Brian Graham (rugby league)

Brian Graham is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s. A New South Wales representative goal-kicking fullback, he played club football in the NSWRFL Premiership for Sydney's St. George (with whom he won 5 consecutive grand finals) and Newtown.

Brian Graham
Brian Graham. 1957
Personal information
Full nameBrian Robert Graham
Born1936
Grafton, New South Wales
Playing information
PositionFullback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1955–64 St. George 114 20 287 0 634
1965–67 Newtown 35 0 31 0 62
Total 149 20 318 0 696
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1959 City NSW 1 0 0 0 0
1959 New South Wales 2 0 0 0 0

Career

St. George

Originally from Grafton, New South Wales, Graham started playing first grade for the St. George club in the 1955 NSWRFL season.[1] The following season the club won the first of what would become a record eleven consecutive premierships, but Graham did not play first grade. However, at the end of the 1957 NSWRFL season St. George had again reached the grand final and Graham played at fullback in their 31–9 victory over Manly-Warringah. He also played for Saints and fullback in the 1958 NSWRFL season's grand final victory over Western Suburbs.

Personal life

Married in 1958, Graham and his wife Lola resided in Sydney, Australia, with their three children; Philip Graham, Kerrin Graham and Paul Graham. Graham has 7 grandchildren.

In 1959 Graham gained his first representative honours when he was selected to play at fullback for the City New South Wales rugby league team in their 37–7 victory against Country. He was then chosen as fullback for New South Wales in two matches against Queensland. At the end of the 1959 NSWRFL season Graham again played for St. George at fullback, scoring a try in their 20–0 victory over Manly. He was the 1960 NSWRFL season's top points scorer, and he landed five goals in Saints' 31–6 win against Eastern Suburbs in the premiership decider. In the 1961 ANZAC Day game against Eastern Suburbs Graham sealed his side's win with a 79th-minute penalty in front of 19,386 spectators at the SCG.[2] In the 1961 NSWRFL season decider St. George faced Western Suburbs and defeated them 22–0, with Graham kicking five goals.

In late 1962 and throughout 1963, Graham had his career with Saints curtailed after being transferred to Korea as part his oil company work.[3] He continued playing for St. George in 1964, surpassing Doug Fleming's point scoring record for the club,[4] but after receiving offers from Newtown and Manly-Warringah in early 1965[5] was transferred to the former for £1,000.[6]

Newtown

Graham commenced playing with Newtown in the 1965 NSWRFL season,[7] and that year took a pay dispute with his former club to the NSWRFL.[8] During the 1967 NSWRFL season Newtown took the club captaincy from Kangaroo forward Paul Quinn and handed it to Graham.[9] This was Graham's last season in first grade.

In 1979 Graham's 19-year-old son Philip started playing first grade for St. George as well.[10]

References
  1. "Brian Graham". yesterdayshero.com.au. SmartPack International. Archived from the original on 5 September 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  2. Otto, Tyson (22 April 2010). "Anzac whistle blast from the past". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  3. jubileeavenue.com.au. "Brian Graham Departs". Dragons History: 1964-1966. dragons.leagueunlimited.com. Archived from the original on 20 March 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  4. Whiticker, Alan. "Brian Graham". rugbyleagueproject.org. Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson and Bill Bates. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  5. "New offers to Graham". The Sydney Morning Herald. 4 February 1965. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  6. "Saints to pay $200 to Graham". The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 May 1965. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  7. "Brian Graham". nrlstats.com. Sports Data. Archived from the original on 1 June 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  8. Goodman, Tom (18 May 1965). "Rugby League rejects claim by Graham against Saints". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  9. Goodman, Tom (12 April 1967). "Graham takes over Newtown captaincy - Maddalena centre". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  10. Clarkson, Alan (25 July 1979). "Graham in for Saints". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
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