Harry Wells (rugby league)
Encyclopedia
Harry James Wells is an Australian former representative rugby league
footballer of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. A centre whose club career was played along the New South Wales coast as well as in Sydney with the South Sydney Rabbitohs
and the Western Suburbs Magpies
, he has since been named among the nation's best players of the 20th century.
to join South Sydney
in 1951. He won a premiership with the club in his debut year, playing on the wing in the 1951 Grand final victory over Manly
.
He then returned home for a number of seasons in Wollongong from where he made his national and state representative debuts.
He returned to the Sydney premiership in 1958 with the Western Suburbs Magpies
when that club earned their tag as "the Millionaires" in buying up a talent roster including Arthur Summons
, Dick Poole
and Ian Moir
in their pursuit of an elusive premiership title. He captained the Magpies in their 1958 Grand final loss to St.George
. He played a further three seasons with Wests and rekindled his representative career at this time.
Wells then played out the remainder of his career with a number of seasons in the country - at Goulburn, Young and Longreach. He made a final representative appearance against Great Britain in 1966 representing for the Monaro region. He finally hung-up his boots aged 40 in 1972 after three seasons in Port Macquarie.
in 1952 and toured with the Kangaroos that same year playing in two Tests and twelve minor matches.
He played against New Zealand
in 1953 and 1959; Great Britain in 1954 and 1958; and France in 1955 and 1960. He was selected and played in three World Cup
campaigns in 1954, 1957 and 1960. He made a second Kangaroo tour
in 1959-60 playing in all six Tests and seventeen tour matches, scoring eleven tour tries.
In the latter part of his career he formed a great centre partnership with the young Reg Gasnier
and they paired together in 12 Tests. All up Wells made 21 Test appearances.
for his contribution to Australia's international standing in rugby league. The following year he received the Centenary Medal
, also for services to sport. In September 2004 he was named at centre in the Western Suburbs Magpies team of the century. In 2007 Wells was inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame
. Also that year he was selected by a panel of experts at centre in an Australian 'Team of the 50s'.
In February 2008, Wells 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.
On 21 July, 2011, Wells was named at centre in the Illawarra Rugby League
Team of the Century, as the League was celebrating its centenary in this year.
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, 60s and 70s. A centre whose club career was played along the New South Wales coast as well as in Sydney with the 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...
and the Western Suburbs Magpies
Western Suburbs Magpies
The Western Suburbs Magpies are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly referred to, were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia...
, he has since been named among the nation's best players of the 20th century.
Club career
Born Harry Wills, Wells came from a long line of boxers, with both his father and grandfather fighting under the name "Dealer" Wills. Wells came to Sydney from Wollongong, New South WalesWollongong, New South Wales
Wollongong is a seaside city located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. It lies on the narrow coastal strip between the Illawarra Escarpment and the Pacific Ocean, 82 kilometres south of Sydney...
to join South Sydney
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...
in 1951. He won a premiership with the club in his debut year, playing on the wing in the 1951 Grand final victory over Manly
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
.
He then returned home for a number of seasons in Wollongong from where he made his national and state representative debuts.
He returned to the Sydney premiership in 1958 with the Western Suburbs Magpies
Western Suburbs Magpies
The Western Suburbs Magpies are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly referred to, were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia...
when that club earned their tag as "the Millionaires" in buying up a talent roster including Arthur Summons
Arthur Summons
Arthur Summons is a former Australian representative rugby union and rugby league player, a dual-code rugby international fly-half or five-eighth...
, Dick Poole
Dick Poole
Herbert Richard Poole is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He was a centre for the Australian national team...
and Ian Moir
Ian Moir
Ian Moir was an Australian rugby league player, a champion wing three-quarter of the 1950s for the South Sydney Rabbitohs. He made eight Test appearances for the Australian national representative side and represented in four World Cup matches in two World Cups and in 14 Kangaroo tour...
in their pursuit of an elusive premiership title. He captained the Magpies in their 1958 Grand final loss to St.George
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 played a further three seasons with Wests and rekindled his representative career at this time.
Wells then played out the remainder of his career with a number of seasons in the country - at Goulburn, Young and Longreach. He made a final representative appearance against Great Britain in 1966 representing for the Monaro region. He finally hung-up his boots aged 40 in 1972 after three seasons in Port Macquarie.
Representative career
Wells first represented for New South WalesNew 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 1952 and toured with the Kangaroos that same year playing in two Tests and twelve minor matches.
He played against 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 1953 and 1959; Great Britain in 1954 and 1958; and France in 1955 and 1960. He was selected and played in 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...
campaigns in 1954, 1957 and 1960. He made a second 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...
in 1959-60 playing in all six Tests and seventeen tour matches, scoring eleven tour tries.
In the latter part of his career he formed a great centre partnership with the young 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 they paired together in 12 Tests. All up Wells made 21 Test appearances.
Accolades
In 2000 Harry Wells 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...
for his contribution to Australia's international standing in rugby league. The following year he received the Centenary Medal
Centenary Medal
The Centenary Medal is an award created by the Australian Government in 2001. It was established to commemorate the Centenary of Federation of Australia and to honour people who have made a contribution to Australian society or government...
, also for services to sport. In September 2004 he was named at centre in the Western Suburbs Magpies team of the century. In 2007 Wells 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...
. Also that year he was selected by a panel of experts at centre in an Australian 'Team of the 50s'.
In February 2008, Wells 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.
On 21 July, 2011, Wells was named at centre in the Illawarra Rugby League
Illawarra Rugby League
The Illawarra Rugby League is a rugby league competition in Wollongong, NSW. It is one of the oldest rugby league competitions in Australia, founded in 1911 with five clubs ....
Team of the Century, as the League was celebrating its centenary in this year.
Personal life
Harry wells married Yvonne Palmer. He has three kids jennifer, Coralie and stewart. Harry and Yvonne are still happilly married today.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...
& Hudson, Glen (2006) The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players, Gavin Allen Publishing, Sydney