Terry Lamb
Encyclopedia
Terry Lamb OAM
, (born 15 September 1961) is an Australian retired professional rugby league
footballer and coach. He played 349 games (a competition record), with Wests
(1980–1983), and Canterbury (1984–1996). Lamb was known for his support of the ball-carrier - his ability to be in the right place at the right time netted him 164 tries
. This earned him the moniker of "The Back-up Man". He also kicked 386 goals and 44 field goals, for 1,442 points in first grade. He played for New South Wales
in State of Origin
and Australia. Lamb holds the distinction of being the only player to appear in every match of a Kangaroo Tour
.
, a suburb in the Bankstown
area and attended Sefton High School
. Lamb played all his junior football for the Chester Hill Hornets club during the years 1967–1979 where he won multiple Best and Fairest awards. He only played in one Grand Final when he filled in for a side above his age group. Lamb is the only International to come from the Chester Hill Hornets club and the ground is now named the Terry Lamb Complex
in his honour. Lamb represented Canterbury in junior representative sides, but signed his first professional contract with Western Suburbs Magpies
.
Third Grade side in 1979 and was hopeful of a contract with his junior side in 1980. Lamb was told the best he could hope for was a position in the Presidents Cup (Under 21's) side. Lamb believed he could play first grade and signed when Wests
gave him the opportunity. Lamb impressed in the trials to win himself a contract, however he started off in Third Grade where he played six matches. Lamb only played one Reserve Grade match where he was called up to play halfback in the Amco Cup
. Lamb was Man of the Match.
On 18 May 1980, Lamb made his first grade premiership debut for Western Suburbs
against Balmain Tigers
at Lidcombe Oval. Lamb scored two tries in the Magpies' comprehensive 26-4 victory. Lamb scored 9 tries in his debut season and was edged out for the innagural Dally M Rookie of the Year award by team-mate Jim Leis
who would go on the Australian 1980 Tour of New Zealand. Lamb formed a great scrumbase combination that season with Alan Neil (brother of Michael Neil).
Lamb's form in the early stages of the 1981 season was outstanding and he was selected in the NSW
State of Origin side. Lamb was called in at the last moment for Mick Pattison and only arrived in Brisbane
on the day of the match. The 19-year-old Lamb however, was up against opposite number Wally Lewis
, with Queensland
coming back to win 22-15.
The 1982 season was a successful one for Wests and Lamb where his end of season form caught the eyes of the Australian
selectors and he was selected for the 1982 Kangaroo Tour
. Lamb ruled himself out of the tour as he already planned to marry his partner Kim. Australia
swept all before them on the tour going through undefeated for the first time and becoming known as "The Invincibles
".
Lamb's final season with Wests was in 1983 where the Magpies won the dreaded wooden spoon
prize. In spite of this, he was awarded the Dally M Player of the Year Award. His prize winnings of $9,000 that night was $500 more than his contract that season. Lamb was on a contract of $17,000, which didn't compare to other players in Sydney at the time and it was slashed in half due to Wests poor financial situation.
Terry Lamb made 88 appearances for Wests, Lamb was later named as halfback in the Western Suburbs Magpies Team of the Eighties.
were at first expelled from the premiership. Easts
and Balmain
both showed interest but eventually Lamb chose the Bulldogs, joining in 1984.
Lamb settled nicely into Canterbury under the coaching of Warren Ryan
and playing outside Steve Mortimer
. Lamb's arrival did cause initial controversy when long-serving five-eighth Garry Hughes was dropped to reserve grade in what was to be his final season. Lamb's ability to back up the ball-carrier came to the fore as he was the Sydney Premiership's joint leading tryscorer with 17. Lamb won a recall to the New South Wales
State of Origin
side for the 2nd match. He played well enough to be retained for the 3rd match despite the Blues losing, but withdrew due to injury. Lamb never won a junior premiership and he was closing in on one at senior level when the Bulldogs made the 1984 Grand Final against arch-rivals Parramatta Eels
who were looking to win their fourth successive title. Canterbury took out the Grand Final 6–4 in a bruising game of football. Lamb was replaced with five minutes remaining due to a nasty gash above his eye.
In 1985, Terry Lamb played 22 games for the Bulldogs, but was forced to miss the 1985 Grand Final due to a groin injury. Michael Hagan
was named as his replacement. Canterbury defeated St. George Dragons
7–6 to make it back-to-back titles.
1986 was an eventful year for Lamb. He played much of the opening rounds at halfback with captain Steve Mortimer
suspended, and was recalled to the New South Wales
State of Origin
side. He was selected in all three matches from the bench and went on to be selected in the Australian
Test side for the opening match against New Zealand
. Lamb came on from the bench as a replacement for Dale Shearer
. Lamb got more time in the 3rd Test when he came as a replacement for the injured Wayne Pearce
playing lock forward. His good form at Canterbury continued with the Bulldogs making a third successive Grand Final, once again playing Parramatta Eels
. Lamb was the leading pointscorer for the season, and he would end up scoring 210 points. However, he missed a difficult penalty goal attempt in the final three minutes of the 1986 Grand Final. The Eels won 4-2 in an absolute gripping game. Lamb was then selected to go on the Kangaroo Tour
.
In March 1987, Lamb scored all of Canterbury's 26 points as they beat Wests 26-16 in round 4. Lamb's points haul were made up of four tries and five goals. He again finished the season as the leagues leading try-scorer however, the club failed to make the finals, finishing 6th in what would prove to be Warren Ryan's last season as coach.
departed Canterbury at the end of 1987 with reserve grade coach Phil Gould
taking over the reins in a caretaker role with Chris Anderson being groomed for the top position. The 1988 season was Lamb's fifth at Canterbury and the first he wouldn't cross the line at least 10 times. Lamb played a very important role in Canterbury's season as former captain Steve Mortimer
missed a large chunk of the season due to injuries.
