Cliff Lyons
Five-eighth
Player Bio
- Inducted:
- 2018
- Date of Birth:
- 19 October 1961
- Birthplace:
- Narrandera, NSW
- Nickname:
- Cliffy
- Debut Team:
- Riverina
- Date:
- 11 July 1982
- Opposition:
- New Zealand
- Venue:
- Eric Weissel Oval, Wagga Wagga
- Representative:
- Riverina, City, New South Wales, Australia, Rest of the World
- Clubs:
- Gundagai, North Sydney Bears, Leeds, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Sheffield Eagles, Umina
Career
Milestones
- Premierships: 1987, 1996
- Kangaroo tour: 1990
- Dally M Player of the Year: 1990, 1994
- Dally M Five-eighth of the Year: 1990, 1994
- Rugby League Week Player of the Year: 1994
- Clive Churchill Medal winner: 1987
- Indigenous Team of the Century: 2008
Playing
- First Class Games
- 431
- Points
- 535
- Tries
- 125
Biography
A two-times Dally M Medalist as the NRL's player of the year, Lyons made 309 appearances for Manly and won the Clive Churchill Medal after leading the Sea Eagles to grand final success in 1987.
He also helped Manly to premiership glory in 1996 and played a key role in the Kangaroos 14-10 second Test defeat of Great Britain in 1990 by scoring a try after being called in to partner Ricky Stuart in the halves after Australia lost the first Test.
His natural talent, his skill with a football was phenomenal. He could find support every time, as if he had eyes in the back of his head.
Steve Menzies Beaver, the Steve Menzies story
"The moments that stand out for me from my career were the 1987 grand final, which was my first one, and getting picked on the Kangaroo tour in 1990," Lyons said.
"After losing the first Test there was a chance of losing the Ashes and I was picked in the second Test. I scored a try and we won."
Lyons, who scored 336 points for the Sea Eagles from 80 tries five goals and six field goals, continued playing in the local competition until his mid 40s and has represented Australia in touch football.
"I am overwhelmed by this, it was unexpected," he said of his Hall of Fame selection. "There are certainly some great names there so I wouldn't have been worried if I had missed out."
Career Stats
Club Career
| Team Name | Competition | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gundagai | 1982 | 1984 | - | - | - | - | - | |
| North Sydney Bears | Premiership | 1985 | 1985 | 23 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 37 |
| North Sydney Bears | Mid-week competition | 1985 | 1985 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| Leeds | England First Class Games |
1985
1988 |
1986
1989 |
53 | 24 | - | 4 | 100 |
| Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | Premiership | 1986 | 1999 | 309 | 80 | 5 | 6 | 336 |
| Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | Mid-week Competitions |
1986
1989 |
1987
1989 |
6 | 1 | - | - | 4 |
| Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | World Club Challenge | 1987 | 1987 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | Touring International Teams | 1988 | 1988 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 4 |
| Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | Official Pre-season |
1990
1992
1994 |
1990
1992
1995 |
5 | 2 | - | - | 8 |
| Sheffield Eagles | England First Class Games | 1986 | 1987 | 6 | 3 | 3 | - | 18 |
| Umina | 2000 | 2001 | - | - | - | - | - |
Representative Career
State
| Team Name | Competition | Opponent | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | State of Origin | Queensland |
1987
1991 |
1988
1991 |
6 | 1 | - | - | 4 |
International
| Team Name | Competition | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Tests | 1990 | 1991 | 6 | 2 | - | - | 8 |
| Australia | Tour Matches | 1990 | 1991 | 7 | 4 | - | - | 16 |
Other Representative
| Team Name | Opponent | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rest of the World | Great Britain | 1988 | 1988 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
Latest
Hall of Fame Members
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