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SEVEN LAWRENCE FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN RUGBY LEAGUE WITH THE SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOH’S   

 

Since it’s formation in 1907 as the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) , the game of rugby league has become an iconic part of our Nation’s character,which has survived through financial struggles, losses, internal battles, challenges / take overs , expansion and maintaining popularity. Established in 1907,based upon the adopted Rules played by the Northern Union of England, by three men James J.Giltinan ( Entrepreneur), Victor Trumper (Test Cricketer) and Henry Hoyle ( Trade Unionist/Labour Party Politician). The masterly acquisition of champion player Dally Messenger to the game in 1908 , resulted in the NSWRL and the Queensland Rugby League forming Clubs in their areas. In NSW the Foundation Clubs were Glebe, South Sydney, Newtown, Eastern Suburbs, North Sydney , Balmain, Western Suburbs , Newcastle and Cumberland and the 1st competition was won by South Sydney plus the 1st Australian Kangaroo Representative Team tour of Great Britain took place .

 

Since 1908 the game has faced many challenges and changes to all aspects of the game,including:

– playing rule changes

– Media coverage – 1924 x 1st radio coverage ;1961 TV coverage introduced; 1967 live TV coverage of the Grand Final ; to today’s worldwide TV coverage

– introduction of home and away fixtures

– sponsorship changes/rules

– State of Origin NSW v Queensland introduced 1980

– salary cap introduced

– Super League War 1995-1997

– amalgamation and removal of some Clubs

– National Rugby League formed in 1998

– premiership teams increase to 16 Clubs (including Auckland Warriors) .

 

Throughout the seasons we have been thrilled by the excitement, veracity, skills shown, generated by the players and been fortunate to witness the skills of legendary players like Dally Messenger, Dave Brown, Clive Churchill, Ken Irvine, John Raper, Reg Gasnier, Artie Beetson, Bob Fulton and Andrew Johns. It is remarkable how the modern game has changed the character and lifestyles of today’s elite players . Today the players are fully paid professionals ,who only have one occupation that being training and playing fulltime for their Clubs.However back in it’s infancy and growth days up until present times of professional players, players could not rely on match and/or contract payments so they needed to have fulltime jobs(often more than one) to support their families, would finish work and rush off to Club training , at least two nights a week plus match days.

 

One could imagine over the years in most suburban family homes rugby league was the topic every night , as families and relatives sat to eat their dinner and talked about the game plus in time were able to listen/watch the games.Fathers’,Uncles’ and sons’ played rugby league with the burning desire to wear the colours of their District Rugby League Clubs. So it was meant to be that members of families would gravitate into the game and over the years we have witnessed many talented family members play our wonderful game and give us countless hours of sporting enjoyment .

 

For the purposes of this article I have restricted the naming of families to those who have had four or more members play grade rugby league for only one elite level Club and my extensive research has revealed the following:

 

* FOUR MEMBERS include the families of Norman, Burge, Ellis, McCaffery, Burgess, Hardy, Vievers , Mortimer, Smith and Gartner ;

* FIVE MEMBERS  include the families of Quinlivan and McKinnon ;

* SIX  MEMBERS  the Hughes family .

 

The above achievements are truly remarkable but they are surpassed by seven members of the South Sydney heartland Lawrence Family , who were so proud to wear the cardinal and myrtle of the South Sydney Rabbitoh’s spanning the Club’s history from 1918-1969. The Lawrence reign commenced with three brothers JACK SNR from 1918-1928,who played 66 games 1st grade , often was Captain and he won a Sun Herald Player of the Year Award and VIC from 1919-1928, played 95 games 1st grade as a centre or winger and represented NSW three times in 1927. South Sydney won the 1st grade Premierships in 1925-1928 and their teammates were the greats of the era Alf Blair, Benny Wearing, George Treweek and Eddie Root. Younger brother STEVE a second rower was graded in 1933 but his playing career was limited due to The Depression and not playing for fear of injury preventing his ability to work.

Souths 14 Balmain 24.

Vic scored a try for Souths.

 

Souths 5 Wests 21

Sydney 2o  were beaten by England 27

Vic Lawrence captain of the Metropolitan First team.

NSW 14 beat QLD 10.

Souths 20 beat St George 11.

Younger brother Steve also played Grade for Souths.

Next in the chain of the dynasty were JACK SNR , two sons JACK JNR who played 19 games 1st grade in 1942-1945 and VINCE who played 23 games in 1942, 1944-46 and 1948 and both played with “The Mighty Atom” halfback Clem Kennedy, who was selected for NSW in both 1945 and 1946 plus the Australian Third Test Team against Great Britain in 1946.

Fate would have it that Clem was the Coach of the 1961 victorious South Sydney President’s Cup, which had amongst it’s players the two sons of Steve.

Balmain 15 Souths 6

Newtown 32 Souths 7.

These two sons were STEVEN JNR who during 1964-1969 as a centre or second rower played 35 reserve and 67 third grade games plus playing 1st grade in the then State Cup . JOHN the remaining younger brother was graded in 1961 (from President’s Cup) , 1964-1966 played 2 x 1st grade, 15 reserve and 27 third grade games . Both commented that it was extremely difficult to be graded with South Sydney in those years given the wealth of talented forwards like Bob McCarthy, Ron Coote, Gary Stevens, John Sattler and Bob Moses that South Sydney Club possessed .

 

Steve Jnr and his brother John.

Off the field both had successful careers with STEVEN JNR following a profession in the Meat Industry and JOHN in the Banking Sector. Today they recall fondly their South Sydney playing days with great pride and will never forget the camaraderie that existed amongst their teammates in the past and still today. Naturally they are so proud to be included in the seven Members of the Lawrence Family who played for the South Sydney Rabbitoh’s Club and create a bit of rugby league history.

 

Records are made to be broken and it only remains to see how long before this magnificent achievement will be surpassed.

 

by Ken Vessey

Men of League Northern Sydney / Chelsea Old Mates

18 March 2019

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