Canterbury defeated Canberra
and Cronulla
to make the Grand Final where they earned a week off as first qualifiers. Balmain
, influenced by Great Britain captain Ellery Hanley
made the Grand Final coming from a playoff for 5th position to make the decider. Controversy struck in the 26th minute when Hanley was taken out in a tackle from Lamb and Farrar
.
Balmain led 6-4 with the Tigers scoring thanks to a mistake from Bulldogs fullback Jason Alchin. Hanley was wrapped up low by Andrew Farrar and as he went to offload the ball Lamb finished off the tackle. He hit the ground in an awkward position and was out concussed. Lamb denied he deliberately took Hanley out and denied Canterbury went out of their way to target one individual. Lamb commented in his 1992 book that Balmain had other important players such as Wayne Pearce
, Ben Elias, Paul Sironen
and Garry Jack
.
Speaking to Inside Sport Magazine in August 2005, Hanley was asked:
What do you remember about that infamous tackle by Terry Lamb?
"I don’t know if it was caused by Terry Lamb, or if it was just my head hitting the ground. I couldn’t tell you because I have never looked at it since. Some people have said Terry got a good shot on me. I suspect, however, it was more a case of my head hitting the ground. I like to think it was accidental. Afterwards, I was concussed and didn’t know where I was. I didn’t regain all my faculties immediately so, from a safety point of view, I had to come off the football field. It was a shame, but it is a physical game and sometimes things like that happen."
Have you spoken to Lamb since then?
"No, I never have. I have never bumped into him. I have to say I respect him as a footballer. I don’t know him as a person, but by all accounts he is a good guy. Let me be clear that I have no malice towards him, none at all, regardless of the incident being deliberate or accidental."
The New South Wales Rugby League
despite all the media pressure backed up Lamb's version of events and deemed he had no case to answer. Lamb was later selected in the Australian
squad for the World Cup
Final against New Zealand at Eden Park
. Lamb was again selected as a replacement and came on the field after 20 minutes when captain Wally Lewis
broke his arm. It was to be Lamb's last match in Australian colours.
Canterbury endured a tough year in 1989 as the 'Wozzaball' era out Belmore way was coming to a rapid close. Lamb didn't have his best season where it was affected by injuries and off-field dramas. He played one final match for NSW
with the Blues going down 36-6. He was out injured for the middle part of the season and missed selection for the New Zealand Tour.
After the 1989 season, Phil Gould
was removed as coach with Chris Anderson taking over.
and Andrew Farrar
, who were commonly the deputies when Peter Tunks
(who joined Penrith Panthers
in 1990) was unavailable.
The Bulldogs had a good start to the new season, taking the top spot in Round 6. They faltered away after a win over Penrith in Round 9, and although Lamb was back on the bench for the Round 13 game against North Sydney, Canterbury had slipped to 7th and did not regain a Top 5 spot for the rest of the season.
As feared the Bulldogs lost Paul Langmack
, Andrew Farrar
, David Gillespie
and Joe Thomas to Wests
under former dual premiership-winning coach Warren Ryan
. The club also lost Paul Dunn
to Penrith
and Jason Alchin to St George
.
Lamb made himself unavailable for the 1990 Kangaroo Tour
despite the controversial omission of Wally Lewis
. Cliff Lyons and Kevin Walters were both selected once Lamb confirmed his unavailability.
On a personal level, a chronic groin injury would dog Lamb for the next few seasons. Lamb would be a week-to-week proposition throughout the 1990s.
Despite the departures from Canterbury at the end of the season, in 1991 they qualified in equal 5th position but went down 19-14 against arch-rivals Wests
. The club under the leadership of Lamb developed as a competitive force. Lamb was captain to a new generation of players coming through the club who would play a big part in the club's successful years ahead including Darren Smith, Dean Pay
, Simon Gillies, Matthew Ryan and 1991 Rothmans Medal Winner Ewan McGrady
. The 1991 season was the only time Lamb would be suspended throughout his career when he was sent off for an alleged headbutt on Manly's
Geoff Toovey
. He received four weeks for the offence.
Lamb missed the first five matches in 1992 but when he returned he enjoyed one of his finest individual seasons where Canterbury started to be tagged a 'one-man team'. Lamb lifted the Bulldogs to the brink of the semi-finals before once again making himself unavailable as the 1992 World Cup loomed. Lamb came 2nd in the Dally M Awards for 1992.
A new wave of signings joined the Bulldogs in 1993 and the team that Lamb and Anderson moulded was coming to fruition. The Bulldogs won the Minor Premiership with Lamb making it a hat-trick of Dally M Five-Eighth of the Year awards and Anderson winning Dally M Coach of the Year. Canterbury crashed out in the semi-finals but it was a great effort by the club to get to a position of strength after being warm favourites for the 1991 Wooden Spoon.
Lamb broke his arm in 1994 when playing his 299th first grade match against Wests
. Lamb would return to play his 300th match against Souths
playing at Concord Oval and wearing the No.55 jumper. Concord was only used for three League games and Lamb wore No.55 as he was a late inclusion into the side. Lamb broke the record previously held by Geoff Gerard
in the final round, which ironically was against his former club Wests
at Campbelltown with both Canterbury
and Wests
jointly celebrating the occasion. Canterbury with their victory in Lamb's 304th first grade game won the Minor Premiership and defeated Canberra
in the Major Semi-Final. The Raiders however won the Grand Final 36-12 in a big disappointment for Lamb and the Bulldogs.
. Lamb's strength and character as a captain shone through when he held the club together and rallied everyone (bar one) in the latter half of the season. Canterbury qualified in 6th position for the ARL
Finals Series. The Bulldogs defeated St George
, Brisbane
and defending premiers Canberra
to make the Grand Final against Manly
.
