Lionel Morgan
Winger
Player Bio
- Inducted:
- 2024
- Date of Birth:
- 12 August 1938
- Birthplace:
- Tweed Heads, NSW
- Nickname:
- -
- Debut Team:
- Wynnum Manly Seagulls
- Date:
- -
- Opposition:
- -
- Venue:
- -
- Representative:
- Australia, Queensland
- Club:
- Wynnum Manly Seagulls
Career
Milestones
- Australia: Tests 3 (1960); World Cup 1960
- Queensland: Interstate games 12 (1960-63); Games v touring international teams 4 (1960-63)
- Other information: First Indigenous player to represent Australia
- Played over 100 games for Wynnum and later coached the club
- Named in Australian Rugby League’s Indigenous Team of the Century in 2008
Biography
After moving from Tweed Heads to play for Wynnum Manly in 1959, Lionel Morgan quickly earned a reputation as quality finisher with pace to burn.
Lionel Morgan scores a brilliant individual try against France
A debut for Queensland came on May 17, 1960 at the SCG before he represented Brisbane against the touring French side and then made history on July 2, 1960 by becoming the first Indigenous man to play for Australia. Morgan scored two tries on debut in a 56-6 win over France in Brisbane, on the end of a backline that included future Immortal Reg Gasnier, Keith 'Golden Boots' Barnes and try-scoring machine Ken Irvine.
After two impressive outings for against France, Morgan was named in the World Cup squad to tour England at the end of 1960, the first challenge being to get his hands on a passport. “Dad wasn’t allowed to get a passport to go to England so it had to be arranged for him,” his son Earl told NRL.com in 2023. “Indigenous men and women and were still classified as flora and fauna in those days. You’ll never know what went through those people’s minds but we can only hope we iron out the creases for the next generation.”
Lionel Morgan scores a brilliant individual try against France
Hall of Fame Members
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.
