Roy Bull
Encyclopedia
Roy Bull was an Australian rugby league
footballer of the 1940s and 50s who spent his whole career - as player, coach & administrator - with the Manly-Warringah
club in Sydney. In addition to playing in three New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership grand finals, he was a representative for the New South Wales rugby league team
and the Australian national side
. He has since been named amongst the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century.
after having played in Manly's winning 1946 President's Cup team. The club's junior success played some part in their selection for promotion to the first grade in 1947.
Bull was a key member in the great Manly sides of the Fifties and played in all three unsuccessful Grand Final
attempts during that decade - 1951, 1957 and 1959.
The Gregory's reference written only a few years after his playing career had ended noted him as an expert scrummager and outstanding in tight forward play. He was a powerful, remorseless, non-stop player, great in the wet or when slushy fields covered up his lack of pace.
He played 182 games for Manly up until his retirement in 1959 a record at that time, scoring 25 tries. He was captain-coach in 1953 and was made a life member of the club in 1962.
s. In 1952-53 he played in four Tests and thirteen minor tour matches and 1956-57 he appeared in all six Tests and fifteen tour matches. He made two tours of New Zealand appearing in all three Tests of 1953 and 1956. He was in the 1954 World Cup
squad and made three appearances.
In 2007 Bull was named in Manly-Warringah's greatest team on the club's 60th anniversary at prop with fellow teammate Ken Arthurson
as coach. Also that year he was selected by a panel of experts at prop in an Australian 'Team of the 50s'.
In February 2008, Bull was named in a 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. Also that year Bull was named in New South Wales' rugby league team of the century.
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 1940s and 50s who spent his whole career - as player, coach & administrator - with the Manly-Warringah
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...
club in Sydney. In addition to playing in three New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership grand finals, he was a representative for the New South Wales rugby league team
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 the Australian national side
Australian national rugby league team
The Australian national rugby league team have represented Australia in senior men's rugby league football competition since the establishment of the game in Australia in 1908. Administered by the Australian Rugby League, the Kangaroos' are ranked number one in the RLIF World Rankings...
. He has since been named amongst the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century.
Club career & playing style
Bull made his first grade debut as a 17 year-old in Manly's inaugural top-grade season in 1947New South Wales Rugby Football League season 1947
The 1947 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the fortieth season of Sydney's top-level rugby league football competition, Australia's first. The addition of two teams, Manly-Warringah and Parramatta, saw ten teams from across the city contest during the 1947 premiership, the first...
after having played in Manly's winning 1946 President's Cup team. The club's junior success played some part in their selection for promotion to the first grade in 1947.
Bull was a key member in the great Manly sides of the Fifties and played in all three unsuccessful Grand Final
Grand Final
Grand Final is a predominantly Australian sport term used to describe a match that decides a league champion.It originated in Victoria and South Australia and has become specifically significant Australian culture...
attempts during that decade - 1951, 1957 and 1959.
The Gregory's reference written only a few years after his playing career had ended noted him as an expert scrummager and outstanding in tight forward play. He was a powerful, remorseless, non-stop player, great in the wet or when slushy fields covered up his lack of pace.
He played 182 games for Manly up until his retirement in 1959 a record at that time, scoring 25 tries. He was captain-coach in 1953 and was made a life member of the club in 1962.
Representative career
Roy Bull was Manly's first international representative and played 23 tests and close to 100 total representative games. He made two Australian Kangaroo tourKangaroo 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...
s. In 1952-53 he played in four Tests and thirteen minor tour matches and 1956-57 he appeared in all six Tests and fifteen tour matches. He made two tours of New Zealand appearing in all three Tests of 1953 and 1956. He was in the 1954 World Cup
1954 Rugby League World Cup
The first Rugby League World Cup was held in France in 1954 and officially known as the "Rugby World Cup". The prime motivators behind the idea of holding a rugby league world cup were the French, who were short of money following the seizing of their assets by the rugby union in World War II.The...
squad and made three appearances.
Administrator
After the 1977 NSWRFL season Bull was elected the Manly-Warringah club's president, succeeding Bill Cameron who had held the position for the previous 19 years. In that role from 1978 to 1987, he continued his close association with the Sea Eagles.Accolades
He was named as New South Wales Player of the Year in 1955.In 2007 Bull was named in Manly-Warringah's greatest team on the club's 60th anniversary at prop with fellow teammate 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...
as coach. Also that year he was selected by a panel of experts at prop in an Australian 'Team of the 50s'.
In February 2008, Bull was named in a 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. Also that year Bull was named in New South Wales' rugby league team of the century.
Sources
- Andrews, Malcolm (2006) The ABC of Rugby League Austn Broadcasting Corpn, Sydney
- Whiticker, Alan & Hudson, Glen (2005) The Encyclopedia of Australian Rugby League Players: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Gary Allen Pty Ltd
- Pollard, Jack (ed) Gregory's Guide to Rugby League (1965), Grenville Publishing Sydney
External links
- http://soaringseaeagles.tripod.com/players/bull.htm Soaring Sea-Eagles Unofficial Manly Player Site