Canterbury
were never headed in the Grand Final defeating Manly
17-4 in the decider with Lamb plotting a crucial drop-goal to give them a seven-point lead. Lamb spent 10 minutes in the sin bin but that didn't stop his performance as he steered Canterbury to an impressive victory.
It was a sweet moment for Lamb and coach Chris Anderson after five years of planning went into this moment. The 1995 Grand Final was also the swansong for Chief Executive Peter Moore
who retired from his post after 26 years of service. Moore would remain a member of the Canterbury Leagues Club board until 1998.
Lamb's planned retirement was shelved as he helped his beloved club for one more season to get through a sudden player departure caused by the Super League War
. Lamb didn't seek the captaincy with Simon Gillies taking on that role and when Gillies was injured for the second half of the season, Lamb again opted not to be captain with Darren Britt
taking the reins (in a sign of things to come). Lamb's career wound down on 25 August 1996, when Canterbury
defeated North Queensland
50-22 at Belmore Sports Ground
. Lamb scored two tries and it was ironic that the start and end of his career saw him score a double.
The finest support player the game has seen played a record 349 first grade games (88 at Western Suburbs
, 261 at Canterbury-Bankstown
). He also scored 164 first grade tries, a mark bettered only by Andrew Ettingshausen
(165), Steve Menzies (180) and Ken Irvine
(212).
In a strange twist, with Manly
having reached (and won) the 2008 NRL Grand Final, Menzies ended his career in Australia having equalled Lamb's league record of 349 games in his final match. The 34 year old veteran of 15 NRL seasons then signed a contract to play the 2009 season and beyond with European Super League club, the Bradford Bulls
.
In anticipation of equalling Lamb's record with his final appearance, Manly was reported to have made Menzies an offer to make a cameo appearance in 2009 to break the record. Menzies' response confirmed his and Lamb's standing among the greats:
"I wouldn't consider coming back for one game and cheapening the record or anything," said Menzies.
"If I fell one short or equalled it or whatever then that's my career and the way it finishes.
"(Lamb) was such a great player ... I'm very honoured to stand next to him.
Menzies' equalling of Lamb's record has been described by many (including Lamb) as the rugby league equivalent of Mark Taylor retiring on the same score as Don Bradman's Australian test batting record (334 not out) in a 1998 cricket test against Pakistan. Lamb was quoted as having appreciated the gesture. Lamb set many records at Canterbury
with the last one, a landmark of 123 tries being broken by winger Hazem El Masri
, against the Newcastle Knights
in 2006.
Lamb would be acknowledged in 2004 as the Canterbury
five-eighth and captain in their 70-years greatest side.
played his 350th game and was awarded with breaking the record (349 games, jointly held by Lamb, according to the NRL) for most games played. However a website which compiles player and team statistics, RugbyLeagueProject has checked the list of games played and found that while the numbers for Wests tally, it appears that Lamb played an additional game in 1986 (it is thought to be the Major Semi Final that the NRL statistics have missed). This would bring his total to the season to 24 (from 23), his total for Canterbury to 262, and his career total to 350. Although Lockyer would still hold the record for most games, it would have been broken a game later.
promoted to the top grade side. Lamb immediately tasted success steering the 1998 reserve grade side to a premiership and backed that up with a premiership in 2000. Lamb was also trainer for the first grade side.
The coaching success Lamb enjoyed in the lower grades saw him land the Wests Tigers
head coaching position in 2001. However, the move to first grade proved to be a 'king hit' to his future coaching ambitions. This was a disastrous period for Wests Tigers
, finishing in the bottom three in both 2001 and 2002. The club was plagued by player ill-discipline and suffered the embarrassment of the infamous finger-poking incident. Wests Tigers
decided to revamp their coaching structure and replaced Lamb with Tim Sheens
in 2003.
The salary cap dramas that were emerging at Canterbury
saw Lamb return to the club and take up a position as director of the football club, which he held until the end of 2005. Lamb was rushed back to add stability through a tough time in the club.
Lamb coached the Cabramatta Jim Beam Cup side in 2005 and in 2006 accepted a marketing/coaching position at the Bulldogs. This appointment meant that Lamb stood down from his position as Football Club Director. Lamb returned to coaching again at the Bulldogs in 2008 when he was appointed as the Bulldogs NSW VB Cup Coach.
First Grade Games: 88
Tries: 41
Goals: 11
Field Goals: 7
Points: 163
Reserve Grade Games (1980): 1. Points: 4. (2 Goals)
Under 23's Games (1980): 6
First Grade Games: 261
Tries: 123 (club record)
Goals: 375
Field Goals: 37 (club record)
Points: 1,279
Reserve Grade Games (1986): 1. Points: 4. (2 Goals)
First Grade Games: 349 (record)
Tries: 164
Goals: 386
Field Goals: 44
Points: 1,442
88 First Grade Games for Wests
7 Tests for Australia
15 Tour Games for Australia
1 World Cup Final for Australia
8 State of Origin Games for NSW
7 City-Country Games
387 TOTAL FIRST CLASS GAMES
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"...
, (born 15 September 1961) is an Australian retired professional 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...
footballer and coach. He played 349 games (a competition record), with Wests
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...
(1980–1983), and Canterbury (1984–1996). Lamb was known for his support of the ball-carrier - his ability to be in the right place at the right time netted him 164 tries
Try
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
. This earned him the moniker of "The Back-up Man". He also kicked 386 goals and 44 field goals, for 1,442 points in first grade. He played for New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
in 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...
and Australia. Lamb holds the distinction of being the only player to appear in every match of a 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...
.
Junior career
Lamb grew up in Chester HillChester Hill, New South Wales
Chester Hill, a suburb of local government area City of Bankstown is located 25 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the state of New South Wales, Australia, and is part of the Greater Western Sydney region...
, a suburb in the Bankstown
City of Bankstown
The City of Bankstown is a city and Local Government Area in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, centred on the suburb of Bankstown....
area and attended Sefton High School
Sefton High School
Sefton High School is a partially selective high school in Sefton, Sydney, Australia. It is a full day, co-educational secondary school, and is a public school operated by the New South Wales Department of Education and Training....
