A Statistical History Of Rugby League

A Statistical History of Rugby League I always wanted to produce these stats as just a way to take my mind off my back injury and help fi ll in my days but I also wanted them to be as accurate as I could make them, so as I found stats I had to cross check them with other books and websites and to try to be as acurate as possible and with various sites and books and micrfi sch fi lms I actually went through every game ever played. there are the players stats in alphabetical order then there is the order of Darren Lockyer on 355 games down to every player that just played 1 game, (1 game is still more than most players ever got a chance to play), then there is the list of games played at 1 club and then the lists of pointscorers from Hazam El Masri all the way down to the guys that kicked 1 fi eld goal for a solitary point, as well as the pointscorers at 1 club, also the tryscorers lists from The Great Ken Irvine on 212 all the way to 1 and at 1 club Ken Irvine on 171 to 1 again, then goalkickers and fi eld goal kickers. then with the club stats I have added in the records for more than 1 try in a game and all the Hat tricks 4’s, 5’s, 6’s 7’s and eight in a game also the most points, tries, goals f/goals in a game season and career at every club including the clubs that are no longer around, like Cumberland who where only in for 1 season. now with these statistics there may be people out there that are either the players or family of the players that the stats are about and corrections may be needed and I am happy for any feedback, but please remember this is as accurate as I could fi nd with the resources I had available, and there is no opinion involved just cold hard stats, some of the sin binned players I had to go back through some 1000 hours of DVD’s and video tapes to find which particular brawl or punch having said that there is 2 of these stats where I have included my opinion the fi rst is for the Golden Boot Award, there was a period between 1991-1998 where the award wasnt given, so I have listed the players that I believe should have won the award, butI took into consideration the RLW player of the Year the Dally M award, the English Player of the Year and various other Awards that were on off er in those years, the other one and I hope this causes much discussion is in the State of Origin Records, in particular the 1987 Series, if you ask a Queenslander the Game in Los Angeles was an Exhibition Match, but the way I see it if it was a joke match why did they send a full strength Team, so with New South Wales winning Games 1 and 4 and Queensland winning Games 2 and 3 the series was Drawn 2 all, I know that with Queensland winning the Last 7 Series it Doesn’t mean much as they have the Series Overall lead Anyway, but as a Passionate Blues Supporter this is a Wrong that Historically should be Righted. Anyway that all being said I hope you enjoy the read and maybe even end some arguments with these stats as much as I have enjoyed bringing them to you and I will continue to do so in the future.

A Statistical History of Rugby League I always wanted to produce these stats as just a way to take my mind off my back injury and help fi ll in my days but I also wanted them to be as accurate as I could make them, so as I found stats I had to cross check them with other books and websites and to try to be as acurate as possible and with various sites and books and micrfi sch fi lms I actually went through every game ever played. there are the players stats in alphabetical order then there is the order of Darren Lockyer on 355 games down to every player that just played 1 game, (1 game is still more than most players ever got a chance to play), then there is the list of games played at 1 club and then the lists of pointscorers from Hazam El Masri all the way down to the guys that kicked 1 fi eld goal for a solitary point, as well as the pointscorers at 1 club, also the tryscorers lists from The Great Ken Irvine on 212 all the way to 1 and at 1 club Ken Irvine on 171 to 1 again, then goalkickers and fi eld goal kickers. then with the club stats I have added in the records for more than 1 try in a game and all the Hat tricks 4’s, 5’s, 6’s 7’s and eight in a game also the most points, tries, goals f/goals in a game season and career at every club including the clubs that are no longer around, like Cumberland who where only in for 1 season. now with these statistics there may be people out there that are either the players or family of the players that the stats are about and corrections may be needed and I am happy for any feedback, but please remember this is as accurate as I could fi nd with the resources I had available, and there is no opinion involved just cold hard stats, some of the sin binned players I had to go back through some 1000 hours of DVD’s and video tapes to find which particular brawl or punch having said that there is 2 of these stats where I have included my opinion the fi rst is for the Golden Boot Award, there was a period between 1991-1998 where the award wasnt given, so I have listed the players that I believe should have won the award, butI took into consideration the RLW player of the Year the Dally M award, the English Player of the Year and various other Awards that were on off er in those years, the other one and I hope this causes much discussion is in the State of Origin Records, in particular the 1987 Series, if you ask a Queenslander the Game in Los Angeles was an Exhibition Match, but the way I see it if it was a joke match why did they send a full strength Team, so with New South Wales winning Games 1 and 4 and Queensland winning Games 2 and 3 the series was Drawn 2 all, I know that with Queensland winning the Last 7 Series it Doesn’t mean much as they have the Series Overall lead Anyway, but as a Passionate Blues Supporter this is a Wrong that Historically should be Righted. Anyway that all being said I hope you enjoy the read and maybe even end some arguments with these stats as much as I have enjoyed bringing them to you and I will continue to do so in the future.

