Bob Fulton
Five-eighth, Centre
Player Bio
- Honoured:
- 1981
- Date of Birth:
- 01 December 1946
- Birthplace:
- Warrington, UK
- Nickname:
- Bozo
- Debut Team:
- Country Seconds
- Date:
- 22 May 1965
- Opposition:
- City Seconds
- Venue:
- Sydney Cricket Ground, NSW
- Representative:
- Country, City, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Clubs:
- Wests Wollongong, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Warrington, Eastern Suburbs Roosters
Career
Milestones
- Premierships: 1972-73, 1976
- Australian captain: 7 Tests
- NSWRL Player of the Year: 1973-74
- Grand Final man of the match*: 1973
- Rugby League Week Player of the Year: 1975
- Immortal: 1981
- Australian Rugby League Team of the Century: 2008
- New South Wales Team of the Century: 2008
- NSW Country Team of the Century 2008
- Rated No. 6 in Rugby League Week’s Top 100 players: 1992
- Named in NRL Team of the 1960s: 2006
- Named in NRL Team of the 1970s: 2005
Playing
- First Class Games
- 428
- Points
- 961
- Tries
- 259
Biography
Although known as the master of the unorthodox and a brilliant individualist who could single-handedly turn a game, the force that drove Bob Fulton was a competitive spirit that coursed through his body.
It propelled him to great heights as a player and later as a coach at club and international level.
One of the game's original ''Immortals'', Fulton holds the unique distinction of winning premiership titles and Ashes series as a player, captain and coach.
Born in England and raised in Wollongong, Fulton joined Manly as an 18-year-old and in 11 years with the Sea Eagles never played anything other than first grade.
In 1967, he was chosen as captain of City against Country in a selection trial for that year's Kangaroo tour, but was outpointed by Country pivot Tony Branson and missed out on selection.
However, he was included in Australia's World Cup squad during the following season, and went on to play 35 Tests and World Cup matches for Australia.
Fulton won premierships with Manly in 1972, 1973 (when his two tries paved the way for victory over Cronulla) and 1976, when he captained the Sea Eagles to victory in his final game for the club.
He then accepted a rich offer to join Easts, played two years there, and then turned to coaching, steering Manly to premiership titles in 1987 and 1996, and coaching Australia from 1989 to 1998.
“He had an opulent fusion of match-winning talents; speed of thought and foot; blended with a single-minded competitiveness.”
Robert Smith The Sea Eagles Has Landed.
74. Bob Fulton - Hall of Fame
Career Stats
Club Career
| Team Name | Competition | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Suburbs Wollongong | Illawarra Competition | 1965 | 1965 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | Premiership | 1966 | 1976 | 213 | 129 | 10 | 56 | 510 |
| Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | Official Pre-Season | 1966 | 1976 | 43 | 15 | 3 | 4 | 59 |
| Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | Mid-Week Competitions | 1974 | 1976 | 4 | 5 | 2 | - | 19 |
| Warrington | England First Class Games | 1969 | 1970 | 16 | 16 | 1 | - | 50 |
| Eastern Suburbs Roosters | Premiership | 1977 | 1979 | 50 | 18 | 16 | 2 | 88 |
| Eastern Suburbs Roosters | Official Pre-Season | 1977 | 1979 | 8 | 1 | - | - | 3 |
| Eastern Suburbs Roosters | Mid-Week Competitions | 1977 | 1979 | 5 | 1 | - | - | 3 |
Representative Career
City - Country
| Team Name | Opponent | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country Seconds | City Seconds | 1965 | 1965 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| City Firsts | Country Firsts |
1967
1970
1973
1978 |
1968
1971
1975
1978 |
8 | 3 | - | - | 9 |
| City Seconds | Country Seconds | 1969 | 1969 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| Sydney | Country | 1968 | 1968 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
State
| Team Name | Competition | Opponent | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Interstate Series | Queensland |
1967
1971
1978 |
1969
1975
1978 |
17 | 14 | - | - | 42 |
International
| Team Name | Competition | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Tests and World Cup |
1968
1970
1978 |
1968
1975
1978 |
35 | 25 | - | 6 | 82 |
| Australia | Tour Matches |
1970
1978 |
1973
1978 |
25 | 31 | - | - | 93 |
Other Representative
| Team Name | Opponent | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kangaroos | The Rest | 1974 | 1974 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 3 |
Latest
Immortals
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