. Lamb played all his junior football for the Chester Hill Hornets club during the years 1967–1979 where he won multiple Best and Fairest awards. He only played in one Grand Final when he filled in for a side above his age group. Lamb is the only International to come from the Chester Hill Hornets club and the ground is now named the Terry Lamb Complex
Terry Lamb Complex
Terry Lamb Complex is located on Banool St, Chester Hill, New South Wales. It is the home ground of the Chester Hill Hornets who compete in the Canterbury-Bankstown District Junior Rugby League competition. The complex is named after Terry Lamb who played for the Hornets as a junior...
in his honour. Lamb represented Canterbury in junior representative sides, but signed his first professional contract with 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...
.
Western Suburbs Magpies career
Lamb was a non-playing reserve for the CanterburyCanterbury 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...
Third Grade side in 1979 and was hopeful of a contract with his junior side in 1980. Lamb was told the best he could hope for was a position in the Presidents Cup (Under 21's) side. Lamb believed he could play first grade and signed when Wests
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...
gave him the opportunity. Lamb impressed in the trials to win himself a contract, however he started off in Third Grade where he played six matches. Lamb only played one Reserve Grade match where he was called up to play halfback in the Amco Cup
Amco Cup
The Amco Cup was a mid-week rugby league competition held in Australia between 1974 and 1989. The format was usually a straight knock-out, but various group formats were used between 1979 and 1982...
. Lamb was Man of the Match.
On 18 May 1980, Lamb made his first grade premiership debut for Western Suburbs
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...
against Balmain Tigers
Balmain Tigers
The Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles...
at Lidcombe Oval. Lamb scored two tries in the Magpies' comprehensive 26-4 victory. Lamb scored 9 tries in his debut season and was edged out for the innagural Dally M Rookie of the Year award by team-mate Jim Leis
Jim Leis
Jim Leis is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s. A New South Wales representative forward, he played in the New South Wales Rugby League competition for Western Suburbs Magpies, Canterbury-Bankstown and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.In his debut first-grade season,...
who would go on the Australian 1980 Tour of New Zealand. Lamb formed a great scrumbase combination that season with Alan Neil (brother of Michael Neil).
Lamb's form in the early stages of the 1981 season was outstanding and he was selected in the NSW
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...
State of Origin side. Lamb was called in at the last moment for Mick Pattison and only arrived in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
on the day of the match. The 19-year-old Lamb however, was up against opposite number 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...
, with Queensland
Queensland Rugby League
The Queensland Rugby Football League is the governing body for rugby league in Queensland. It is a member of the Australian Rugby League and selects the members of Queensland State of Origin teams....
coming back to win 22-15.
The 1982 season was a successful one for Wests and Lamb where his end of season form caught the eyes of the 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...
selectors and he was selected for the 1982 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...
. Lamb ruled himself out of the tour as he already planned to marry his partner Kim. Australia
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...
swept all before them on the tour going through undefeated for the first time and becoming known as "The Invincibles
The Invincibles (rugby league)
The Australia national rugby league team have generally since 1908 barring wartime, toured Great Britain every four years often capping the tour with games and Tests in France. This regular touring side are known as the Kangaroos...
".
Lamb's final season with Wests was in 1983 where the Magpies won the dreaded wooden spoon
Australian rugby league wooden spooners
The Australian rugby league wooden spooners are the teams which finished last in the premier top-grade rugby league competition in Australia, which is currently the National Rugby League, and was previously the New South Wales Rugby Football League , the Australian Rugby League , and Super League...
prize. In spite of this, he was awarded the Dally M Player of the Year Award. His prize winnings of $9,000 that night was $500 more than his contract that season. Lamb was on a contract of $17,000, which didn't compare to other players in Sydney at the time and it was slashed in half due to Wests poor financial situation.
Terry Lamb made 88 appearances for Wests, Lamb was later named as halfback in the Western Suburbs Magpies Team of the Eighties.
Joining the Bulldogs and early success
The news that Lamb's Dally M winnings was more than his contract ensured that he would be in hot demand from the richer Sydney clubs now that he was out of contract and that WestsWestern 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...
were at first expelled from the premiership. Easts
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...
and Balmain
Balmain Tigers
The Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles...
both showed interest but eventually Lamb chose the Bulldogs, joining in 1984.
Lamb settled nicely into Canterbury under the coaching of Warren Ryan
Warren Ryan
Warren Ryan is former rugby league football coach and player from Sydney, Australia. He is considered as one of the most influential coaches in recent times. Ryan also played 1st Grade Rugby League for the St George Dragons and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks....
and playing outside Steve Mortimer
Steve Mortimer
Steve Mortimer OAM, , nicknamed Turvey after Turvey Park in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, where he hailed from, is an Australian former rugby league halfback. Mortimer played a Canterbury-Bankstown club record 272 first grade games between 1976–88. Mortimer's two younger brothers Peter and Chris...
. Lamb's arrival did cause initial controversy when long-serving five-eighth Garry Hughes was dropped to reserve grade in what was to be his final season. Lamb's ability to back up the ball-carrier came to the fore as he was the Sydney Premiership's joint leading tryscorer with 17. Lamb won a recall to the 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...
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...
side for the 2nd match. He played well enough to be retained for the 3rd match despite the Blues losing, but withdrew due to injury. Lamb never won a junior premiership and he was closing in on one at senior level when the Bulldogs made the 1984 Grand Final against arch-rivals 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...
who were looking to win their fourth successive title. Canterbury took out the Grand Final 6–4 in a bruising game of football. Lamb was replaced with five minutes remaining due to a nasty gash above his eye.
