Fremantle Roosters

The Fremantle Rugby Club was formed in 1928 and converted to the Fremantle Rugby League club in 1948. It has been playing in the WA 1st division (NRL WA) for some 70 years now and our club has always relied on attracting local juniors to be the foundation of the club and to carry on into the senior ranks.

While evidence of Rugby being played in Fremantle has been traced back to the 1880s, it was in February 1948 when the Fremantle Rugby League Club was established. The first meeting was held by seven men, at the Park Hotel in Parry Street, Fremantle. Among the men at the meeting were Gordon Squires, R.W. Baguley, W. Watkins, Dr E.R. Dermer and Mr Hudson Taylor. Interest in establishing Rugby League started following the arrival of several ex-servicemen who settled in Perth after World War 2. These men included Gordon Squires, Roy Williams, Frank Baguley, Vie Hodgekiss, Alf Schaffer and Ken Allen. Meetings were held during the 1947 season at Barney Silbert's shop in Fremantle with the goal to establish a Rugby League competition in Perth. It commenced in 1948 with four clubs: Fremantle, Perth, South Perth and Cottesloe.

Fremantle's home ground for its first season was at Hilton Park-not far from their current home ground at Ken Allen field. It won its first rugby league premiership in 1950. The club relocated to Gibson Park in 1952 where it remained until moving to its current location in 1978.

The 1960s and 1970s was a period of great success for Fremantle both on and off the field. The club benefited greatly from the many industries in the area at the time. Most players were recruited from the workshops, wharves and woolsheds that were a major part of Fremantle life in this period. Russell Addison and Brian Wedgwood, who both played for Fremantle in this era, progressed to play first grade in Sydney. From these teams were the names of players who would serve the club for many years to come including Ross White, George Booth, Vic Thacker, Fred Henderson, Bob Sanders, Bob Hogue, Brian Wedgwood and Bob Rosser to name a few.

In the late 1960s, Fremantle adopted the Roosters nickname and the club song was conceived. Success continued in the 1970s thanks to a new generation of local players including Alec Lockley, who won a record four Brice Trophies, Ray Dorey, Gary Holtham, Peter Slater, Peter Cumins and Don (Rocky) Kurgan. Alec won his first trophy as a seventeen-year-old in 1973 and played a significant part in the Roosters 1976 & 1977 successes. Fremantle had plenty to celebrate in 1978. Apart from being the current premiers and moving to a new ground, the club also celebrated its Silver Jubilee. The social highlight of the year was the 50th Anniversary dinner held at Ascot Racecourse.

Besides celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the club, it also was a fundraiser for the construction of the new clubhouse. The purchase of gold, silver and bronze bricks from members, supporters, sponsors and local businesses funded the construction of the club. Built mainly on voluntary labour and the generosity of club members, who donated materials, the clubhouse was officially opened in February 1980. Apart from being the first licensed Rugby League club in WA, its design that allows members to watch the game from a balcony overlooking the field, has been successfully copied in other sporting codes. In 1980, the ground was officially named Ken Allen Field after the man who played a major role in establishing the game of Rugby League in WA.

Fremantle played in the 1981 Grand Final in a match that and is still talked about as one of the best games of rugby league ever seen in WA. Scores were locked at 28-all at full-time and an extra 20 minutes of extra time failed to separate the sides. With players constantly going down with cramp in the intense heat, both captains refused to play a further five minutes of extra time and the League unable to schedule a replay, a joint premiership was declared.

In the early 1980s Fremantle enjoyed a tremendous home ground advantage thanks to a large and vocal crowd support. By the late 1980s, the game had progressed to levels of professionalism never seen before and came the start of television exposure. This continued into the early 1990s until the Western Reds were formed.

Players are now drawn from a large catchment area that includes the local Fremantle area and the rapidly growing suburbs around Jandakot and Bibra Lake. While many other clubs pursued players for the eastern states, Fremantle has always prided itself on promoting its local junior players into its senior teams. This is still evident today as the sons and daughters of past players proudly don the Roosters colours in junior and senior grades.

Fremantle celebrated its 50th anniversary as a Rugby League club in 1998 and created its own piece of history in 1999 when it fielded a women's team for the first time. Season 2000 saw the first Fremantle player ever to be chosen for an Australian team, Miss Danielle Parker.

Fremantle has enjoyed a resurgence to the top of the NRL WA Smarter than Smoking Competition participating in 6 of the past 7 Grand Finals. In 2012 they were beaten by North Beach at Charles Riley Reserve, and in 2013 once again after finishing the season as Minor Premiers, faltered at the final hurdle to a determined North Beach Team. 2014 saw The Roosters again play in the Grand final, only to be beaten by South Perth at George Burnett Park. 2015 saw the tables turned and Fremantle won their first Flag since 1997, a feat they repeated against Rockingham in 2017.

2018 saw the Fremantle Rugby League Club celebrate its 70th Anniversary, which was capped with back-to-back Premierships against the Minor Premiers North Beach.

Bryce Trophy

• 1954 Arthur Smith
• 1965 Ian White
• 1966 Peter McLarty
• 1969 Noel Williams
• 1973 Alec Lockley
• 1974 Gary Hookman
• 1975 Alec Lockley
• 1977 Alec Lockley
• 1982 Alec Lockley
• 1987 Russell May
• 1991 Duncan Whitchurch

Ken Allen Medal

• 1993 Gavin Jones
• 1997 Kere Perata
• 1999 Brad Baker
• 2012 Samson Graham
• 2018 Delane Edwards

• Russell Addison (1960-61 South Sydney Rabbitohs)
• Brian Wedgewood (1967-70 Canterbury Bulldogs)

• Rugby league in Western Australia

• Fremantle Roosters Fox Sports pulse
• Fremantle Roosters on Facebook