The Greatest Game of All or Rugby League as it is known to some has given me nearly a half a century of pleasure and a little pain. In 1966 at the ripe old age of 6 I was introduced to our game when my Uncle Harry moved into the bedroom I shared with my younger brother in a 2 bedroom fibro joint in Rockdale(Dragon Territory). Harry was playing lower grades for Jack Gibsons Roosters and went on to play for St George in the 1971 Grand Final against my other front rower mate John Sattler and his Rabbitohs. By the age of 9 I had memorized every player in the Big League magazine. The game became my obsession. Even if I had not been lucky enough to play over 100 games in the best competition in the world(arguably in any sport) Rugby League was in my blood. As a Rothmans Medal winner (the official player of the year award in 1983 succeeded by The Dally M Medal) I have always been aware of the history of our great game and its effect on society especially in the northern states of Australia. Apart from obtaining a Law degree at Sydney University I studied the Politics in Sport while completing my Arts Degree at Macquarie University. I believed our game was ahead of sports like baseball, gridiron and basketball that relied heavily on statistics to rate their great players. Ours is a game of passion made for the blue collar working classman relying on guts and determination not on how many yards and minutes someone makes or plays. However as we get older we all like to dig deep into history and see who had the ability and drive to play even one game in the toughest competition playing the greatest game of all. This book does what none other has attempted to dotell a story using numbers and statistics about our great game. It is something every player and fan would do well to study. Stephen Kane the author of this book could be a reincarnation of Stephen Harold Gascoigne, better known as Yabba whose statue stands proudly at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Yabba was known for his knowledgeable witticisms shouted loudly from The Hill, a grassy general admissions area of the SCG. A lot like Yabba Kaney can be found every winter Sunday on the hill at Greenfield Park Albury(or away in Junee, Temora or Wagga) cheering his beloved Thunder to victory in the Group 9 Premiership loudly and clearly from 10 am to 5.30pm. In his spare time since breaking his back 7 years ago he has collected statistics on players in the NSWRL(now known as the NRL) dating back to 1908. The first words Kaney said to me was I have every Rugby League Week ever published as he showed me his EELS tattoo. You got sin binned once in your career at North Sydney Oval in 1983 or was it 1984?? I knew I was in the company of a Rugby League tragic. This study of our game will help all of us who love the game and those of us lucky enough to have played it a better insight into the players of the greatest game of all from the top to the bottom. Written by Mike Eden, who played 110 Games for Manly, Easts, Parramatta and Gold Coast, is Gold Coast Player Number 1, and Won the Dally M award for Player of the Year in 1983

The “Greatest Game of All” or Rugby League as it is known to some has given me nearly a half a century of pleasure and a little pain. In 1966 at the ripe old age of 6 I was introduced to our game when my Uncle Harry moved into the bedroom I shared with my younger brother in a 2 bedroom fibro joint in Rockdale (Dragon Territory). Harry was playing lower grades for Jack Gibson’s Roosters and went on to play for St George in the 1971 Grand Final against my other front rower mate John Sattler and his Rabbitoh’s. By the age of 9 I had memorized every player in the Big League magazine. The game became my obsession. Even if I had not been lucky enough to play over 100 games in the best competition in the world (arguably in any sport) Rugby League was in my blood. As a Rothmans Medal winner (the official player of the year award in 1983 succeeded by The Dally M Medal) I have always been aware of the history of our great game and its effect on society especially in the northern states of Australia. Apart from obtaining a Law degree at Sydney University I studied the Politics in Sport while completing my Arts Degree at Macquarie University. I believed our game was ahead of sports like baseball, gridiron and basketball that relied heavily on statistics to rate their great players. Ours is a game of passion made for the blue collar working classman relying on guts and determination not on how many yards and minutes someone makes or plays. However as we get older we all like to dig deep into history and see who had the ability and drive to play even one game in the toughest competition playing the greatest game of all. This book does what none other has attempted to do—tell a story using numbers and statistics about our great game. It is something every player and fan would do well to study. Steve Kane the author of this book could be a reincarnation of Stephen Harold Gascoigne, better known as Yabba whose statue stands proudly at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Yabba was known for his knowledgeable witticisms shouted loudly from “The Hill”, a grassy general admissions area of the SCG. A lot like Yabba “Kaney” can be found every winter Sunday on the hill at Greenfield Park Albury (or away in Junee, Temora or Wagga) cheering his beloved Thunder to victory in the Group 9 Premiership loudly and clearly from 10 am to 5.30pm. In his spare time since breaking his back 7 years ago he has collected statistics on players in the NSWRL (now known as the NRL) dating back to 1908. The first words Kaney said to me was “I have every Rugby League Week ever published” as he showed me his “EELS tattoo”. “You got sin binned once in your career at North Sydney Oval in 1983 or was it 1984?”? I knew I was in the company of a Rugby League tragic. This study of our game will help all of us who love the game and those of us lucky enough to have played it a better insight into the players of the greatest game of all from the top to the bottom. Written by Mike Eden, who played 110 Games for Manly, Easts, Parramatta and Gold Coast, is Gold Coast Player Number 1, and Won the Dally M award for Player of the Year in 1983

