Peter Bullfrog Moore
Encyclopedia
Peter "Bullfrog" Moore OAM
(1932 - 5 July 2000) was an Australia
n rugby league
administrator, particularly associated with the Canterbury Bulldogs
, where he was Chief Executive from 1969-1995, serving a record 26 years at the helm. The Canterbury
club won four grand finals during his time as its CEO, and he was largely considered responsible for fostering the proud "family" culture for which the club became renowned.
Moore was a local newsagency owner in Belmore, New South Wales
before arriving at Canterbury Bulldogs in 1969. Nicknamed "Bullfrog" due to the amphibious appearance of his grotesque head, Moore undertook what was known as the "reformation" of the Canterbury club and shaped the club for the success it was to enjoy throughout the 1980s.
He was famous for his recruitment of players to the Bulldogs and for introducing player scholarships to help young players coming to Sydney
with their off-field careers (particularly before the game was fully professional). His first signing for the Bulldogs was New Zealand international Bill Noonan
. During his time at Canterbury, the club won five premierships and were runners-up on another four occasions. Canterbury made the finals in 20 years of the 26 years he was there, in a remarkable run of success for a club that had won next to no silverware after initial premierships in 1938 and 1942.
Moore was also manager of Australian
and New South Wales
rugby league
representative teams, and a life member of the Canterbury Bulldogs, Canterbury Leagues Club, Australian Rugby League
and New South Wales Rugby League
.
In 1987, Moore was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia
(OAM) for his services to rugby league and the community. In 1995, he was handed the keys to the City of Canterbury, New South Wales. Moore had been actively involved in supporting Super League
, and in securing the signature of the Canterbury-Bankstown coach (his son-in-law, Steve Folkes
) to a Super League contract. Moore offered his resignation from the ARL to Ken Arthurson
outside a meeting to discuss the Super League problem on 1 April 1995; his offer was accepted.
A dedicated family man, Moore and his wife Marie had nine children and now have nineteen grandchildren. Moore died in 2000, aged 68, after a long battle with throat cancer.
The National Rugby League
decided that the Dally M Rookie of the Year award would be named in his honour.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(1932 - 5 July 2000) was an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n rugby league
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...
administrator, particularly associated with the Canterbury Bulldogs
Canterbury Bulldogs
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League junior competitions...
, where he was Chief Executive from 1969-1995, serving a record 26 years at the helm. The Canterbury
City of Canterbury, New South Wales
The City of Canterbury, previously the Municipality of Canterbury, is a Local Government Area in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It lies southwest of the central business district and forms part of the Greater Sydney metropolitan area....
club won four grand finals during his time as its CEO, and he was largely considered responsible for fostering the proud "family" culture for which the club became renowned.
Moore was a local newsagency owner in Belmore, New South Wales
Belmore, New South Wales
Belmore is a suburb, of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Belmore is located 15 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Canterbury.-History:...
before arriving at Canterbury Bulldogs in 1969. Nicknamed "Bullfrog" due to the amphibious appearance of his grotesque head, Moore undertook what was known as the "reformation" of the Canterbury club and shaped the club for the success it was to enjoy throughout the 1980s.
He was famous for his recruitment of players to the Bulldogs and for introducing player scholarships to help young players coming to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
with their off-field careers (particularly before the game was fully professional). His first signing for the Bulldogs was New Zealand international Bill Noonan
Bill Noonan
William Patrick "Bill" Noonan was a rugby league player for the Linwood Keas, Canterbury Bulldogs, Newtown Jets and for the New Zealand national side. He played for Canterbury against Australia as an 18 year old in 1965. Noonan played in seven games on the New Zealand Kiwis 1967 tour of Australia...
. During his time at Canterbury, the club won five premierships and were runners-up on another four occasions. Canterbury made the finals in 20 years of the 26 years he was there, in a remarkable run of success for a club that had won next to no silverware after initial premierships in 1938 and 1942.
Moore was also manager of Australian
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...
and New South Wales
New South Wales Rugby League
The New South Wales Rugby League is the governing body of rugby league in New South Wales and is a member of the Australian Rugby League. It was formed in Sydney on 8 August 1907 and was known as the New South Wales Rugby Football League until 1984 when forward thinking marketing managers decided...
rugby league
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...
representative teams, and a life member of the Canterbury Bulldogs, Canterbury Leagues Club, 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...
and New South Wales Rugby League
New South Wales Rugby League
The New South Wales Rugby League is the governing body of rugby league in New South Wales and is a member of the Australian Rugby League. It was formed in Sydney on 8 August 1907 and was known as the New South Wales Rugby Football League until 1984 when forward thinking marketing managers decided...
.
In 1987, Moore was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(OAM) for his services to rugby league and the community. In 1995, he was handed the keys to the City of Canterbury, New South Wales. Moore had been actively involved in supporting Super League
Super League (Australia)
Super League was an Australian rugby league football administrative body that conducted professional competition in Australasia for one season in 1997. Along with Super League of Europe, it was created by News Corporation during the Super League war which arose following an unsuccessful attempt to...
, and in securing the signature of the Canterbury-Bankstown coach (his son-in-law, Steve Folkes
Steve Folkes
Steve Folkes is a former Australian rugby league test footballer and former coach of the Bulldogs in the National Rugby League...
) to a Super League contract. Moore offered his resignation from the ARL to 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...
outside a meeting to discuss the Super League problem on 1 April 1995; his offer was accepted.
A dedicated family man, Moore and his wife Marie had nine children and now have nineteen grandchildren. Moore died in 2000, aged 68, after a long battle with throat cancer.
The National Rugby League
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...
decided that the Dally M Rookie of the Year award would be named in his honour.