The 1961 NSW Schools Team

The 1961 NSW schools nine stone (57 kgs) team won the series three-nil over their Queensland counterparts. The three scorelines were 25-5, 3-0 and 23-0, giving NSW a total of 51 points to three.

Several of this team went on to do well in our game, with one of them finishing with an exceptional CV. Bob Fulton AO played in the centres in this side and he went on to become one of the eight Immortals and a Team of the Century member. Bob, who turns 70 in December, is still active in Rugby League as the current Manly Sea Eagles Football Manager. He played 35 Tests, seven as captain and coached Australia in 40 Tests. With Manly and then the Roosters he played a total of 263 first grade games, scoring 147 tries. At Manly he was a member of three Grand Final winning teams in 1972, 1973 and 1976. Bob also represented NSW schools in 1960 and 1959 as a student at Dapto High School.

Another member of this schools team was Keith Maddison, who is the younger brother of four Test second rower, Ken Maddison. Keith was selected from Jesmond High in Newcastle and later attended James Cook High at Kogarah for a year when he signed with St. George in 1965. He played 65 first grade matches for the Dragons from 1966 to 1972 and then returned to Newcastle as captain/coach of Central Charlestown for two seasons. Centre Arthur Holmes was chosen from Port Kembla High and he had a successful playing career in the Illawarra competition. Arthur was a member of the Port Kembla team which beat Wollongong 6-4 in the 1965 Grand Final to win the Illawarra first grade Premiership while he also played in Port Kembla’s losing sides in the 1968 and 1969 Grand Finals.

Wayne Fryer from Ibrox Park High at Leichhardt was also in the team and he went on to play three seasons with the Balmain reserve and third grade teams.

By Barry Ross