In 1985, Terry Lamb played 22 games for the Bulldogs, but was forced to miss the 1985 Grand Final due to a groin injury. Michael Hagan
Michael Hagan
Michael Hagan is an Australian rugby league football coach and former player. He currently works as assistant coach under Mal Meninga for the record-breaking Queensland rugby league team...
was named as his replacement. Canterbury defeated 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,...
7–6 to make it back-to-back titles.
1986 was an eventful year for Lamb. He played much of the opening rounds at halfback with captain Steve Mortimer
Steve Mortimer
Steve Mortimer OAM, , nicknamed Turvey after Turvey Park in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, where he hailed from, is an Australian former rugby league halfback. Mortimer played a Canterbury-Bankstown club record 272 first grade games between 1976–88. Mortimer's two younger brothers Peter and Chris...
suspended, and was recalled to the 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...
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...
side. He was selected in all three matches from the bench and went on to be selected in the Australian
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...
Test side for the opening match against New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Lamb came on from the bench as a replacement for Dale Shearer
Dale Shearer
Dale Shearer is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative winger/fullback of Aboriginal heritage, he played club football in Queensland, New South Wales and England...
. Lamb got more time in the 3rd Test when he came as a replacement for the injured Wayne Pearce
Wayne Pearce
Wayne John Pearce OAM is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. An athletic Lock Forward for the Balmain Tigers, he was affectionately known as 'Junior'...
playing lock forward. His good form at Canterbury continued with the Bulldogs making a third successive Grand Final, once again playing 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...
. Lamb was the leading pointscorer for the season, and he would end up scoring 210 points. However, he missed a difficult penalty goal attempt in the final three minutes of the 1986 Grand Final. The Eels won 4-2 in an absolute gripping game. Lamb was then selected to go on the 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 March 1987, Lamb scored all of Canterbury's 26 points as they beat Wests 26-16 in round 4. Lamb's points haul were made up of four tries and five goals. He again finished the season as the leagues leading try-scorer however, the club failed to make the finals, finishing 6th in what would prove to be Warren Ryan's last season as coach.
Hanley Incident and the World Cup
Warren RyanWarren Ryan
Warren Ryan is former rugby league football coach and player from Sydney, Australia. He is considered as one of the most influential coaches in recent times. Ryan also played 1st Grade Rugby League for the St George Dragons and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks....
departed Canterbury at the end of 1987 with reserve grade coach Phil Gould
Phil Gould
Phil Gould is an Australian rugby league broadcaster, journalist, administrator and former player and coach. Since the 1990s he has had a prominent role in Channel 9's coverage of rugby league, as a commentator on their match-day coverage, and appears on The Sunday Footy Show and The Sunday Roast...
taking over the reins in a caretaker role with Chris Anderson being groomed for the top position. The 1988 season was Lamb's fifth at Canterbury and the first he wouldn't cross the line at least 10 times. Lamb played a very important role in Canterbury's season as former captain Steve Mortimer
Steve Mortimer
Steve Mortimer OAM, , nicknamed Turvey after Turvey Park in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, where he hailed from, is an Australian former rugby league halfback. Mortimer played a Canterbury-Bankstown club record 272 first grade games between 1976–88. Mortimer's two younger brothers Peter and Chris...
missed a large chunk of the season due to injuries.
Canterbury defeated Canberra
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
and Cronulla
Cronulla Sharks
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales...
to make the Grand Final where they earned a week off as first qualifiers. Balmain
Balmain Tigers
The Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles...
, influenced by Great Britain captain Ellery Hanley
Ellery Hanley
Ellery Cuthwyn Hanley MBE is a British former rugby league footballer of the 1970s, 80s and 90s, and former head coach of Great Britain, St. Helens and Doncaster. As a player he played most of his games at /, or /. Over a period of nineteen years, he played for Bradford Northern, Wigan, Balmain,...
made the Grand Final coming from a playoff for 5th position to make the decider. Controversy struck in the 26th minute when Hanley was taken out in a tackle from Lamb and Farrar
Andrew Farrar
Andrew Farrar is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He played for the Canterbury Bulldogs, Western Suburbs Magpies, Wigan Warriors and Illawarra Steelers. Farrar also played for New South Wales in the State of Origin on several occasions and played for Australia in the 1988...
.
Balmain led 6-4 with the Tigers scoring thanks to a mistake from Bulldogs fullback Jason Alchin. Hanley was wrapped up low by Andrew Farrar and as he went to offload the ball Lamb finished off the tackle. He hit the ground in an awkward position and was out concussed. Lamb denied he deliberately took Hanley out and denied Canterbury went out of their way to target one individual. Lamb commented in his 1992 book that Balmain had other important players such as Wayne Pearce
Wayne Pearce
Wayne John Pearce OAM is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. An athletic Lock Forward for the Balmain Tigers, he was affectionately known as 'Junior'...
, Ben Elias, Paul Sironen
Paul Sironen
Paul Sironen is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who was a prominent second rower for the Balmain Tigers during the late 1980s and early 1990s...
and Garry Jack
Garry Jack
Garry Jack is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He was a representative in the Australian national team and star player with the Balmain Tigers. Jack was a for the Tigers during the late 1980s and early 1990s, under the captaincy of Wayne Pearce and the coaching of Warren Ryan...
.
Speaking to Inside Sport Magazine in August 2005, Hanley was asked:
What do you remember about that infamous tackle by Terry Lamb?
"I don’t know if it was caused by Terry Lamb, or if it was just my head hitting the ground. I couldn’t tell you because I have never looked at it since. Some people have said Terry got a good shot on me. I suspect, however, it was more a case of my head hitting the ground. I like to think it was accidental. Afterwards, I was concussed and didn’t know where I was. I didn’t regain all my faculties immediately so, from a safety point of view, I had to come off the football field. It was a shame, but it is a physical game and sometimes things like that happen."
Have you spoken to Lamb since then?
