Terry Fearnley
Encyclopedia
Terry Fearnley is an Australian former rugby league
footballer and later coach. He was a long serving member of the NSWRFL's Eastern Suburbs
team (1954-1955) & (1957-1964), playing 144 matches for them at a bleak period in that club's existence. Injury kept him out of the 1960 grand final
, one of the few successful years the Roosters
enjoyed in that period. The front rower
however was selected to represent his state, New South Wales that season.
Coaching career
Following his retirement from the game as a player, Fearnley enjoyed a successful coaching career, taking the Parramatta Eels
to their first ever grand final in 1976 and again in 1977. He had also been successful coach of the New South Wales rugby league team
but stood down at the start of the 1978 NSWRFL season to concentrate on club football. Fearnley moved to coach Western Suburbs Magpies
in 1982, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (1983-84) and Illawarra Steelers
in 1985. Returning to representative coaching, he was the first successful New South Wales State of Origin
coach and also coached Australia. It was during his tenure as Australian coach that four players, all of them Queensland representative players, were controversially sacked in favour of New South Wales representative players. In Game three of State of Origin that year, One of the sacked players aimed a tirade of abuse at Fearnley. It was because of his actions that the ARL
instituted a new rule for National coaching: No National coach can be a current serving State of Origin coach.
Following his retirement as a coach, Fearnley wrote an article for Rugby League Week
that was highly critical of Wally Lewis
' captaincy. This gained him a rebuke from Australian Rugby League
officials.
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 and later coach. He was a long serving member of the NSWRFL's Eastern Suburbs
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
team (1954-1955) & (1957-1964), playing 144 matches for them at a bleak period in that club's existence. Injury kept him out of the 1960 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...
, one of the few successful years the Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
enjoyed in that period. The front rower
Rugby league positions
A rugby league football team consists of thirteen players on the field, with four substitutes on the bench. Players are divided into two general categories: "forwards" and "backs"....
however was selected to represent his state, New South Wales that season.
Coaching career
Following his retirement from the game as a player, Fearnley enjoyed a successful coaching career, taking the Parramatta Eels
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
to their first ever grand final in 1976 and again in 1977. He had also been successful coach of 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...
but stood down at the start of the 1978 NSWRFL season to concentrate on club football. Fearnley moved to coach 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...
in 1982, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (1983-84) and Illawarra Steelers
Illawarra Steelers
The Illawarra Steelers are an Australian rugby league football club based in the city of Wollongong, New South Wales. The club competed in Australia's top-level Rugby League competition from 1982, when they, along with the Canberra Raiders, were admitted into the then New South Wales Rugby Football...
in 1985. Returning to representative coaching, he was the first successful New South Wales State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
coach and also coached Australia. It was during his tenure as Australian coach that four players, all of them Queensland representative players, were controversially sacked in favour of New South Wales representative players. In Game three of State of Origin that year, One of the sacked players aimed a tirade of abuse at Fearnley. It was because of his actions that the 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...
instituted a new rule for National coaching: No National coach can be a current serving State of Origin coach.
Following his retirement as a coach, Fearnley wrote an article for Rugby League Week
Rugby League Week
Rugby League Week is the second highest selling Australian rugby league magazine, behind major competitor Big League...
that was highly critical of Wally Lewis
Wally Lewis
Walter James "Wally" Lewis AM is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach. Currently a commentator of the sport, he is widely regarded as the greatest rugby league player of all time...
' captaincy. This gained him a rebuke from 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...
officials.