TERRY Regan is gnawing on a folded, white beer coaster.

“Aaaaaarn,’’ the old leaguie growls, teeth tearing into the small, cardboard square.

Indents forming.

Tiny shreds, tearing.

Even the schooners on our table rattling until, finally, this 58-year-old larrikin removes said coaster from his mouth, surveys the carnage and laughs: “Yep, that’s exactly what the forehead of Wally Lewis looked like.”

Ladies and gentlemen, please meet the original Reg Reagan.

A genuine Winfield Cup tough who, apart from inspiring the TV character made ­famous by Matthew Johns, also bit faces, punched nuts and spent years toiling through bush clubs like Bathurst Railway, Cobar Roosters, even the Hillston Bluebirds.

Yes, Regan chomped on King Wally.

REVEALED: The real Reg Regan’s greatest stories

media_camera Terry Regan is the real-life inspiration for Matty Johns’ alter ego, Reg Reagan. Picture: Brett Costello

Just as he warred with Rod Reddy, busted Colin Scott and kneed Lord Ted Goodwin so hard in the dusters, well, the Dragons great fronted for beers afterwards in a wheelchair — a towel covering his groin because pants were no longer an option.

And now, in Fox Sports’ Retro Round, this undeniable cult figure for Balmain, the Roosters and Canberra is ­revealing all.

Over beers at his Central Coast local, the Settlers Arms Tavern, explaining a career which sparked that “Bring Back The Biff” phenomenon.

Mate, first off, why bite the ­Immortal, King Wally?

“Simple, he was holding me down in a tackle. Trying to get a penalty. I’d told him to f ... off but then he pulled my guernsey down a second time. And my face, it was resting on his ­forehead.”

So you bit him?

“Yeah. Same with another idiot who put his hand in my mouth. I got suspended but appealed. Even brought a ­cattledog to the judiciary.”

A cattledog?

“It was muzzled, of course. I had this doctor explaining how, if you stick a finger in somebody’s mouth, the natural reaction is to clamp down. Then the doc points to our ­cattledog and says: ‘I’m going to open his mouth, who wants to prove it isn’t true?’”

Did you get off?

“Nah, still got two weeks. Couldn’t believe it. I mean, if I bit him on the arse or tit, yeah, that would be ridiculous.”

media_camera Terry Regan in action during his playing days for Balmain.

But you got 13 weeks for biting Parramatta’s Glen Mansfield on the chest?

“Good reason for that one. Minutes earlier, my knee went in a tackle. That’s why Mansfield ran at me, he knew I was busted. Anyway, we jammed him and, forcing him into touch, my knee got caught again, twisted and I clamped down in reaction to the pain. Truly. It even took a fortnight to get from Canberra for the judiciary hearing because I couldn’t fly or get into a car.”

Where was your playing style born?

“My second game in Sydney, against St George. That game I had my eyes gouged, ears fingered, chest punched, hand trodden on — and all by Rod Reddy, before half-time. Second half, got it all again plus a bonus nut squeeze. Rocket taught me the rules — there were none.”

And your response?

“Wait. First tackle of our next game, I came in with a low, swinging arm. Crunch. Nuts. Rocket got up, patted my head and said, ‘Son, you’re learning’.”

Your reputation grew quickly from there, right?

“Our great supporter at Balmain, Laurie Nichols, had a rhyme for everyone. Pearce, he’s fierce. Beetson, eats ’em. Mine was: Regan leaves ’em bleedin’. One game, I’ve hit Dean Lance and nearly severed his tongue. Blood everywhere. And there’s Laurie running up the sideline screaming: ‘Regan leaves ’em bleedin’.’ Afterwards, I said, ‘Loz, I’m having enough trouble out there. Can you think of something nicer?’”

How many times were you sent off?

“Lost count.”

media_camera Terry Regan on the charge for the Raiders.

Is it true you decked a referee?

“Not on the paddock. And not decked. A ref was carrying on at the pub once and as I swung around holding four beers, he fell.”

Thoughts on Reg Reagan?

“Maybe it’s based loosely on me. Others, too. The Johns boys, they were kids when their dad Gary coached me at Cessnock. So they saw what I was like.”

Ever avoid a stink?

“Playing for Hull, we got fined 50 quid for fighting. So against Halifax, this brawl erupts and our captain Gary Divorty is on the ground, seemingly out cold. I bolt over and say ‘Gaz, what happened?’. He opens one eye and says ‘f ... off Rego, I’m not getting fined 50 quid again’.”

What did you do?

“Laid down beside him. Grabbed his hand too and said ‘I love you, Gaz’. All while he’s screaming at me to f ... off.”

media_camera Terry Regan sits down with Nick Walshaw at the Settler's Tavern, Gosford. Picture: Brett Costello

Your greatest hit?

“First tackle of our ‘84 Panasonic Cup game, Roosters versus Combined Brisbane. Beforehand, I’d had a ­double nip of brandy. Then seven painkillers needled into my sternum. So when Brisbane ran out, every Rooster was in our huddle but me. I’m over by the sideline, screaming about how I’m gunna rip their f ... en throats out.”

And the first tackle ...

“We kicked off, I charged downfield and Colin Scott, who received, stepped straight into me. I dropped my shoulder, broke his collarbone. Almost snapped his jaw, too. Our prop Royce Ayliffe tried to move me away. I said, ‘Roycie, this is my kill, I’m staying’.”

Other victims?

“Kneed Teddy Goodwin in the balls. Total accident, though. Afterwards, he came to the pub in a wheelchair. They’d had to cut his shorts and Speedos off, leaving only a towel over his lap. As I walked over to give him a beer, Teddy lifted that towel to ­reveal a set of purple nuts rounder than this schooner glass.”

Great memories, huh?

“Aim up or get found out. That’s just how it was. As forwards, you’d go looking for the weak link. It might take five minutes, 20 minutes, whatever. But when you found him, yeah ... a hunting we will go.”

THE TERRY REGAN FILES

Age: 58 Born: May 21, 1958 in Cessnock

Position: Forward

Country 1981 (NSW Country player of the year), Balmain 1982 (19 games, 4 tries, 12 points),

Eastern Suburbs 1983-84 (30 games, 1 try, 4 points), Canberra 1985-87 (32 games, 4 tries, 16 points)

NSWRL career 1982-87 (81 games, 9 tries, 32 points)

Hull FC 1987-88