Noel Pidding
Encyclopedia
Noel Pidding is an Australian former rugby league
player. He was a state
and national representative, whose goal-kicking prowess enabled him to set a number of long-standing club and Australian point scoring records. His club career was with the St. George Dragons
and he was a member of their 1949 premiership-winning side.
in 1947, immediately cementing a spot in the top-grade as the club's full-back. He made his representative debut for New South Wales
that year and in 1948 was selected for Australia, making his test debut against New Zealand
in the first test at the Sydney Cricket Ground
. He had a poor game in Australia's 19-21 loss and was unlucky enough to be starting his career at the same time as the “Immortal
" Clive Churchill
. Churchill replaced Pidding for the 2nd Test in Brisbane and went on to make thirty-seven national representative appearances at full-back over the next 10 years. Pidding was overlooked for the 1948-49 Kangaroo tour
.
1949 premiership victory over the South Sydney Rabbitohs
, scoring two tries. The move revitalised his representative career. He was selected in the 1950 City-Country match scoring an individual record 27 points (1 try and 21 goals) and regained Australian selection in that year's series against New Zealand
. He was the first St George player to top 200 points in a club season (1951) and that same year represented nationally against France
.
He toured New Zealand again in 1952 before being selected for the 1952-53 Kangaroo tour
which marked his career highlight. He played in all five Tests of the tour plus in seventeen minor matches. He scored 228 points on tour, a record second only to Dave Brown's 285 of 1933-34 which was scored in ten more matches than Pidding's feat.
He made further Test appearances in 1953 (New Zealand) and in 1954 (Great Britain
) where he set a then individual record for an Australian player in an Ashes
Test with 19 points (1 try and 8 goals). His representative farewell was in the inaugural 1954 Rugby League World Cup
in France where he played in all three of Australia's pool clashes.
He had left St George after the club's 1953 Grand Final loss to South Sydney. He spent the 1954 season in the country with Maitland before returning to Sydney for two final seasons with Eastern Suburbs 1955-56.
In 1957 Pidding played in the first season of the Manawatu Rugby League
competition, playing for the Marton club.
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. He was a state
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 national representative, whose goal-kicking prowess enabled him to set a number of long-standing club and Australian point scoring records. His club career was 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,...
and he was a member of their 1949 premiership-winning side.
Career as full-back
Pidding joined St. GeorgeSt. 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,...
in 1947, immediately cementing a spot in the top-grade as the club's full-back. He made his representative debut 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...
that year and in 1948 was selected for Australia, making his test debut 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 the first test at the Sydney Cricket Ground
Sydney Cricket Ground
The Sydney Cricket Ground is a sports stadium in Sydney in Australia. It is used for Australian football, Test cricket, One Day International cricket, some rugby league and rugby union matches and is the home ground for the New South Wales Blues cricket team and the Sydney Swans of the Australian...
. He had a poor game in Australia's 19-21 loss and was unlucky enough to be starting his career at the same time as the “Immortal
The Immortals (rugby league)
A major Australian rugby league magazine Rugby League Week in 1981 selected an exclusive group of players dubbed "The Immortals". The group consisted of Clive Churchill, Bob Fulton, Reg Gasnier, and Johnny Raper...
" Clive Churchill
Clive Churchill
Clive Bernard Churchill AM was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach of the mid-20th century. An Australian international and New South Wales and Queensland interstate representative fullback, he played the majority of his club football with and later coached the South Sydney Rabbitohs...
. Churchill replaced Pidding for the 2nd Test in Brisbane and went on to make thirty-seven national representative appearances at full-back over the next 10 years. Pidding was overlooked for the 1948-49 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...
.
Born-again winger
In 1949 Pidding moved to the wing and he played in that position in the Dragons'1949 premiership victory over 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...
, scoring two tries. The move revitalised his representative career. He was selected in the 1950 City-Country match scoring an individual record 27 points (1 try and 21 goals) and regained Australian selection in that year's series 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...
. He was the first St George player to top 200 points in a club season (1951) and that same year represented nationally against 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"...
.
He toured New Zealand again in 1952 before being selected for the 1952-53 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...
which marked his career highlight. He played in all five Tests of the tour plus in seventeen minor matches. He scored 228 points on tour, a record second only to Dave Brown's 285 of 1933-34 which was scored in ten more matches than Pidding's feat.
He made further Test appearances in 1953 (New Zealand) and in 1954 (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"....
) where he set a then individual record for an Australian player in an 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...
Test with 19 points (1 try and 8 goals). His representative farewell was in the inaugural 1954 Rugby League 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...
in France where he played in all three of Australia's pool clashes.
He had left St George after the club's 1953 Grand Final loss to South Sydney. He spent the 1954 season in the country with Maitland before returning to Sydney for two final seasons with Eastern Suburbs 1955-56.
In 1957 Pidding played in the first season of the Manawatu Rugby League
Manawatu Rugby League
Manawatu Rugby League was formed in 1957. They are currently part of the Mid-Central zone along with Taranaki Rugby League.-Kiwi Players:Only one player from Manawatu has ever made the New Zealand Kiwis. This was Kiwi number 456, Dick Uluave, who played two tests in 1979.-National Competitions:In...
competition, playing for the Marton club.