The Greatest Game of All or Rugby League as it is known to some has given me nearly a half a century of pleasure and a little pain. In 1966 at the ripe old age of 6 I was introduced to our game when my Uncle Harry moved into the bedroom I shared with my younger brother in a 2 bedroom fibro joint in Rockdale(Dragon Territory). Harry was playing lower grades for Jack Gibson s Roosters and went on to play for St George in the 1971 Grand Final against my other front rower mate John Sattler and his Rabbitoh s. By the age of 9 I had memorized every player in the Big League magazine. The game became my obsession. Even if I had not been lucky enough to play over 100 games in the best competition in the world(arguably in any sport) Rugby League was in my blood. As a Rothmans Medal winner (the official player of the year award in 1983 succeeded by The Dally M Medal) I have always been aware of the history of our great game and its effect on society especially in the northern states of Australia. Apart from obtaining a Law degree at Sydney University I studied the Politics in Sport while completing my Arts Degree at Macquarie University. I believed our game was ahead of sports like baseball, gridiron and basketball that relied heavily on statistics to rate their great players. Ours is a game of passion made for the blue collar working classman relying on guts and determination not on how many yards and minutes someone makes or plays. However as we get older we all like to dig deep into history and see who had the ability and drive to play even one game in the toughest competition playing the greatest game of all. This book does what none other has attempted to do tell a story using numbers and statistics about our great game. It is something every player and fan would do well to study. Steve Kane the author of this book could be a reincarnation of Stephen Harold Gascoigne, better known as Yabba whose statue stands proudly at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Yabba was known for his knowledgeable witticisms shouted loudly from The Hill , a grassy general admissions area of the SCG. A lot like Yabba Kaney can be found every winter Sunday on the hill at Greenfield Park Albury(or away in Junee, Temora or Wagga) cheering his beloved Thunder to victory in the Group 9 Premiership loudly and clearly from 10 am to 5.30pm. In his spare time since breaking his back 7 years ago he has collected statistics on players in the NSWRL (now known as the NRL) dating back to 1908. The first words Kaney said to me was I have very Rugby League Week ever published as he showed me his EELS tattoo . You got sin binned once in your career at North Sydney Oval in 1983 or was it 1984? ? I 12 knew I was in the company of a Rugby League tragic. This study of our game will help all of us who love the game and those of us lucky enough to have played it a better insight into the players of the greatest game of all from the top to the bottom. Written by Mike Eden, who played 110 Games for Manly, Easts, Parramatta and Gold Coast, is Gold Coast Player Number 1, and Won the Dally M award for Player of the Year in 1983

Since the arrival of the New Zealand 'All Golds' who introduced the game to Australian shores in 1907, rugby league has had a colourful and controversial history. Rugby League Through the Decades is a celebration of each decade in that history; showcasing champion players, countless matches and suburban football clubs, many now gone forever. Including hundreds of images, many never before published; rare memorabilia, season records and international details, this books packs 110 years of sporting history into its 560 pages. Written in the style of 'unfolding history' to give the reader a sense of 'being there' at each historic moment in the game's evolution, the different era's of the game are reflected in the language and fashions of the times, and wonderfully portray the drama and emotion of the 'greatest game of all!'

