Duncan Hall
Encyclopedia
Duncan Hall was an Australian rugby league
footballer of the 1940s and 1950s, singled out as having been amongst the greatest of the 20th century. He played in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership for Fortitude Valley Diehards
and represented Queensland and Australia. He has been named amongst the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century. Away from football Hall worked as a hotelier and bookmaker, and in his later years worked at the Broncos
Leagues Club. His son Duncan Hall, Jr. played 15 rugby union tests for the Wallabies
Representative
Clubs
. In 2006 he was inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame
. The Duncan Hall Medal, is presented in his honour to award to the best and fairest player in the Queensland Cup
.
In 2007 Hall was selected by a panel of experts at prop in an Australian 'Team of the 50s'.
In February 2008, Hall 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. Hall went on to be named in the front-row in Australian rugby league's Team of the Century
. Announced on 17 April 2008, the team is the panel's majority choice for each of the thirteen starting positions and four interchange players. In June 2008, he was chosen in the Queensland Rugby League's Team of the Century
at prop-forward.
Hall resided in a nursing home at Coolum, Queensland until his death at age 85 in 2011.
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 1940s and 1950s, singled out as having been amongst the greatest of the 20th century. He played in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership for Fortitude Valley Diehards
Fortitude Valley Diehards
The Fortitude Valley Diehards were an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Brisbane suburb of Fortitude Valley.-History:...
and represented Queensland and Australia. He has been named amongst the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century. Away from football Hall worked as a hotelier and bookmaker, and in his later years worked at the Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
Leagues Club. His son Duncan Hall, Jr. played 15 rugby union tests for the Wallabies
Playing career
Hall had a successful 1948–49 tour of England and France as a second row forward and later a front row forward. This gained him the attention of Sydney clubs, who were unable to sign him due to a ban imposed on the QRL at the time preventing interstate transfers of Queensland representatives who had played against New South Wales in the past 12 months.Representative
- Australia: 22 Tests (1948–1955) 2 Kangaroo tours
- Queensland: 24 Matches (1948–1955)
Clubs
- Christian Brothers Rockhampton (1945–1947)
- To 1948 Rockhampton Senior Local Rugby League
- 1948 – 49 Valleys (Brisbane)
- 1950 – 52 Newtown (Toowoomba)
- 1953 Home Hill (North Queensland)
- 1954 – 57 Wests (Brisbane)
Career highlights
- Debuted for QLD & Australia in first year of Brisbane club football
- Won Bulimba Cup with Brisbane (1948–49)
- Member of QLD team to defeat Great Britain (1950)
- Won Bulimba Cup with Toowoomba (1951–52)
- JG Stephenson Trophy, 'Most Serviceable for QLD' (1951)
- Kangaroo Tourist (1948/49), (1952/53)
- Won Brisbane Rugby League premiership with Wests (1954)
- Pike Cup winner with Wests (1954)
- Gunner McCook Trophy, 'Brisbane RL Best & Fairest' (1954)
- President's Cup winner with Wests (1955–56)
- Coached Wests to President's Cup (1958)
- Co-manager Australian World Cup team (1977)
- Co-manager FIRST QLD State of Origin Team (1980)
- Prop Forward – ARL Team of The Century (April 2008)
Post playing
In 2000 Hall was awarded the Australian Sports MedalAustralian Sports Medal
The Australian Sports Medal was an award given during 2000 to recognise achievements in Australian sport.Recipients of the award included competitors, coaches, sports scientists, office holders, and people who maintained sporting facilities and services. Over 18,000 Medals were...
. In 2006 he 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...
. The Duncan Hall Medal, is presented in his honour to award to the best and fairest player in the Queensland Cup
Queensland Cup
The Queensland Cup is the premier rugby league football competition in the State of Queensland, Australia.It is a statewide competition with the majority of teams based in South East Queensland but also including sides based in Cairns, Mackay and Rockhampton.The competition began in 1996 as a...
.
In 2007 Hall was selected by a panel of experts at prop in an Australian 'Team of the 50s'.
In February 2008, Hall was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players
Australian Rugby League's 100 Greatest Players
In late 2007, the Australian Rugby League and National Rugby League commissioned 130 experts to select the 100 best rugby league players in the game's 100-year history in Australia. From this list , a limited panel of experts picked a the "Team of the Century" - a team of 17 players considered to...
(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. Hall went on to be named in the front-row in Australian rugby league's Team of the Century
Australian Rugby League's Team of the Century
In late 2007, the Australian Rugby League and National Rugby League commissioned a college of 130 experts to select the 100 best rugby league players in the game's 100-year history in Australia...
. Announced on 17 April 2008, the team is the panel's majority choice for each of the thirteen starting positions and four interchange players. In June 2008, he was chosen in the Queensland Rugby League's Team of the Century
Queensland Rugby League's Team of the Century
The Queensland Rugby League Team of the Century is a hypothetical team comprising the best players who have played for Queensland to form a team for 1909 until 2008. Rugby league in Queensland was initiated in 1909 with the Queensland Rugby Football League competition, which evolved into the...
at prop-forward.
Hall resided in a nursing home at Coolum, Queensland until his death at age 85 in 2011.