Noel Mulligan
Encyclopedia
Noel Mulligan was an Australian professional rugby league
footballer of the 1940s, 50s and 60s. An Australian international and New South Wales interstate
representative forward, he played club football in Sydney
's NSWRFL premiership for Newtown
and St. George
, as well as elsewhere in New South Wales.
's Port Kembla
club. In 1945 he joined the previous season's NSWRFL grand finalists, Newtown
. Mulligan was first selected to represent New South Wales in 1946 against Great Britain
. He was then selected to represent Australia for the first time, also against the British in the first test match
, becoming Kangaroo No. 227. He also played in the third Test, losing The Ashes to the Lions.
Mulligan returned to Country New South Wales in 1947, captain-coaching Bowral's club to a premiership in addition to continuing representative duties with New South Wales
and Country NSW.
In 1948 Mulligan returned to Newtown. He was selected to go on the 1948 Kangaroo tour
, playing in all five test matches against Great Britain and France
. Mulligan again represented New South Wales and toured New Zealand with the Australian team in 1949, missing his club Bowral's grand final loss. He signed to play in Sydney once again with St. George
from 1950, continuing to represent New South Wales as well as Sydney that season. The following year he played his last test match against France during their tour of Australia.
' home ground at Darcy Wentworth Park in the Wollongong suburb of Warrawong was named Noel Mulligan Oval.
In 2008, the Newtown Jets
club's centenary year, they named their 'Team of the Century' with Mulligan at lock forward. In addition the Illawarra Rugby League
named him at lock in their team of the century.
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, 50s and 60s. 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 forward, he played club football 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...
's NSWRFL premiership for Newtown
Newtown Jets
The Newtown Jets are an Australian rugby league football club based in Newtown, a suburb of Sydney's inner west. They currently compete in the NSWRL Premier League competition, having left the top grade after the 1983 NSWRFL season...
and 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,...
, as well as elsewhere in New South Wales.
Playing career
Mulligan started his playing career in the 1940s with the Illawarra Rugby LeagueIllawarra Rugby League
The Illawarra Rugby League is a rugby league competition in Wollongong, NSW. It is one of the oldest rugby league competitions in Australia, founded in 1911 with five clubs ....
's Port Kembla
Port Kembla Blacks
The Port Kembla Blacks are a Rugby League team that compete in the Illawarra Rugby League competition.-History:...
club. In 1945 he joined the previous season's NSWRFL grand finalists, Newtown
Newtown Jets
The Newtown Jets are an Australian rugby league football club based in Newtown, a suburb of Sydney's inner west. They currently compete in the NSWRL Premier League competition, having left the top grade after the 1983 NSWRFL season...
. Mulligan was first selected to represent New South Wales in 1946 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 was then selected to represent Australia for the first time, also against the British in the first test match
Test match (rugby league)
A Test match in rugby league football is a representative match between teams representing members of the Rugby League International Federation.The definition of a Test match differs from that of an international match...
, becoming Kangaroo No. 227. He also played in the third Test, losing The Ashes to the Lions.
Mulligan returned to Country New South Wales in 1947, captain-coaching Bowral's club to a premiership in addition to continuing representative duties with New South Wales
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 Country NSW.
In 1948 Mulligan returned to Newtown. He was selected to go on the 1948 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...
, playing in all five test matches against Great Britain and 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"...
. Mulligan again represented New South Wales and toured New Zealand with the Australian team in 1949, missing his club Bowral's grand final loss. He signed to play in Sydney once again with 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,...
from 1950, continuing to represent New South Wales as well as Sydney that season. The following year he played his last test match against France during their tour of Australia.
Post-playing
Mulligan died in 2000 aged 73. In 2001, the Port Kembla BlacksPort Kembla Blacks
The Port Kembla Blacks are a Rugby League team that compete in the Illawarra Rugby League competition.-History:...
' home ground at Darcy Wentworth Park in the Wollongong suburb of Warrawong was named Noel Mulligan Oval.
In 2008, the Newtown Jets
Newtown Jets
The Newtown Jets are an Australian rugby league football club based in Newtown, a suburb of Sydney's inner west. They currently compete in the NSWRL Premier League competition, having left the top grade after the 1983 NSWRFL season...
club's centenary year, they named their 'Team of the Century' with Mulligan at lock forward. In addition the Illawarra Rugby League
Illawarra Rugby League
The Illawarra Rugby League is a rugby league competition in Wollongong, NSW. It is one of the oldest rugby league competitions in Australia, founded in 1911 with five clubs ....
named him at lock in their team of the century.