Eric Harris (rugby league)
Eric Harris (22 August 1909 – death unknown), also known by the nickname of "Toowoomba Ghost", was an Australian professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s and 1930s. He played as a wing, at representative level for Queensland and British Empire, and at club level for Western Suburbs (Brisbane) and Leeds.[1]
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Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 22 August 1909 Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | unknown | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Wing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Playing career
Championship Final appearances
Harris played right wing in Leeds' 2–8 defeat by Hunslet in the Championship Final during the 1937–38 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 30 April 1938.[2][3]
County Cup Final appearances
Harris played right wing in Leeds' 14–8 victory over Huddersfield in the 1937–38 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1937–38 season at Belle Vue, Wakefield on Saturday 30 October 1937.
Records and legacy
Harris holds a number of try scoring records at Leeds, including most tries scored in a season (63), and highest career total of tries with the club (392).[4]
Harris also jointly holds Leeds' "Tries In A Match" record, with eight tries scored against Bradford Northern.[5] His sequence of 36 tries in 17 consecutive matches for Leeds is a joint record in British rugby league, equalled only by Luke Briscoe for Featherstone Rovers in 2018.[6]
In 2019, Harris was inducted into the Leeds Rhinos Hall of Fame.[7]
Outside rugby league
Eric Harris became a teacher at the new Carnegie Physical Training College in Leeds, married a lady from Leeds, but returned to Australia at the start of World War II.[5]
References
- "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- "History of Leeds Rugby League Club". britishrugbyleague.blogspot.co.uk. 31 December 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
- "Eric Harris at rugbyleagueoralhistory.co.uk". rugbyleagueoralhistory.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- Smith, Peter (30 March 2020). "Leeds Rhinos' top-10 greats – Eric Harris". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
- "Profile at leedsrugby.dnsupdate.co.uk". leedsrugby.dnsupdate.co.uk. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 17 November 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- "World record mix-up means new target for Featherstone Rovers winger Briscoe". Yorkshire Evening Post. JPIMedia Publishing. 11 May 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
- Daley, Phil (14 July 2019). "Four Legends Inducted Into Leeds Rugby League Hall Of Fame". Leeds Rhinos. Retrieved 4 April 2020.