Bill Heidke
Encyclopedia
Wilhelm Gustaf 'Bill' Heidke (1883–1959) was a pioneer Australia
n rugby league
player. He was a backline player for the Australian national team. He played in 4 Tests between 1908 and 1910 as captain on 1 occasion.
where he played rugby union. He played for Souths Magpies and represented for Queensland against the professional New Zealand All Golds in June 1908 when that team was on its return from the "rebel" tour to England. Heidke and the other players who breached the amateur code of principal were consequently suspended for life by the Queensland Rugby Union.
as a three-quarter in the inuagural interstate game against New South Wales
. He switched to half-back for the third game of that series and won selection for the inaugural Kangaroo squad
of 1908-09.
He played in two Tests of that first tour and in 26 minor games. He played in the first ever Anglo-Australian test at Wembley in December 1908 and in the third test in Birmingham.
In June 1909 he was chosen in the Australian side to meet New Zealand in the second test in Brisbane.
In those early days of domestic Tests the make up of the side was dependent on whether the game was to be played in Brisbane or Sydney. To save on travel costs and to engender local support the Australian representative sides were often selected with a major hometown bias.
In 1910 having not played in the first Sydney test against the visiting Great Britain side Heidke was one of seven Queenslanders selected for the second Test to in Brisbane. Heidke was given the captaincy over Dally Messenger
. In that game Heidke became Australia's seventh Kangaroo captain, the first Queenslander to do so and the only man to ever captain Australia from the wing in a Test match. Australia lost the day 22-17.
In 1932 Bill's son Les "Monty" Heidke
also represented for the Kangaroos making Bill and Monty the second ever Australian father-son representative combination one week behind Sandy Pearce
and his son Joe Pearce
. Bill's younger brother Harold also represented for Queensland
in rugby league in 1910-11.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
player. He was a backline player for the Australian national team. He played in 4 Tests between 1908 and 1910 as captain on 1 occasion.
Rugby union career
He grew up in Bundaberg in the Wide Bay - Burnett region of QueenslandQueensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
where he played rugby union. He played for Souths Magpies and represented for Queensland against the professional New Zealand All Golds in June 1908 when that team was on its return from the "rebel" tour to England. Heidke and the other players who breached the amateur code of principal were consequently suspended for life by the Queensland Rugby Union.
Rugby league career
In July 1908 he played for QueenslandQueensland rugby league team
The Queensland rugby league team have represented the Australian state of Queensland in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1908...
as a three-quarter in the inuagural interstate game against New South Wales
New South Wales Rugby League team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
. He switched to half-back for the third game of that series and won selection for the inaugural Kangaroo squad
Kangaroo Tour
Kangaroo Tour is the name given to Australian national rugby league team tours of Great Britain and France. The first Kangaroo Tour was in 1908. Traditionally, Kangaroo Tours took place every four years and involved a three-Test Ashes series against Great Britain and a number of tour matches...
of 1908-09.
He played in two Tests of that first tour and in 26 minor games. He played in the first ever Anglo-Australian test at Wembley in December 1908 and in the third test in Birmingham.
In June 1909 he was chosen in the Australian side to meet New Zealand in the second test in Brisbane.
In those early days of domestic Tests the make up of the side was dependent on whether the game was to be played in Brisbane or Sydney. To save on travel costs and to engender local support the Australian representative sides were often selected with a major hometown bias.
In 1910 having not played in the first Sydney test against the visiting Great Britain side Heidke was one of seven Queenslanders selected for the second Test to in Brisbane. Heidke was given the captaincy over Dally Messenger
Dally Messenger
Herbert Henry "Dally" Messenger was an Australian rugby union and rugby league footballer, recognised as one of the greatest ever players in either code. Messenger, or 'The Master' as he was dubbed, represented his country in both rugby football codes, playing two rugby union tests and seven...
. In that game Heidke became Australia's seventh Kangaroo captain, the first Queenslander to do so and the only man to ever captain Australia from the wing in a Test match. Australia lost the day 22-17.
In 1932 Bill's son Les "Monty" Heidke
Les Heidke
Les Heidke was an Australian rugby league footballer of the 1930s and 40s. An Australian international and Queensland interstate representative forward, he played club football in Queensland with Ipswich's Tivoli, West End and Rialto clubs, as well as for Wide Bay...
also represented for the Kangaroos making Bill and Monty the second ever Australian father-son representative combination one week behind Sandy Pearce
Sandy Pearce
Sidney Charles Pearce , better known as Sandy, was a pioneer Australian rugby league footballer and boxer...
and his son Joe Pearce
Joe Pearce
Sid 'Joe' Pearce was an Australian rugby league footballer of the 1930s and 40s. An Australian international and New South Wales representative second-row forward, he played his club football for Eastern Suburbs with whom he won the NSWRFL Premiership in 1935, '36, 37 'and '40...
. Bill's younger brother Harold also represented for Queensland
Queensland rugby league team
The Queensland rugby league team have represented the Australian state of Queensland in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1908...
in rugby league in 1910-11.
Matches played
| Team | Matches | Years | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queensland | 4 | 1908–1913 | |
| Australia (Tests) | 4 | 1908–1910 | |
Sources
- Whiticker, Alan (2004) Captaining the Kangaroos, New Holland, Sydney
- Queensland representatives at qrl.com.au