Brian Carlson
Encyclopedia
Brian Carlson was an Australian professional rugby league
footballer of the 1950s and 60s. He was a centre & utility back for the Australia national team. He played in 17 Tests and 6 World Cup games between 1952 and 1961, as captain on 2 occasions. He is considered one of the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century.
. He represented at district junior cricket, played 1st Grade cricket with the Wickham club in Newcastle and was also a surf lifesaving competitor. After playing rugby league at school he was graded by the Norths Newcastle club in 1951. At age 18 he was selected to represent Newcastle against the touring French side.
In 1952 he scored two tries on representative debut for Country Firsts. He represented for New South Wales
that same season against Queensland
in the 2nd game of the interstate series and then against the touring New Zealanders
.
He was selected in the 1952–53 Kangaroo tour
as a winger. He played in two Tests against England, one against France and in sixteen minor tour games. He was highest try-scorer on the tour returning with a tally of twenty-nine.
In 1954 a rib injury rupturing his kidney threatened both his career and his life. He was close to death but recovered and sat out the 1955 season to recuperate. He returned to the field in 1956 and 1957 accepting positions as player-coach firstly with Souths Newcastle then with Blackall
in Central Queensland.
He was selected in the 1957 World Cup
squad despite not being contracted to a club, having left Blackall in dispute over a release. This return to representative rugby league at age 24 saw him rise to new heights. He played in three matches of the tournament, was top scorer with 28 points and named "Player of the 1957 World Cup". He also played in all three Tests in 1957 against the visiting Great Britain side.
Carlson signed a contract with the North Sydney Bears
where he would stay for six years.
Carlson was named Australian captain in the first Test of 1959 against New Zealand.
He toured with the 1959–60 Kangaroos playing in 24 matches including two Tests and was the tour's second highest scorer behind Keith Barnes
his selection rival for the fullback position.
He was the leading point scorer for Australia in the 1960 World Cup
. His second honour as Australian captain came in the first Test of the 1961 tour of New Zealand. Keith Barnes
was the Kangarooo captain for the 11 matches between Carlson's captaincy appearances.
He returned to Newcastle's Souths club in 1963 as captain-coach for three seasons.
In 2005 Carlson was inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame
. In August, 2006 he was named at fullback in the North Sydney Bears' Team of the Century.
In 2007 Carlson was selected by a panel of experts as a winger in an Australian 'Team of the 50s'.
In February 2008, Carlson was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players (1908–2007) which was commissioned by the NRL
and ARL
to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia.
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...
footballer of the 1950s and 60s. He was a centre & utility back for the Australia national team. He played in 17 Tests and 6 World Cup games between 1952 and 1961, as captain on 2 occasions. He is considered one of the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century.
Playing career
Carlson was a naturally gifted athlete raised in Newcastle, New South WalesNewcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
. He represented at district junior cricket, played 1st Grade cricket with the Wickham club in Newcastle and was also a surf lifesaving competitor. After playing rugby league at school he was graded by the Norths Newcastle club in 1951. At age 18 he was selected to represent Newcastle against the touring French side.
In 1952 he scored two tries on representative debut for Country Firsts. He represented for 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...
that same season against 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 the 2nd game of the interstate series and then against the touring New Zealanders
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
.
He was selected in the 1952–53 Kangaroo tour
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...
as a winger. He played in two Tests against England, one against France and in sixteen minor tour games. He was highest try-scorer on the tour returning with a tally of twenty-nine.
Blackall, Queensland
-External links:*...
in Central Queensland.
He was selected in the 1957 World Cup
1957 Rugby League World Cup
The second Rugby League World Cup was held in Australia in 1957. As before a group stage was held first, with matches being held at locations in Sydney and Brisbane....
squad despite not being contracted to a club, having left Blackall in dispute over a release. This return to representative rugby league at age 24 saw him rise to new heights. He played in three matches of the tournament, was top scorer with 28 points and named "Player of the 1957 World Cup". He also played in all three Tests in 1957 against the visiting Great Britain side.
Carlson signed a contract with the North Sydney Bears
North Sydney Bears
The North Sydney Bears are an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales. They currently compete in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League following the 1999 NRL season after 92 years of top-grade competition. The Bears are based on...
where he would stay for six years.
Carlson was named Australian captain in the first Test of 1959 against New Zealand.
He toured with the 1959–60 Kangaroos playing in 24 matches including two Tests and was the tour's second highest scorer behind Keith Barnes
Keith Barnes
William Keith Barnes OAM is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He was a fullback for the Australian national team and for the Balmain Tigers. He played in 14 Tests between 1959 and 1966, as national captain on 12 occasions. He was known as "Golden Boots" due to his...
his selection rival for the fullback position.
He was the leading point scorer for Australia in the 1960 World Cup
1960 Rugby League World Cup
The 1960 Rugby League World Cup was the third staging of the tournament and the first Rugby league World Cup to be held in Great Britain. The same format as used in 1957 was used, with a group stage leading to a final table....
. His second honour as Australian captain came in the first Test of the 1961 tour of New Zealand. Keith Barnes
Keith Barnes
William Keith Barnes OAM is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He was a fullback for the Australian national team and for the Balmain Tigers. He played in 14 Tests between 1959 and 1966, as national captain on 12 occasions. He was known as "Golden Boots" due to his...
was the Kangarooo captain for the 11 matches between Carlson's captaincy appearances.
He returned to Newcastle's Souths club in 1963 as captain-coach for three seasons.
Post-playing
After retiring from playing Carlson worked in Newcastle as a tally clerk on the wharves. He died in 1987.In 2005 Carlson was inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame
Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame
The Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame honors players who have shown exceptional skill at rugby league, all-time great coaches and referees, and other major contributors to the game who are Australian...
. In August, 2006 he was named at fullback in the North Sydney Bears' Team of the Century.
In 2007 Carlson was selected by a panel of experts as a winger in an Australian 'Team of the 50s'.
In February 2008, Carlson was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players (1908–2007) which was commissioned by the NRL
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
and ARL
Australian Rugby League
The Australian Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. It is made up of state bodies, including the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League...
to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia.
Representative matches played
| Team | Matches | Years |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 15 | 1952–1959 |
| Queensland | 4 | 1957 |
| Australia | 23 | 1952–1961 |
Sources
- Brian Carlson at northsydneybears.coom.au
- Whiticker, Alan (2004) Captaining the Kangaroos, New Holland, Sydney
- Andrews, Malcolm (2006) The ABC of Rugby League Austn Broadcasting Corpn, Sydney