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Frank Stanton (rugby league)
Encyclopedia
Frank "Biscuits" Stanton is an Australian former rugby league
player and a successful club and national representative coach. His playing and club coaching career was with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. He enjoyed success as coach of the Australian national side from 1978 to 1983, being at the helm in the period when the Kangaroos began to consistently dominate the other rugby league playing nations.
.
He made two state appearances for New South Wales
and was honoured with national selection for the 1963 Kangaroo tour
. He appeared in 18 minor matches on tour and did not play in any Tests with the Australian selectors at the time having a wealth of three-quarter talent available in Graeme Langlands
, Reg Gasnier
, Peter Dimond
, Michael Cleary, Ken Irvine
and Les Johns
.
and was in charge for five seasons till the end of 1979. He guided Manly to premiership success in 1976
and 1978
. The 1976 win was a triumph for the astute and powerful Manly triumvirate of captain Bob Fulton
, coach Stanton and club secretary Ken Arthurson
who would all go onto higher honours in the game. Stanton spent 1980 coaching Redcliffe
in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership. Redcliffe finished 5th in 1980.
Stanton was appointed coach of New South Wales
in 1982 being the first year the contest became a three game series. Queensland won the series 2–1 and Ted Glossop
returned to coach the Blues in 1983. Stanton again coached New South Wales in the 1984 series to another 2–1 loss against the Maroons.
Stanton was appointed Australia's Test coach in 1978 and in the next six years was rewarded with whitewash wins over Great Britain
(1979, 1982 and 1984), New Zealand
(1978, 1980 and 1982) and France
(1981 and 1982). His 1982 side also won the first ever Test played against Papua New Guinea
.
The 1978 Kangaroo tour
ists, after a successful 2–1 Ashes
campaign in England, wound up the French section of the tour with egg on their faces. They lost both Tests in France. Whilst the refereeing in the first Test came in for criticism Stanton acknowledged no excuses for the Australian defeat in the second Test. The 1982 Kangaroo touring side avenged the French embarrassment of 1978. They were Australia's most successful ever national side going through the 23 match tour of Papua New Guinea, England and France unbeaten and becoming known as the Invincibles
.
Stanton retired as national coach in 1983 and was succeeded by Arthur Beetson
. Beetson lasted for 1983 only and was replaced after Australia lost to New Zealand. For the 1984 Ashes series against Great Britain, Stanton returned for his final stint as Australian coach. The Aussies won the series 3–0 and Stanton retired from representative coaching. He was the Chief Executive of the Manly club during the late 1980s. Stanton was the interim Chief Executive of the Melbourne Storm
for a period in 2004 and up till 2006 was a Board Director of the Storm.
In 2010 Stanton was temporarily reappiointed as Storm caretaker-CEO following the sacking of Matt Hanson in the wake of the Storm's salary cap scandal. He remained in this role for three months until Ron Gauci took over.
Stanton then moved to Redcliffe in 1980, then to Balmain from 1981 until 1986 where they won the Panasonic Midweek Cup in 1985. From 1987 to 1989 he coached North Sydney and in 1978, 1979, 1982, and 1984 he coached the NSW State of Origin and the City teams.
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 and a successful club and national representative coach. His playing and club coaching career was with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. He enjoyed success as coach of the Australian national side from 1978 to 1983, being at the helm in the period when the Kangaroos began to consistently dominate the other rugby league playing nations.
Player
Stanton was a versatile back who played 129 first grade games for Manly between 1961 and 1969. He started out as a talented Halfback and later played at Centre in Manly's 1968 Grand Final loss to South SydneySouth 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...
.
He made two state appearances 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...
and was honoured with national selection for the 1963 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...
. He appeared in 18 minor matches on tour and did not play in any Tests with the Australian selectors at the time having a wealth of three-quarter talent available in Graeme Langlands
Graeme Langlands
Graeme 'Changa' Langlands, MBE, is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach of the 1960s and 70s. He retired as the most-capped player for the Australian national team with 45 from 1963 to 1975, and captained his country in 15 Test matches and World Cup games. Langlands was the...
, 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...
, Peter Dimond
Peter Dimond
Peter Dimond is a former Australian rugby league footballer who played his club rugby league for the Western Suburbs Magpies. Born in born in Dapto, New South Wales, he is the younger brother of Bobby Dimond...
, Michael Cleary, Ken Irvine
Ken Irvine
Kenneth John Irvine was an Australian rugby league footballer of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. He holds the standing record for the most number of tries in a first-grade career – 212. No other player has yet managed 200 tries in their career, apart from Steve Menzies who has scored 216...
and Les Johns
Les Johns
Les Johns was an Australian rugby league player for Newcastle's Souths club, then the Canterbury-Bankstown club as well as the New South Wales and for the Australian representative sides...
.