The Greatest Game of All or Rugby League as it is known to some has given me nearly a half a century of pleasure and a little pain. In 1966 at the ripe old age of 6 I was introduced to our game when my Uncle Harry moved into the bedroom I shared with my younger brother in a 2 bedroom fibro joint in Rockdale(Dragon Territory). Harry was playing lower grades for Jack Gibsons Roosters and went on to play for St George in the 1971 Grand Final against my other front rower mate John Sattler and his Rabbitohs. By the age of 9 I had memorized every player in the Big League magazine. The game became my obsession. Even if I had not been lucky enough to play over 100 games in the best competition in the world(arguably in any sport) Rugby League was in my blood. As a Rothmans Medal winner (the official player of the year award in 1983 succeeded by The Dally M Medal) I have always been aware of the history of our great game and its effect on society especially in the northern states of Australia. Apart from obtaining a Law degree at Sydney University I studied the Politics in Sport while completing my Arts Degree at Macquarie University. I believed our game was ahead of sports like baseball, gridiron and basketball that relied heavily on statistics to rate their great players. Ours is a game of passion made for the blue collar working classman relying on guts and determination not on how many yards and minutes someone makes or plays. However as we get older we all like to dig deep into history and see who had the ability and drive to play even one game in the toughest competition playing the greatest game of all. This book does what none other has attempted to dotell a story using numbers and statistics about our great game. It is something every player and fan would do well to study. Stephen Kane the author of this book could be a reincarnation of Stephen Harold Gascoigne, better known as Yabba whose statue stands proudly at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Yabba was known for his knowledgeable witticisms shouted loudly from The Hill, a grassy general admissions area of the SCG. A lot like Yabba Kaney can be found every winter Sunday on the hill at Greenfield Park Albury(or away in Junee, Temora or Wagga) cheering his beloved Thunder to victory in the Group 9 Premiership loudly and clearly from 10 am to 5.30pm. In his spare time since breaking his back 7 years ago he has collected statistics on players in the NSWRL(now known as the NRL) dating back to 1908. The first words Kaney said to me was I have every Rugby League Week ever published as he showed me his EELS tattoo. You got sin binned once in your career at North Sydney Oval in 1983 or was it 1984?? I knew I was in the company of a Rugby League tragic. This study of our game will help all of us who love the game and those of us lucky enough to have played it a better insight into the players of the greatest game of all from the top to the bottom. Written by Mike Eden, who played 110 Games for Manly, Easts, Parramatta and Gold Coast, is Gold Coast Player Number 1, and Won the Dally M award for Player of the Year in 1983

The Greatest Game of All or Rugby League as it is known to some has given me nearly a half a century of pleasure and a little pain. In 1966 at the ripe old age of 6 I was introduced to our game when my Uncle Harry moved into the bedroom I shared with my younger brother in a 2 bedroom fibro joint in Rockdale(Dragon Territory). Harry was playing lower grades for Jack Gibson s Roosters and went on to play for St George in the 1971 Grand Final against my other front rower mate John Sattler and his Rabbitoh s. By the age of 9 I had memorized every player in the Big League magazine. The game became my obsession. Even if I had not been lucky enough to play over 100 games in the best competition in the world(arguably in any sport) Rugby League was in my blood. As a Rothmans Medal winner (the official player of the year award in 1983 succeeded by The Dally M Medal) I have always been aware of the history of our great game and its effect on society especially in the northern states of Australia. Apart from obtaining a Law degree at Sydney University I studied the Politics in Sport while completing my Arts Degree at Macquarie University. I believed our game was ahead of sports like baseball, gridiron and basketball that relied heavily on statistics to rate their great players. Ours is a game of passion made for the blue collar working classman relying on guts and determination not on how many yards and minutes someone makes or plays. However as we get older we all like to dig deep into history and see who had the ability and drive to play even one game in the toughest competition playing the greatest game of all. This book does what none other has attempted to do tell a story using numbers and statistics about our great game. It is something every player and fan would do well to study. Stephen Kane the author of this book could be a reincarnation of Stephen Harold Gascoigne, better known as Yabba whose statue stands proudly at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Yabba was known for his knowledgeable witticisms shouted loudly from The Hill , a grassy general admissions area of the SCG. A lot like Yabba Kaney can be found every winter Sunday on the hill at Greenfield Park Albury(or away in Junee, Temora or Wagga) cheering his beloved Thunder to victory in the Group 9 Premiership loudly and clearly from 10 am to 5.30pm. In his spare time since breaking his back 7 years ago he has collected statistics on players in the NSWRL(now known as the NRL) dating back to 1908. The first words Kaney said to me was I have every Rugby League Week ever published as he showed me his EELS tattoo . You got sin binned once in your career at North Sydney Oval in 1983 or was it 1984? ? I knew I was in the company of a Rugby League tragic. This study of our game will help all of us who love the game and those of us lucky enough to have played it a better insight into the players of the greatest game of all from the top to the bottom. Written by Mike Eden, who played 110 Games for Manly, Easts, Parramatta and Gold Coast, is Gold Coast Player Number 1, and Won the Dally M award for Player of the Year in 1983