Former Greats - Johnny Mayes /

Johnny Mayes

Johnny Mayes was graded by the Roosters in 1967 from the Bondi United junior club. He made his first grade debut in 1968 but spent a number of seasons as the back-up half to Kevin Junee before taking his spot late in 1971. He would then lose the position late in 1972 and it was Junee who played halfback for the Roosters In the 1972 Grand Final. Mayes left Easts to play for Manly in 1973 where he played every first grade game and won a premiership.

At the end of the season, he would swap clubs with Junee, and Mayes, on his return to the Roosters, would go on to win two more premierships in 1974 and 1975 to become one of the few players to win three successive premierships at multiple clubs. He was an outstanding halfback with an amazing ability to follow the ball and back up his team mates. He scored 55 tries in his 110 Roosters first grade games and was the competition’s leading try scorer in 1975. Mayes was a key player in the Roosters back-to-back title wins and in 1975 his form earned him an Australian jumper. He finished his Roosters career having played 211 grade games in ten seasons at the Club.