Vale Fred Anderson

22 May 1933 – 28 March 2012

Fred Anderson
Long term Bulldog hooker, Fred Anderson passed away on Wednesday night, 28 March. He was 78 years of age.

Fred joined the Bulldogs in 1951 and stayed at Belmore for 13 seasons. He played 211 matches for the club, 197 in first grade, where he scored 16 tries. During his time with Canterbury, Fred played two matches for NSW. and one for City Firsts. The two games for NSW were in 1958 and 1961, while the City game was in 1958.

Fred came into grade as an 18 year old in 1951and played in the third grade semi final against South Sydney that first season. The next year, on 19 April 1952, he made his first grade debut, against Parramatta. Fred was awarded Life Membership of the Bulldogs Football club.

In 1964, he switched to South Sydney, where in four seasons, he played 57 first grade games, including the 1965 Grand Final against St. George.

Fred has a very unusual place in international Rugby League. He played his only Test for South Africa against New Zealand in Auckland. In 1963, a South African team made a 13 match tour of Australia and New Zealand. They were well beaten, 34-6 and 54-21 in their two Tests with Australia and so before they flew to New Zealand to play four matches, including one Test, it was decided to strengthen their playing ranks. So Fred and 1963 Kangaroo forward, Graham Wilson, were added to their squad. Because the two Australians played, the Test wasn’t recognised as an official Test at that time, but nowadays it is. The Kiwis wanted to win it and fielded a strong team, which included such big names of those days as Mel Cooke, Maunga Emery, Bill Snowden and Roger Bailey.

On a muddy Carlaw Park on 10 August 1963, the South Africans caused an upset by winning the international, 4-3. Playing at five eighth, Fred Griffiths, who was North Sydney captain/coach that season, landed two goals for the visitors and New Zealand hooker Gary Blacker crossed for a try. Both Fred and Graham played key roles in the upset victory.

Technically speaking this match allowed Fred to become the first Canterbury junior to play a Test match.

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