Brian Clay
Encyclopedia
Brian Joseph 'Poppa' Clay (1935 – 1987) was an Australian rugby league
footballer of the 1950s and 60s. He was a five-eighth with the St. George Dragons
during their 11-year consecutive premiership winning run from 1956 to 1966. He was a representative in the Australian national team in 1957 and from 1959-1960 earning five Test caps plus three World Cup
appearances.He is considered one of the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century.
He was graded by the Newtown Bluebags
in 1953 aged 19. He played in Newtown's losing Grand Final teams of 1954 and 1955 learning the ropes against the powerful early 50s South Sydney Rabbitohs
sides.
joined the club in 1959 Clay moved to five eighth at which position he enjoyed most success.
Outside the game Clay was a dour, cautious man, highly-principled and loyal. On field Clay ran stampeding, battering charges like an extra forward and would then set the wider backs in motion with precise passes. His flashier outside backs Reg Gasnier
and Johnny King
benefitted from the opposition defence Clay would absorb on their behalf. In turn he was known for his own punishing defence using a shuddering ball-and-all style of crash tackle.
Clay played 200 club games (183 1st grade) for the Dragons between 1957 and 1967 and played in eight of the famous Grand Final victories. He missed the 1962 and 1963 Grand Finals with broken arm injuries.
A knee cartilage operation in 1967 meant that he played his last games at less than 100% fitness. His 200th and last career game was the 1967 final against the Kevin Ryan led Canterbury Bulldogs
where the aging Dragons outfit went down 12-11 and the record breaking premiership run ended.
Clay stands in equal first place with his St George team-mate Norm Provan
for the highest number of grand final appearances ever (ten).
. He went on the 1959 Kangaroo Tour
of Britain and France appearing in five test matches and sixteen minor Tour games. He alternated with Johnny Raper
between lock and five-eighth during the Tour.
Brian Clay died aged 52 on 2 September 1987 after a battle with heart disease following an unsuccessful heart transplant operation performed by Doctor Victor Chang
. He was buried at the Woronora Cemetery, Sutherland.
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 five-eighth with the St. George Dragons
St. George Dragons
The St George Dragons was an Australian Rugby league football club in St George, Sydney, New South Wales that played in Australia's top-level Rugby league competition from New South Wales Rugby Football League in 1921 until 1998; in 1999 they formed a joint venture with the Illawarra Steelers,...
during their 11-year consecutive premiership winning run from 1956 to 1966. He was a representative in the Australian national team in 1957 and from 1959-1960 earning five Test caps plus three World Cup
Rugby League World Cup
The Rugby League World Cup is an international rugby league competition contested by members of the Rugby League International Federation . It has been held nearly once every 4 years on average since its inaugural tournament in France in 1954...
appearances.He is considered one of the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century.
Early years
Clay grew up in the inner Sydney suburb of St Peters . He played schoolboy football for Newtown Technical School and captained a New South Wales Schoolboys side. He began losing his hair as a teenager and early in his football career became known as 'Poppa'.He was graded by the Newtown Bluebags
Newtown Jets
The Newtown Jets are an Australian rugby league football club based in Newtown, a suburb of Sydney's inner west. They currently compete in the NSWRL Premier League competition, having left the top grade after the 1983 NSWRFL season...
in 1953 aged 19. He played in Newtown's losing Grand Final teams of 1954 and 1955 learning the ropes against the powerful early 50s South Sydney Rabbitohs
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
sides.
St George career
After playing the 1956 country season with Griffith, Clay was offered a contract with St George as a lock forward form 1957. When Johnny RaperJohnny Raper
John Raper, MBE is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He was a lock forward for the Australia national team. He had a record 33 test caps between 1959 and 1968 and played in 6 World Cup games between 1960 to 1968...
joined the club in 1959 Clay moved to five eighth at which position he enjoyed most success.
Outside the game Clay was a dour, cautious man, highly-principled and loyal. On field Clay ran stampeding, battering charges like an extra forward and would then set the wider backs in motion with precise passes. His flashier outside backs Reg Gasnier
Reg Gasnier
Reg Gasnier AM is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach, regarded as one of the 20th century's finest players. He played in the centres for the St. George Dragons from 1959 to 1967...
and Johnny King
Johnny King
Johnny King is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He was a winger with the St. George Dragons for the last seven years of their eleven consecutive premiership-winning run from 1956 to 1966. He was a representative in the Australian national team from 1966–1970, earning...
benefitted from the opposition defence Clay would absorb on their behalf. In turn he was known for his own punishing defence using a shuddering ball-and-all style of crash tackle.
Clay played 200 club games (183 1st grade) for the Dragons between 1957 and 1967 and played in eight of the famous Grand Final victories. He missed the 1962 and 1963 Grand Finals with broken arm injuries.
A knee cartilage operation in 1967 meant that he played his last games at less than 100% fitness. His 200th and last career game was the 1967 final against the Kevin Ryan led Canterbury Bulldogs
Canterbury Bulldogs
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League junior competitions...
where the aging Dragons outfit went down 12-11 and the record breaking premiership run ended.
Clay stands in equal first place with his St George team-mate Norm Provan
Norm Provan
Norm "Sticks" Provan is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. A giant of a man, he was a second-row forward with the St. George Dragons during their 11-year consecutive premiership-winning run from 1956 to 1966...
for the highest number of grand final appearances ever (ten).
Representative career
He made his State and International debut in 1957 and played a major role in Australia's success in the 1957 World CupRugby League World Cup
The Rugby League World Cup is an international rugby league competition contested by members of the Rugby League International Federation . It has been held nearly once every 4 years on average since its inaugural tournament in France in 1954...
. He went on the 1959 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...
of Britain and France appearing in five test matches and sixteen minor Tour games. He alternated with Johnny Raper
Johnny Raper
John Raper, MBE is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He was a lock forward for the Australia national team. He had a record 33 test caps between 1959 and 1968 and played in 6 World Cup games between 1960 to 1968...
between lock and five-eighth during the Tour.
Post playing
Post football he ran his own oil depot contracting for the Esso company.Brian Clay died aged 52 on 2 September 1987 after a battle with heart disease following an unsuccessful heart transplant operation performed by Doctor Victor Chang
Victor Chang
Victor Peter Chang, AC , was a Chinese Australian cardiac surgeon and a pioneer of modern heart transplantation. Born in Shanghai to Australian-born Chinese parents, he grew up in Hong Kong before moving to Australia...
. He was buried at the Woronora Cemetery, Sutherland.
Accolades
In February 2008, Clay was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players (1908–2007) which was commissioned by the NRLNational 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.
Sources
- Writer, Larry (1995) Never Before, Never Again, Pan MacMillan, Sydney
- Andrews, Malcom (2006) The ABC of Rugby League Austn Broadcasting Corpn, Sydney