Clive Churchill
Fullback
Player Bio
- Honoured:
- 1981
- Date of Birth:
- 21 January 1927
- Birthplace:
- Newcastle, NSW
- Nickname:
- Little Master
- Debut Team:
- Country Seconds
- Date:
- 08 May 1947
- Opposition:
- City Seconds
- Venue:
- Sydney Cricket Ground, NSW
- Representative:
- Country, City, Sydney, Brisbane, New South Wales, Queensland, Australia
- Clubs:
- Central Newcastle, South Sydney, Norths Brisbane
Career
Milestones
- Premierships: 1950-51, 1953, 1955
- Kangaroo Tour captain: 1952-53
- Kangaroo Tours: 1948-49, 1952-53, 1956-57
- Australian captain: 27 Tests
- NSWRL Player of the Year: 1950-51, 1953
- Sun-Herald Best and Fairest: 1952
- Grand Final man of the match*: 1954
- 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. 1 in Rugby League Week’s Top 100 players: 1992
- Named in NRL Team of the 1950s: 2007
Playing
- First Class Games
- 317
- Points
- 478
- Tries
- 31
Biography
Clive Churchill's size, 168cm and 76kg, gave hope to all males of smaller stature who dreamed of playing rugby league. "I have never seen a greater player than Clive Churchill'', said long-time ARL chairman Bill Buckley. ''Churchill is the greatest'', reckoned Dally Messenger.
''He set the standard by which all the famous rugby league players of his era, and since, will be assessed,'' wrote renowned league writer Tom Goodman.
''I never saw Dally Messenger ('The Master') play,'' said Ray Stehr. ''But I have seen the Little Master.''
With Souths, NSW and Australia, he performed magnificent deeds. He played 157 club games, 37 times for NSW, an incredible 91 times for Australia (including 34 Tests and three World Cup games) — 298 games in all.
He then went on to coach South Sydney to four premierships in five years (1967, 1968, 1970 and 1971).
In 1981, when Churchill was named one of Rugby League Week's four ''Immortals'', it was yet another nod to his greatness.
Photographs and film exist as a reminder of what a quick-footed, relentless player he was, jersey sleeves always rolled up, setting up raids from the back, revolutionising fullback play for all who were to follow, felling opponents of all sizes with his brilliant low tackling.
In rugby league's world, Clive Churchill did it all, taking over the captaincy of his country in 1950 and promptly leading Australia to the first Ashes win in 30 years, and winning five premierships with Souths from that memorable season to 1955.
“He set the standards by which all the famous Australian Rugby League players of his era, and since, will be assessed.”
Tom Goodman Sydney Morning Herald journalist
43. Clive Churchill - Hall of Fame
Career Stats
Club Career
| Team Name | Competition | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Newcastle | Newcastle Rugby League | 1946 | 1947 | - | - | - | - | - |
| South Sydney | Premiership | 1947 | 1958 | 157 | 13 | 77 | - | 93 |
| Northern Suburbs Brisbane | Brisbane Club Competition | 1959 | 1959 | 13 | 3 | 29 | - | 67 |
| Moree | Group 5 Competition | 1961 | 1961 | - | - | - | - | - |
Representative Career
City - Country
| Team Name | Opponent | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country Seconds | City Seconds | 1947 | 1947 | 1 | - | 4 | - | 8 |
| City Seconds | Country Seconds | 1948 | 1948 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| City Firsts | Country Firsts | 1948 | 1955 | 8 | 2 | 4 | - | 14 |
| Sydney | Touring Sides | 1951 | 1954 | 3 | - | 7 | - | 14 |
Intercity
| Team Name | Competition | Opponent | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brisbane | 1959 | 1959 | 4 | 2 | - | 1 | 7 | ||
| Brisbane | Touring Sides | 1959 | 1959 | 1 | - | 1 | - | 2 |
State
| Team Name | Competition | Opponent | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Interstate Series | Queensland | 1948 | 1957 | 27 | 4 | 18 | - | 48 |
| New South Wales | Touring Sides | 1950 | 1955 | 10 | 1 | 13 | - | 29 | |
| Queensland | Touring Sides | 1959 | 1959 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
International
| Team Name | Competition | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Tests and World Cup | 1948 | 1957 | 37 | - | 10 | - | 20 |
| Australia | Tour Matches | 1948 | 1957 | 54 | 6 | 39 | - | 96 |
Latest
Immortals
National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.