"No, I never have. I have never bumped into him. I have to say I respect him as a footballer. I don’t know him as a person, but by all accounts he is a good guy. Let me be clear that I have no malice towards him, none at all, regardless of the incident being deliberate or accidental."
The 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...
despite all the media pressure backed up Lamb's version of events and deemed he had no case to answer. Lamb was later selected in the Australian
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...
squad for the 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...
Final against New Zealand at Eden Park
Eden Park
Eden Park is the biggest stadium in Auckland, New Zealand. It is used primarily for rugby union in winter and cricket in summer . The ground also occasionally hostts rugby league matches. To accommodate all three sports, the cricket pitch is removable...
. Lamb was again selected as a replacement and came on the field after 20 minutes when captain 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...
broke his arm. It was to be Lamb's last match in Australian colours.
Canterbury endured a tough year in 1989 as the 'Wozzaball' era out Belmore way was coming to a rapid close. Lamb didn't have his best season where it was affected by injuries and off-field dramas. He played one final match for NSW
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...
with the Blues going down 36-6. He was out injured for the middle part of the season and missed selection for the New Zealand Tour.
After the 1989 season, Phil Gould
Phil Gould
Phil Gould is an Australian rugby league broadcaster, journalist, administrator and former player and coach. Since the 1990s he has had a prominent role in Channel 9's coverage of rugby league, as a commentator on their match-day coverage, and appears on The Sunday Footy Show and The Sunday Roast...
was removed as coach with Chris Anderson taking over.
Captain of the Bulldogs
One of the first jobs that new coach Chris Anderson did was appoint Lamb as captain ahead of Paul LangmackPaul Langmack
Paul Langmack is an Australian former rugby league coach and representative and premiership-winning player.-Playing Career:While attending Fairfield Patrician Brothers, Langmack played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 1982....
and Andrew Farrar
Andrew Farrar
Andrew Farrar is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He played for the Canterbury Bulldogs, Western Suburbs Magpies, Wigan Warriors and Illawarra Steelers. Farrar also played for New South Wales in the State of Origin on several occasions and played for Australia in the 1988...
, who were commonly the deputies when Peter Tunks
Peter Tunks
Peter Tunks is an Australian former rugby league player for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Penrith Panthers, New South Wales and the Australian national side...
(who joined Penrith Panthers
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
in 1990) was unavailable.
The Bulldogs had a good start to the new season, taking the top spot in Round 6. They faltered away after a win over Penrith in Round 9, and although Lamb was back on the bench for the Round 13 game against North Sydney, Canterbury had slipped to 7th and did not regain a Top 5 spot for the rest of the season.
As feared the Bulldogs lost Paul Langmack
Paul Langmack
Paul Langmack is an Australian former rugby league coach and representative and premiership-winning player.-Playing Career:While attending Fairfield Patrician Brothers, Langmack played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 1982....
, Andrew Farrar
Andrew Farrar
Andrew Farrar is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He played for the Canterbury Bulldogs, Western Suburbs Magpies, Wigan Warriors and Illawarra Steelers. Farrar also played for New South Wales in the State of Origin on several occasions and played for Australia in the 1988...
, David Gillespie
David Gillespie
David "Cement" Gillespie is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. A sturdy forward, he played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Western Suburbs Magpies, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, New South Wales and for the Australian national side...
and Joe Thomas to Wests
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...
under former dual premiership-winning coach Warren Ryan
Warren Ryan
Warren Ryan is former rugby league football coach and player from Sydney, Australia. He is considered as one of the most influential coaches in recent times. Ryan also played 1st Grade Rugby League for the St George Dragons and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks....
. The club also lost Paul Dunn
Paul Dunn (rugby league)
Paul Dunn is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. A New Souht Wales State of Origin and Australian international representative forward, he played club football in Sydney for Eastern Suburbs, Canterbury-Bankstown, Parramatta and Penrith.-Biography:Dunn was...
to Penrith
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
and Jason Alchin 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,...
.
Lamb made himself unavailable for the 1990 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...
despite the controversial omission 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...
. Cliff Lyons and Kevin Walters were both selected once Lamb confirmed his unavailability.
On a personal level, a chronic groin injury would dog Lamb for the next few seasons. Lamb would be a week-to-week proposition throughout the 1990s.
Despite the departures from Canterbury at the end of the season, in 1991 they qualified in equal 5th position but went down 19-14 against arch-rivals Wests
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...
. The club under the leadership of Lamb developed as a competitive force. Lamb was captain to a new generation of players coming through the club who would play a big part in the club's successful years ahead including Darren Smith, Dean Pay
Dean Pay
Dean Pay is an Australian former professional rugby league player for the Canterbury Bulldogs, Parramatta Eels, New South Wales and for the Australian national side....
, Simon Gillies, Matthew Ryan and 1991 Rothmans Medal Winner Ewan McGrady
Ewan McGrady
Ewan McGrady is an Australian retired rugby league footballer. He played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and the Western Suburbs Magpies...
. The 1991 season was the only time Lamb would be suspended throughout his career when he was sent off for an alleged headbutt on Manly's
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...
Geoff Toovey
Geoff Toovey
Geoffrey "Geoff" Toovey is an Australian rugby league coach and former professional player of the late 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. He was educated at Davidson High School...
. He received four weeks for the offence.
Lamb missed the first five matches in 1992 but when he returned he enjoyed one of his finest individual seasons where Canterbury started to be tagged a 'one-man team'. Lamb lifted the Bulldogs to the brink of the semi-finals before once again making himself unavailable as the 1992 World Cup loomed. Lamb came 2nd in the Dally M Awards for 1992.
A new wave of signings joined the Bulldogs in 1993 and the team that Lamb and Anderson moulded was coming to fruition. The Bulldogs won the Minor Premiership with Lamb making it a hat-trick of Dally M Five-Eighth of the Year awards and Anderson winning Dally M Coach of the Year. Canterbury crashed out in the semi-finals but it was a great effort by the club to get to a position of strength after being warm favourites for the 1991 Wooden Spoon.