Coach
In 1975 he took over as coach of Manly-Warringah from Ron WilleyRon Willey
Ron Willey was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach. He was a representative for the Australian national side. Post-playing, Willey had a long and successful first grade and State representative coaching career.-Club career:...
and was in charge for five seasons till the end of 1979. He guided Manly to premiership success in 1976
New South Wales Rugby Football League season 1976
The 1976 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the sixty-ninth season of Sydney's professional rugby league football competition, Australia's first. Twelve teams, including six of 1908's foundation clubs and another six from around Sydney, competed for the J. J...
and 1978
New South Wales Rugby Football League season 1978
The 1978 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the seventy-first season of Sydney's professional rugby league football competition, Australia's first...
. The 1976 win was a triumph for the astute and powerful Manly triumvirate of captain Bob Fulton
Bob Fulton
Robert "Bob" Fulton AM is an Australian rugby league football identity. Fulton played, coached, selected for and has commentated on the game with great success at the highest levels and has been named amongst Australia's greatest rugby league players of the 20th century.As a player Fulton won...
, coach Stanton and club secretary Ken Arthurson
Ken Arthurson
Kenneth Richard "Arko" Arthurson AM is an Australian rugby league football identity. Affectionately known as "The Godfather of Manly", he played, coached and was later an administrator at the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles club of the New South Wales Rugby League premiership...
who would all go onto higher honours in the game. Stanton spent 1980 coaching Redcliffe
Redcliffe Dolphins
The Redcliffe Dolphins are a rugby league team from the city of Redcliffe in Queensland, Australia. The Redcliffe Dolphins were founded in 1947, accepted into the Brisbane Rugby League premiership in 1960, and since 1996 have played in the Queensland Cup....
in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership. Redcliffe finished 5th in 1980.
Stanton was appointed coach of 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...
in 1982 being the first year the contest became a three game series. Queensland won the series 2–1 and Ted Glossop
Ted Glossop
Ted Glossop was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach. He played for the St. George Dragons then went on to become a first-grade coach with Cronulla-Sutherland, Canterbury-Bankstown and St. George....
returned to coach the Blues in 1983. Stanton again coached New South Wales in the 1984 series to another 2–1 loss against the Maroons.
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...
Stanton was appointed Australia's Test coach in 1978 and in the next six years was rewarded with whitewash wins over Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
(1979, 1982 and 1984), 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...
(1978, 1980 and 1982) and France
France national rugby league team
The France national rugby league team represent France in international rugby league tournaments. They are also sometimes referred to as "Les Tricolores" or more commonly "Les Chanticleers"...
(1981 and 1982). His 1982 side also won the first ever Test played against Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea national rugby league team
The Papua New Guinea national rugby league team represents Papua New Guinea internationally in the sport of rugby league football.In Papua New Guinea, Rugby league is highly popular and is regarded as the country’s national sport. The national side are known as the Kumuls...
.
The 1978 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...
ists, after a successful 2–1 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...
campaign in England, wound up the French section of the tour with egg on their faces. They lost both Tests in France. Whilst the refereeing in the first Test came in for criticism Stanton acknowledged no excuses for the Australian defeat in the second Test. The 1982 Kangaroo touring side avenged the French embarrassment of 1978. They were Australia's most successful ever national side going through the 23 match tour of Papua New Guinea, England and France unbeaten and becoming known as the Invincibles
The Invincibles (rugby league)
The Australia national rugby league team have generally since 1908 barring wartime, toured Great Britain every four years often capping the tour with games and Tests in France. This regular touring side are known as the Kangaroos...
.
Stanton retired as national coach in 1983 and was succeeded by Arthur Beetson
Arthur Beetson
Arthur Henry "Artie" Beetson, OAM , was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach. He represented Australia and Queensland from 1964 to 1981. His position was at prop. Beetson became the first Indigenous Australian to captain his country in any sport. and is frequently cited as the best...
. Beetson lasted for 1983 only and was replaced after Australia lost to New Zealand. For the 1984 Ashes series against Great Britain, Stanton returned for his final stint as Australian coach. The Aussies won the series 3–0 and Stanton retired from representative coaching. He was the Chief Executive of the Manly club during the late 1980s. Stanton was the interim Chief Executive of the Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
for a period in 2004 and up till 2006 was a Board Director of the Storm.
In 2010 Stanton was temporarily reappiointed as Storm caretaker-CEO following the sacking of Matt Hanson in the wake of the Storm's salary cap scandal. He remained in this role for three months until Ron Gauci took over.
Sources
- Andrews, Malcolm (2006) The ABC of Rugby League Austn Broadcasting Corpn, Sydney
Stanton then moved to Redcliffe in 1980, then to Balmain from 1981 until 1986 where they won the Panasonic Midweek Cup in 1985. From 1987 to 1989 he coached North Sydney and in 1978, 1979, 1982, and 1984 he coached the NSW State of Origin and the City teams.