Allan Fallah

A Canterbury junior with St George Dragons, Bass Hill RSL, then Chester Hill Hornets from the age of 11,[2] Fallah played thirds and reserve grade with the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs while still in high school. After finishing high school, he studied at the University of Wollongong and played three seasons with the Corrimal Cougars and represented the Illawarra divisional team and NSW Country. He then captain-coached the Oberon Tigers for two seasons, also representing Group 10, Western Division and again NSW Country.[3] Fallah came to attention representing Illawarra in the country rugby league championship 1981.[4] He went on to represent Country Firsts later that year.[5]

Fallah joined the Western Suburbs Magpies in 1984, but badly injured his knee in his second game in reserves. He made his first grade debut towards the end of the season, playing in 6 games, but broke his arm in the second last match. From 1985-1990, he was the regular starting hooker for the club. He scored his first try in round 2 of 1985 against Manly, and scored a double in round 23 against Souths. He scored 14 tries for Wests.

The mid-to-late eighties were an unsuccessful period for the Magpies, but Fallah often gained attention for his performances. He was described as, "one of the best number 12s in the game."[6] Coach Ken Gentle said of him, "You can have your Benny Elias. I wouldn't swap Allan for any other hooker in Sydney."[7] Fallah was later named as hooker in the Magpies' Team of the Eighties.[3]

[8] Fallah retired in 1993 after playing for the Blackpool Gladiators in the UK.

After his retirement as a player, Fallah became a NRL referee/touch judge. He officiated in 87 NRL games, 3 State of Origins and two internationals. He was involved in two incidents that gained press attention. In the first, where Fallah was a touch judge, coach Chris Anderson described referee Rod Lawrence's performance as, "fucking disgraceful," when he encountered the officials at half-time of a match.[9] In the second, there was confusion over whether a conversion should have been awarded when one touch judge raised a flag and another did not.[10]

Fallah remained involved in rugby league after his retirement. He coached at the Gymea Technology High School where he taught and represented NSW and Australia in Oztag at an over-45s level, alongside former teammate Trevor Cogger.[11]

Allan Fallah currently teaches physical education at Endeavour Sports High School in Sydney, New South Wales.

• Whiticker, Alan and Hudson, Glen; The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players; published 2005 by BAS publishing, f16/171 Collins St, Melbourne, Vic., 3000