 Often used as a "fresh reserve" after the NSWRL allowed them for the first time (previously all substitutes had to be players who had played reserve grade the same day), continued to play until 1989.During that year, he re-established himself as a regular member of Penrith’s starting pack, and surpassed Bob O'Reilly’s first grade record to become the first player to pass the 300 mark (most lists credit him with 303 games but the number is actually much greater because the Penrith club did not count his matches as a replacement player).In the late 1970s, Gerard was the editor of a rugby league publication called "Rugby Leaguer" which was a rival publication to the Big League magazine.