Lamb broke his arm in 1994 when playing his 299th first grade match against Wests
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...
. Lamb would return to play his 300th match against Souths
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...
playing at Concord Oval and wearing the No.55 jumper. Concord was only used for three League games and Lamb wore No.55 as he was a late inclusion into the side. Lamb broke the record previously held by Geoff Gerard
Geoff Gerard
Geoff Gerard is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative forward, he played his club football with Sydney clubs Parramatta, Manly-Warringah and Penrith, and also spent time with Engish clubs...
in the final round, which ironically was against his former club Wests
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...
at Campbelltown with both Canterbury
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...
and Wests
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...
jointly celebrating the occasion. Canterbury with their victory in Lamb's 304th first grade game won the Minor Premiership and defeated Canberra
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
in the Major Semi-Final. The Raiders however won the Grand Final 36-12 in a big disappointment for Lamb and the Bulldogs.
1995 Grand Final
The 1995 season was to be Lamb's last season and the Bulldogs were keen to send him out a winner but it all went wrong early when the Bulldogs were caught up in the firing line of the Super League WarSuper League war
The Super League war is the common name given to the corporate dispute that was fought in and out of court during the mid-1990s between the Rupert Murdoch and News Corporation-backed Super League and the Kerry Packer and Optus Vision-backed Australian Rugby League organisations over broadcasting...
. Lamb's strength and character as a captain shone through when he held the club together and rallied everyone (bar one) in the latter half of the season. Canterbury qualified in 6th position for 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...
Finals Series. The Bulldogs defeated 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,...
, Brisbane
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
and defending premiers Canberra
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
to make the Grand Final against 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...
.
Canterbury
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...
were never headed in the Grand Final defeating 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...
17-4 in the decider with Lamb plotting a crucial drop-goal to give them a seven-point lead. Lamb spent 10 minutes in the sin bin but that didn't stop his performance as he steered Canterbury to an impressive victory.
It was a sweet moment for Lamb and coach Chris Anderson after five years of planning went into this moment. The 1995 Grand Final was also the swansong for Chief Executive Peter Moore
Peter Bullfrog Moore
Peter "Bullfrog" Moore OAM was an Australian 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...
who retired from his post after 26 years of service. Moore would remain a member of the Canterbury Leagues Club board until 1998.
Lamb's planned retirement was shelved as he helped his beloved club for one more season to get through a sudden player departure caused by the Super League War
Super League war
The Super League war is the common name given to the corporate dispute that was fought in and out of court during the mid-1990s between the Rupert Murdoch and News Corporation-backed Super League and the Kerry Packer and Optus Vision-backed Australian Rugby League organisations over broadcasting...
. Lamb didn't seek the captaincy with Simon Gillies taking on that role and when Gillies was injured for the second half of the season, Lamb again opted not to be captain with Darren Britt
Darren Britt
Darren Britt is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played for the Western Suburbs Magpies and the Canterbury Bulldogs in the National Rugby League competition....
taking the reins (in a sign of things to come). Lamb's career wound down on 25 August 1996, when Canterbury
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...
defeated North Queensland
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
50-22 at Belmore Sports Ground
Belmore Sports Ground
Belmore Sports Ground, formerly known as Belmore Oval, is a multi-purpose stadium in Belmore, New South Wales, Australia. The park covers and from 1951 has contained the Belmore Bowling Recreation Club green. It is close to Belmore railway station....
. Lamb scored two tries and it was ironic that the start and end of his career saw him score a double.
The finest support player the game has seen played a record 349 first grade games (88 at Western Suburbs
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...
, 261 at Canterbury-Bankstown
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...
). He also scored 164 first grade tries, a mark bettered only by Andrew Ettingshausen
Andrew Ettingshausen
Andrew Ettingshausen is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. He played his first grade Australian club football for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, retiring with the record of most games at a single club, with 328...
(165), Steve Menzies (180) and Ken Irvine
Ken Irvine
Kenneth John Irvine was an Australian rugby league footballer of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. He holds the standing record for the most number of tries in a first-grade career – 212. No other player has yet managed 200 tries in their career, apart from Steve Menzies who has scored 216...
(212).
In a strange twist, with 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...
having reached (and won) the 2008 NRL Grand Final, Menzies ended his career in Australia having equalled Lamb's league record of 349 games in his final match. The 34 year old veteran of 15 NRL seasons then signed a contract to play the 2009 season and beyond with European Super League club, the Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
.
In anticipation of equalling Lamb's record with his final appearance, Manly was reported to have made Menzies an offer to make a cameo appearance in 2009 to break the record. Menzies' response confirmed his and Lamb's standing among the greats:
"I wouldn't consider coming back for one game and cheapening the record or anything," said Menzies.
"If I fell one short or equalled it or whatever then that's my career and the way it finishes.
"(Lamb) was such a great player ... I'm very honoured to stand next to him.
Menzies' equalling of Lamb's record has been described by many (including Lamb) as the rugby league equivalent of Mark Taylor retiring on the same score as Don Bradman's Australian test batting record (334 not out) in a 1998 cricket test against Pakistan. Lamb was quoted as having appreciated the gesture. Lamb set many records at Canterbury
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...
with the last one, a landmark of 123 tries being broken by winger Hazem El Masri
Hazem El Masri
Hazem El Masri is a Lebanese-Australian retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. An Australia and Lebanon international, and New South Wales State of Origin representative winger, he played his entire club football career with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs with...
, against the Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
in 2006.
Lamb would be acknowledged in 2004 as the Canterbury
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...
five-eighth and captain in their 70-years greatest side.
349 or 350?
