Ken Maddison
Encyclopedia
Ken Maddison is an Australian former rugby league
footballer of the 1960s and 70s. He played in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership for the St. George Dragons
(with whom he won the 1966 premiership) and later the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (whom he captained). He was also a state
and national representative, playing four Tests for Australia in 1973.
, the last of the Dragons' record-breaking 11 consecutive premiership wins. He won that first premiership as a centre but later moved into the forwards and enjoyed success in his career as a wide running second-rower.
In the late 60s after St George had lost the stars of their long reign, Ken Maddison's work ethic (along with the stellar brilliance of Billy Smith and Graeme Langlands
) was a factor in keeping the club competitive, regularly finishing in the top five. Maddison played in the 1971 Grand Final loss to South Sydney
, again in the centres. Ken's younger brother Keith also played alongside him at the Dragons in six seasons from 1966 to 1971.
1973 was Maddison's career high-point when he became the first forward to win the Rothmans Medal
for best and fairest player in the League, edging out Ron Coote
by just one point. He also scored a personal best eight tries that year before playing in Cronulla's first Grand Final, the 1973 loss to Manly-Warringah
7 - 10.
Although Maddison played at a time when the loose forwards of the Souths' pack - Coote, Bob McCarthy
, Gary Stevens
and Paul Sait
- dominated representative selections, he managed his Australian debut at the end of a great club season in 1973 when he was selected for the 1973 Kangaroo tour
. He was one of the form forwards of the tour scoring two tries in the third and deciding Test against Great Britain
. He played in all three Ashes Tests
, in one Test against France and in nine minor tour matches scoring six tries in all. The following year he made his sole state appearance for New South Wales Blues
.
Maddison continued playing for Cronulla-Sutherland until 1975. In 2006, he was named at second-row in a Sharks dream team.
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 1960s and 70s. He played in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership for 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,...
(with whom he won the 1966 premiership) and later the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (whom he captained). He was also a state
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...
and national representative, playing four Tests for Australia in 1973.
St. George
Maddison started his first-grade football career with St. George in 1965 and the following year appeared in his first grand finalGrand 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...
, the last of the Dragons' record-breaking 11 consecutive premiership wins. He won that first premiership as a centre but later moved into the forwards and enjoyed success in his career as a wide running second-rower.
In the late 60s after St George had lost the stars of their long reign, Ken Maddison's work ethic (along with the stellar brilliance of Billy Smith and Graeme Langlands
Graeme Langlands
Graeme 'Changa' Langlands, MBE, is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach of the 1960s and 70s. He retired as the most-capped player for the Australian national team with 45 from 1963 to 1975, and captained his country in 15 Test matches and World Cup games. Langlands was the...
) was a factor in keeping the club competitive, regularly finishing in the top five. Maddison played in the 1971 Grand Final loss to 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...
, again in the centres. Ken's younger brother Keith also played alongside him at the Dragons in six seasons from 1966 to 1971.
Cronulla-Sutherland
In 1972 Maddison moved to the young Cronulla-Sutherland club, playing in the second row.1973 was Maddison's career high-point when he became the first forward to win the Rothmans Medal
Rothmans Medal
The Rothmans Medal was the premier individual award in both the New South Wales Rugby League and Brisbane Rugby League competitions, and later in the Australian Rugby League, which was given to the player voted by referees as the best and fairest in those competitions for that year.The award was...
for best and fairest player in the League, edging out Ron Coote
Ron Coote
Ron Coote AM is an Australian former representative rugby league player whose club career was played with the South Sydney and Eastern Suburbs, both of whom he won premierships with. He is considered one of the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century...
by just one point. He also scored a personal best eight tries that year before playing in Cronulla's first Grand Final, the 1973 loss to Manly-Warringah
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
7 - 10.
Although Maddison played at a time when the loose forwards of the Souths' pack - Coote, Bob McCarthy
Bob McCarthy
Bob McCarthy MBE is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, New South Wales and for the Australian national side...
, Gary Stevens
Gary Stevens (rugby league)
Gary Stevens is an Australian former rugby league player, a hard tackling second-row forward of the 1960s and 1970s for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs and Australian national representative side. He is the grandson of Souths club great Arthur Oxford.-Club...
and Paul Sait
Paul Sait
Paul Sait was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach. A versatile Centre or running forward of the 1970s for the South Sydney Rabbitohs...
- dominated representative selections, he managed his Australian debut at the end of a great club season in 1973 when he was selected for the 1973 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...
. He was one of the form forwards of the tour scoring two tries in the third and deciding Test against Great Britain
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"....
. He played in all three Ashes Tests
Rugby League Ashes
The Ashes is the name given to the trophy awarded to the winner of a best-of-three series of rugby league football test series between Great Britain and Australia...
, in one Test against France and in nine minor tour matches scoring six tries in all. The following year he made his sole state appearance for New South Wales Blues
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...
.
Maddison continued playing for Cronulla-Sutherland until 1975. In 2006, he was named at second-row in a Sharks dream team.