reserve grade Rd 1 - 4, FG reserves bench SF injured Playoff (see DM 16-3). Assumed replacement in SF. Missing a back in Rd 3 so I am moving Cole to wing & putting Winchester on bench & starting Stringer in at centre
Young – named as replacement Rd 1 (see Sun 16-2 plan to come on), dropped for FG SF named as reserve. Playoff injured (see DM 16-3). Named to start Rd 2 - 4.
So, my lineups are:
Rd 1 V Norths:
https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/competitions/wills-cup-1973/round-1/canterbury-bankstown-vs-north-sydney-bears/summary.html
1. Anderson, 15. Cotter, 3. Lowther, 4. Murphy, 5. Ewing, 6. T.Herring, 7. Cole, 8. McDonnell, 9. Connell (c), 10. Thomas, 11. Noonan, 12. Phillips, 13. Manteit. Res: 14. Cutler, 24. Tatana, 27. Young.
Rd 2 V Parramatta
https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/competitions/wills-cup-1973/round-2/canterbury-bankstown-vs-parramatta-eels/summary.html
1. Chris Anderson, 2. Terry Murphy, 3. Bernie Lowther, 4. Max Cole, 5. Les Ewing, 6. Tony Herring, 7. Phil Young, 8. John McDonnell, 9. Geoff Connell (c), 10. Norm Thomas, 11. Phil Charlton, 12. Barry Phillis, 13. Dennis Manteit. Repl.: 26. Ray Payne. 27. Don Rogers, 28. Stringer (used 28 as that is the first unused number).
Rd 3 V Penrith
https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/competitions/wills-cup-1973/round-3/penrith-panthers-vs-canterbury-bankstown/summary.html
1. Chris Anderson, 4. Max Cole, 3. Bernie Lowther, 27. Harold Stringer, 5. Les Ewing, 6. Tony Herring, 7. Phil Young, 8. John Peek, 9. John McDonnell, 10. Geoff Connell (c), 24. Phil Charlton, 11. Bill Noonan, 13. Dennis Manteit. Repl.: 16. Peter Winchester, 31. Norm Thomas, 26. Ray Payne.
Rd 4 V Cronulla
https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/competitions/wills-cup-1973/round-4/canterbury-bankstown-vs-cronulla-sutherland-sharks/summary.html
1. Garry Dowling, 2. Don Rogers, 3. Bernie Lowther, 4. Max Cole, 5. Chris Anderson, 6. Tony Herring, 7. Phil Young, 8. John Peek, 9. John McDonnell, 10. Geoff Connell (c), 11. Henry Tatana, 12. Barry Phillis, 13. Dennis Manteit. Repl.: 17. Harold Stringer, 18. Les Ewing, 27. Norm Thomas.
Semi-Final V Newtown
https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/competitions/wills-cup-1973/semi-final/newtown-jets-vs-canterbury-bankstown/summary.html
(starting side listed in RLN V54 N8 p10 in review of match)
1. Chris Anderson, 2. Don Rogers, 3. Harold Stringer, 4. Max Cole, 5. Dave Cotter, 6. Tony Herring, 7. Les Hutchings, 8. John McDonnell, 9. Norm Thomas, 10. Geoff Connell (c), 11. Henry Tatana, 12. Barry Phillis, 13. Bill Noonan. Repl.: 14. Graham Herring, 15. Garry Dowling, 19. Peter Winchester.
Playoff for 3rd Place V Manly
https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/competitions/wills-cup-1973/playoff/canterbury-bankstown-vs-manly-warringah-sea-eagles/summary.html
20. Stan Cutler, 2. Don Rogers, 3. Harold Stringer, 19. Max Cole, 4. Chris Anderson, 6. Dave Gandy, 7. Les Hutchings, 8. John Peek, 15. Graham Herring, 16. Ernie Graham, 11. Henry Tatana, 12. Greg Purcell, 13. Bill Noonan (c). Repl.: 1. Garry Dowling, 14. Ray Dodd, 15. Phil Charlton.
I would guess that captain would be either Hutchings or Noonan as most of the side were youngsters at the time)
Manly:
1. Graham Eadie, 2. Ken Irvine, 3. Gary Thoroughgood, 4. Max Brown, 5. Rod Jackson, 15. Alan Thompson, 7. Johnny Mayes, 10. Bill Bradstreet, 9. Peter Peters, 15. John Payne 14. John Barber, 12. Fred Jones (c), 16. John Bucknell.
Fulton & Hamilton did not play (see Sun 19/3 & SMH 23/3)
Manly used 4 replacements. I would suggest 17. Max Krilich, 18. Steve Symonds, 19. Terry Hill, 20. Mark Willoughby. No numbers listed for Manly reserves or replacements in starting side.
Thanks Ted I'll go through this and let you know I would have made some assumptions and no doubt made the odd mistake.
Unfortunately, with limited information you have to make assumptions as I have too. I have tried to reason them out the best I could.
I'm OK with Rd 1 & 2.
Rd 3 both the Sunday Mirror & Sunday Telegraph say that Lowther & Cole were the centres and the SMH 12/3 states that Stringer an unknown who had been playing lower grades was selected to replace Bernie Lowther for the semi-final so seems likely he would have only been used as a replacement prior to the semi final so I would say Winchester was probably was a starter on the wing and Stringer reserve.
I check the rest over the weekend.
Still on rd 3 The Sun 2/3 lists Rogers & Cotter as wingers and the DM lists Rogers & Ewing but Daily Tele 2/3 states that Ewing had to withdraw due to gastric and was replaced by Cotter. So looks highly likely Ewing didn't play rd 3 unless he made a miraculous recovery. Therefore a good chance the backline was Rogers, Lowther, Cole & Cotter unless there was a late withdrawal.
Rogers didn't played in the Playoff game and his 4 games are Rd 2-4 & SF, SMH 17/3 states that Rogers was injured for the playoff game.
I'll check the rest out tomorrow.