Johnny Hawke
Encyclopedia
Johnny Hawke was an Australian rugby league
footballer of the 1940s and '50s. An Australian international and New South Wales interstate
representative back, he played club football in the ACT
as well as in Sydney
for St. George
, whom he captained and won a premiership with in 1949.
in 1948. At the end of that year he went on the 1948-49 Kangaroo tour
, making four Test appearances against Great Britain and France. Upon the tour's return he signed with the St. George Dragons
for the 1949 NSWRFL season, in which he would lead the Saints to premiership victory. He featured in the 19-12 Grand final
win over South Sydney
. Mid-season 1949 he had made Kangaroo tour to New Zealand and another Test appearance.
In 1950 he was in the running for the Ashes series captaincy but was injured in the New South Wales tour match against the visiting Englishmen
and made no further rep appearances that year. He made a career total of six state representative
appearances for New South Wales and captained the side.
He captained-coached St.George in the premiership seasons of 1951 and 1952, and in 1951 made his final test appearance against France
. At the end of the 1952 season he left St Geogre to take a captain-coach role at Kyogle and he later coached at Woy Woy
.
Hawke died of Parkinson's disease
aged 66.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer of the 1940s and '50s. An Australian international and New South Wales interstate
New South Wales rugby league team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
representative back, he played club football in the ACT
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
as well as in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
for St. George
St. George Dragons
The St George Dragons was an Australian Rugby league football club in St George, Sydney, New South Wales that played in Australia's top-level Rugby league competition from New South Wales Rugby Football League in 1921 until 1998; in 1999 they formed a joint venture with the Illawarra Steelers,...
, whom he captained and won a premiership with in 1949.
Career
Hawke was still playing with Canberra when he was first selected for New South WalesNew South Wales rugby league team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
in 1948. At the end of that year he went on the 1948-49 Kangaroo tour
Kangaroo Tour
Kangaroo Tour is the name given to Australian national rugby league team tours of Great Britain and France. The first Kangaroo Tour was in 1908. Traditionally, Kangaroo Tours took place every four years and involved a three-Test Ashes series against Great Britain and a number of tour matches...
, making four Test appearances against Great Britain and France. Upon the tour's return he signed with the St. George Dragons
St. George Dragons
The St George Dragons was an Australian Rugby league football club in St George, Sydney, New South Wales that played in Australia's top-level Rugby league competition from New South Wales Rugby Football League in 1921 until 1998; in 1999 they formed a joint venture with the Illawarra Steelers,...
for the 1949 NSWRFL season, in which he would lead the Saints to premiership victory. He featured in the 19-12 Grand final
Grand Final
Grand Final is a predominantly Australian sport term used to describe a match that decides a league champion.It originated in Victoria and South Australia and has become specifically significant Australian culture...
win over South Sydney
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
. Mid-season 1949 he had made Kangaroo tour to New Zealand and another Test appearance.
In 1950 he was in the running for the Ashes series captaincy but was injured in the New South Wales tour match against the visiting Englishmen
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
and made no further rep appearances that year. He made a career total of six state representative
New South Wales Blues
The New South Wales cricket team are an Australian first class cricket team based in Sydney, New South Wales...
appearances for New South Wales and captained the side.
He captained-coached St.George in the premiership seasons of 1951 and 1952, and in 1951 made his final test appearance against France
France national rugby league team
The France national rugby league team represent France in international rugby league tournaments. They are also sometimes referred to as "Les Tricolores" or more commonly "Les Chanticleers"...
. At the end of the 1952 season he left St Geogre to take a captain-coach role at Kyogle and he later coached at Woy Woy
Woy Woy, New South Wales
Woy Woy is a coastal town and a southern suburb of the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia, located on the southern reaches of Brisbane Water north of Sydney...
.
Hawke died of Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
aged 66.