In August 2011, Darren LockyerDarren Lockyer
Darren Lockyer is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer. He was the captain of the Australian national team, the Queensland State of Origin team and his National Rugby League club, the Brisbane Broncos. His professional career spanned between 1995 and 2011...
played his 350th game and was awarded with breaking the record (349 games, jointly held by Lamb, according to the NRL) for most games played. However a website which compiles player and team statistics, RugbyLeagueProject has checked the list of games played and found that while the numbers for Wests tally, it appears that Lamb played an additional game in 1986 (it is thought to be the Major Semi Final that the NRL statistics have missed). This would bring his total to the season to 24 (from 23), his total for Canterbury to 262, and his career total to 350. Although Lockyer would still hold the record for most games, it would have been broken a game later.
Coaching career
Lamb went straight from playing to coaching immediately after his retirement. Lamb was trainer in Chris Anderson's last year at Canterbury and took on the reserve grade position in 1998 with Steve FolkesSteve Folkes
Steve Folkes is a former Australian rugby league test footballer and former coach of the Bulldogs in the National Rugby League...
promoted to the top grade side. Lamb immediately tasted success steering the 1998 reserve grade side to a premiership and backed that up with a premiership in 2000. Lamb was also trainer for the first grade side.
The coaching success Lamb enjoyed in the lower grades saw him land the Wests Tigers
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
head coaching position in 2001. However, the move to first grade proved to be a 'king hit' to his future coaching ambitions. This was a disastrous period for Wests Tigers
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
, finishing in the bottom three in both 2001 and 2002. The club was plagued by player ill-discipline and suffered the embarrassment of the infamous finger-poking incident. Wests Tigers
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
decided to revamp their coaching structure and replaced Lamb with Tim Sheens
Tim Sheens
Tim Sheens is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. He currently coaches the Wests Tigers of the National Rugby League and in 2009 was appointed coach of the Australian national team, the Kangaroos...
in 2003.
The salary cap dramas that were emerging at Canterbury
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...
saw Lamb return to the club and take up a position as director of the football club, which he held until the end of 2005. Lamb was rushed back to add stability through a tough time in the club.
Lamb coached the Cabramatta Jim Beam Cup side in 2005 and in 2006 accepted a marketing/coaching position at the Bulldogs. This appointment meant that Lamb stood down from his position as Football Club Director. Lamb returned to coaching again at the Bulldogs in 2008 when he was appointed as the Bulldogs NSW VB Cup Coach.
Western Suburbs
Career: 1980-83First Grade Games: 88
Tries: 41
Goals: 11
Field Goals: 7
Points: 163
Reserve Grade Games (1980): 1. Points: 4. (2 Goals)
Under 23's Games (1980): 6
Canterbury-Bankstown
Career: 1984-96First Grade Games: 261
Tries: 123 (club record)
Goals: 375
Field Goals: 37 (club record)
Points: 1,279
Reserve Grade Games (1986): 1. Points: 4. (2 Goals)
Australian Premiership
Career: 1980-96First Grade Games: 349 (record)
Tries: 164
Goals: 386
Field Goals: 44
Points: 1,442
First Class Record
261 First Grade Games for Canterbury88 First Grade Games for Wests
7 Tests for Australia
15 Tour Games for Australia
1 World Cup Final for Australia
8 State of Origin Games for NSW
7 City-Country Games
387 TOTAL FIRST CLASS GAMES
Achievements and Honours
- 1983 Dally M Player of the Year (1st Runner Up in 1984, 1987, 1992. 2nd Runner Up in 1986)
- 1984 Rothmans Medal Best & Fairest Winner
- Three times winner of the Dally M Players Player of the Year (1984, 1986, 1995)
- Record seven times Dally M Five-Eighth of the Year Award (1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1991, 1992, 1993)
- Won a record total of 18 Dally M Awards.
- NSWRL Premiership Leading Tryscorer in 1984 (17) and 1987 (16)
- NSWRL Premiership Leading Pointscorer in 1986 (210)
- Member of 1984, 1988 and 1995 Canterbury Premiership Winning Teams
- 1995 Canterbury Premiership Winning Captain
- Only player to play every match on a full Kangaroo TourKangaroo TourKangaroo 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...
. Lamb played in all 20 matches: 15 tour matches and 5 Tests on the 1986 Tour of Great Britain and France. - Leading Tryscoring with 19 on Australia'sAustralian national rugby league teamThe 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...
1986 Kangaroo TourKangaroo TourKangaroo 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... - Member of Australia's successful 1988 World Cup Final Squad
- Played in NSW'sNew South Wales Rugby LeagueThe 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...
first State of Origin cleansweep in 1986 - Scored two tries in his first Premiership match playing for WestsWestern Suburbs MagpiesThe 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...
against BalmainBalmain TigersThe Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles...
in 1980 and his last Premiership match playing for CanterburyCanterbury BulldogsThe 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...
against North QueenslandNorth Queensland CowboysThe North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
in 1996 - Awarded keys to City of Canterbury, New South WalesCity of Canterbury, New South WalesThe 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....
in 1995 along with Peter MoorePeter Bullfrog MoorePeter "Bullfrog" Moore OAM was an Australian 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... - Awarded an Order of AustraliaOrder of AustraliaThe 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 services to rugby leagueRugby leagueRugby 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... - Australian Sports MedalAustralian Sports MedalThe 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...
recipient, 24 October 2000. - In February 2008, Lamb was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players (1908–2007) which was commissioned by the NRLNational Rugby LeagueThe 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 ARLAustralian Rugby LeagueThe 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.
External links
- Roy and HG remember the Hanley punch
- State of Origin Official website Rugby League Player Stats
- Terry Lamb at eraofthebiff.com
See also
- Terry Lamb ComplexTerry Lamb ComplexTerry Lamb Complex is located on Banool St, Chester Hill, New South Wales. It is the home ground of the Chester Hill Hornets who compete in the Canterbury-Bankstown District Junior Rugby League competition. The complex is named after Terry Lamb who played for the Hornets as a junior...