- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Opinion
In my last article I picked at team solely on the basis of the points that they have scored for Australia in both Test and world cup matches (excluding super league Tests) – and quite a team it was too.
Unfortunately, not every Test player gets his name in the scorebook, and of the over 830 players who have represented Australia in tests and world cup matches since 1908, over 250 didn’t score a single point.
Here’s a team picked from the pointless, where the criteria are that the player is only eligible for the position that they predominantly played for Australia, and the eligible player who has played the most games for Australia makes the team.
1. Laurie Ward – 10 games
Hardly a household name these days, Laurie Ward played only 20 odd first grade games in Sydney in the 1930’s, but represented both Australia and NSW many times from the Country.
2. David Waite – 6 Games
Probably better remembered as a coach, Waite was another player who made his name as a country footballer before heading to Cronulla in 1974.
3. Tom Gorman – 11 games
Gorman was a QLD legend and Australian captain, who was one of the best centres in the game in the 1920’s.
4. John Brass – 6 games
Brass was a dual international and was a masterful inside centre who made those outside him look like world beaters.
5. John Ferguson – 3 games
Ferguson was both quick and elusive, as attested by his 130 first grade tries, and was good enough to be named in the Indigenous Team of the Century in 2001.
6. Frank Stanmore – 10 games
Stanmore hailed from the Newcastle area and formed a very effective halves combination with his Western Suburbs team mate Keith Holman in the late 40s and early 50s.
7. Arthur Halloway – 15 games
Very small but very tough, Halloway was one of the best in the business in the early years of rugby league in Australia, and won multiple premierships.
8. Robbie Kearns – 20 games
Kearns was one of the best front rowers in the game in the 1990’s and one of the first forwards picked for the Australian team.
9. Kevin Schubert – 21 games
Schubert holds the record for most games for Australia without scoring, but as a hooker back in the days when they actually worked for a living, that probably wasn’t his job.
10. Bob O’Reilly – 17 games
The big bopper didn’t score any, but his ball skills often created opportunities for those around him.
11. Elton Rasmussen – 20 games
Rasmussen was one of the best in the game during the 1960’s and won fivepremierships with St George.
12. Paul Vautin – 13 games
Now a fading celebrity and commentator, it’s easy to forget what a great player Vautin was during his long career.
13. Anthony Watmough – 16 games
Quite a surprise to see Watmough on this list as he scored a lot of tries during his over 300 game club career and was a destructive ball runner.
So there they are, not a bad side at all, boasting a good halves pairing, a lethal pack of forwards and some exciting outside backs.
They might need some help coming up with try celebrations, and the coach will need to hold auditions for the goal kicker.
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.