Frank Burge
Encyclopedia
Frank 'Chunky' Burge was one of the greatest forwards in the history of rugby league in Australia. Later he was one of the game's finest coaches.
His club career was with Glebe and the St. George Dragons
. He represented New South Wales
on eighteen occasions. He played thirteen Tests for the Kangaroos and played for Australia in a further twenty-three tour matches.
He debuted for Australia in the domestic 1914 Ashes series against Great Britain appearing in all three Tests, and on the 1919 tour of New Zealand
in all four tests. Again in 1920 he appeared in all three Tests of the domestic Ashes
series and then was selected on the 1921–22 Kangaroo tour where he played in all three tests and twenty representative tour matches scoring 33 tries in 23 matches, more than any touring forward before or since. Burge's representative record shows him appearing in every single Australian Test match played in the war-interrupted eight year period between 1914 and 1922.
season, he was the League's top point scorer.
He holds the standing record for tries in a match set when he scored eight in a club match for Glebe in 1920. His career tally of 146 first grade tries stood for eighty years as the highest by a forward until Steven Menzies
broke it in 2004. He maintained an average of a try a game for seventeen seasons scoring 218 tries in 213 senior matches with 146 coming from his 154 Sydney first grade matches. That try-scoring tally today stands at eighth on an all-time list dominated by backs.
In 2004 he was admitted into the Australian Rugby League
Hall of Fame.
In February 2008, Frank Burge 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. Burge went on to be named as an interchange player 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 2008 New South Wales announced their rugby league team of the century, naming Burge at prop.
The Heads/Middleton reference quotes his colleague and former University rival Dick O'Brien who said on Burge's death in 1958: "May I say, as Anthony did of Caesar: his life was gentle, the elements so mixed in him that nature might stand up and say to all the world "This was a man" '.
His club career was with Glebe and 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,...
. He represented 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...
on eighteen occasions. He played thirteen Tests for the Kangaroos and played for Australia in a further twenty-three tour matches.
Club and representative career
Frank was a sensation as a teenager and played 1st grade rugby union at age 14, the youngest ever to play senior football in either code. Upon switching to the professional code, Frank was playing first grade for Glebe at age 16 and was selected for the state at age 18.He debuted for Australia in the domestic 1914 Ashes series against Great Britain appearing in all three Tests, and on the 1919 tour of New Zealand
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...
in all four tests. Again in 1920 he appeared in all three Tests of the domestic Ashes
Rugby League Ashes
The Ashes is the name given to the trophy awarded to the winner of a best-of-three series of rugby league football test series between Great Britain and Australia...
series and then was selected on the 1921–22 Kangaroo tour where he played in all three tests and twenty representative tour matches scoring 33 tries in 23 matches, more than any touring forward before or since. Burge's representative record shows him appearing in every single Australian Test match played in the war-interrupted eight year period between 1914 and 1922.
Records and accolades
He was the NSW Rugby Football League's top try-scorer in 1915, 1916 and 1918 an extremely rare feat in even one year for a forward. In the 1920New South Wales Rugby Football League season 1920
The 1920 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the thirteenth season of Sydney's professional rugby league football club competition, Australia's first. The introduction of a Sydney University side saw nine teams from across the city contest during he season. Balmain were crowned...
season, he was the League's top point scorer.
He holds the standing record for tries in a match set when he scored eight in a club match for Glebe in 1920. His career tally of 146 first grade tries stood for eighty years as the highest by a forward until Steven Menzies
Steven Menzies
Steven "Steve" Menzies is an Australian professional rugby league footballer best known for his stellar career with the Manly Sea Eagles. He currently plays for the Catalans Dragons of the European Super League after agreeing a one-year deal which will be his final season in his professional...
broke it in 2004. He maintained an average of a try a game for seventeen seasons scoring 218 tries in 213 senior matches with 146 coming from his 154 Sydney first grade matches. That try-scoring tally today stands at eighth on an all-time list dominated by backs.
In 2004 he was admitted into the Australian Rugby League
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...
Hall of Fame.
In February 2008, Frank Burge 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. Burge went on to be named as an interchange player 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 2008 New South Wales announced their rugby league team of the century, naming Burge at prop.
The man and his playing style
At 93 kg and equally effective anywhere in the forwards from lock to prop, he had the speed of a back to complement his strength and an anticipation that made him a support player without peer. He was a teetotaller who was way ahead of his time in observing a strict diet, he used coaching concepts familiar in modern sports psychology and upheld an all-year training regime that continued right through the long Sydney summer off-season.The Heads/Middleton reference quotes his colleague and former University rival Dick O'Brien who said on Burge's death in 1958: "May I say, as Anthony did of Caesar: his life was gentle, the elements so mixed in him that nature might stand up and say to all the world "This was a man" '.
Sources
- Andrews, Malcolm (2006) The ABC of Rugby League, Austn Broadcasting Corpn, Sydney
- Whiticker, AlanAlan WhitickerAlan J. Whiticker is an Australian non-fiction author with currently over 30 published books.Whiticker writes primarily on matters pertaining to the history of the sport of rugby league in Australia, but has also published works on subjects as diverse as the Wanda Beach Murders and an adaptation...
(2004) Captaining the Kangaroos, New Holland, Sydney - Whiticker, AlanAlan WhitickerAlan J. Whiticker is an Australian non-fiction author with currently over 30 published books.Whiticker writes primarily on matters pertaining to the history of the sport of rugby league in Australia, but has also published works on subjects as diverse as the Wanda Beach Murders and an adaptation...
& Hudson, Glen (2006) The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players, Gavin Allen Publishing, Sydney - Whiticker, AlanAlan WhitickerAlan J. Whiticker is an Australian non-fiction author with currently over 30 published books.Whiticker writes primarily on matters pertaining to the history of the sport of rugby league in Australia, but has also published works on subjects as diverse as the Wanda Beach Murders and an adaptation...
& Collis, Ian (2006) The History of Rugby League Clubs, New Holland, Sydney - Heads, Ian & Middleton, David (2008) A Centenary of Rugby League, MacMillan, Sydney.
- Howell, Max (2005) Born to Lead: Wallaby Test Captains, Celebrity Books, Auckland, NZ.