Viv Thicknesse
Encyclopedia
Viv Thicknesse was an Australian rugby league
footballer, a national and state
representative whose club career was spent with the champion Eastern Suburbs
sides of the 1930s. Prior to switching to rugby league
he represented for his state in rugby union
.
before switching to the professional code in 1931 and joining Eastern Suburbs
' rugby league side. He was a member of the Tricolours' champion teams of the 1930s and won consecutive premierships with the club in the seasons of 1935, 1936 and NSWRL season 1937. He captained the 1937 side.
He represented for New South Wales
on eleven occasions between 1933 and 1936 and made his international debut for Australia on the 1933-34 Kangaroo tour
where he appeared in two Tests and in sixteen minor matches. He played in further Test series against New Zealand
in 1935 and against Great Britain in 1936 for a total of seven career Test appearances. He formed a formidable representative halves pairing with Wests
great Vic Hey
and with his Easts clubmate Ernie Norman
.
, Thicknesse was renowned for his passing game and was selected in Eastern Suburbs 'Team Of The Century'. Dally Messenger
once said of Viv Thicknesse that he rated him the equal of any half he had seen play the game.
In February 2008, Thicknesse was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players (1908–2007) which was commissioned by the NRL
and ARL
to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia.
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, a national and 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...
representative whose club career was spent with the champion Eastern Suburbs
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
sides of the 1930s. Prior to switching to rugby league
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...
he represented for his state in rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
.
Playing career
Thicknesse was a half-back with Sydney's Eastern Suburbs Rugby Union ClubEastern Suburbs RUFC
The Eastern Suburbs Rugby Union Football Club is a team in the Shute Shield and the Tooheys New cup, the premier club rugby union football competition in New South Wales....
before switching to the professional code in 1931 and joining Eastern Suburbs
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
' rugby league side. He was a member of the Tricolours' champion teams of the 1930s and won consecutive premierships with the club in the seasons of 1935, 1936 and NSWRL season 1937. He captained the 1937 side.
He represented for 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...
on eleven occasions between 1933 and 1936 and made his international debut for Australia on the 1933-34 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...
where he appeared in two Tests and in sixteen minor matches. He played in further Test series against New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
in 1935 and against Great Britain in 1936 for a total of seven career Test appearances. He formed a formidable representative halves pairing with Wests
Western Suburbs Magpies
The Western Suburbs Magpies are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly referred to, were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia...
great Vic Hey
Vic Hey
Vic Hey born Liverpool, New South Wales, was an Australian rugby league national and state representative five-eighth and later a successful first-grade and national coach. His Australian club playing career commenced with the Western Suburbs Magpies and concluded with the Parramatta Eels. In...
and with his Easts clubmate Ernie Norman
Ernie Norman
Ernie Norman was an Australian rugby league player - a state and national representative Centre or Five-eighth. His club career was with the Eastern Suburbs club in the New South Wales Rugby League competition....
.
Accolades
A halfbackRugby league positions
A rugby league football team consists of thirteen players on the field, with four substitutes on the bench. Players are divided into two general categories: "forwards" and "backs"....
, Thicknesse was renowned for his passing game and was selected in Eastern Suburbs 'Team Of The Century'. Dally Messenger
Dally Messenger
Herbert Henry "Dally" Messenger was an Australian rugby union and rugby league footballer, recognised as one of the greatest ever players in either code. Messenger, or 'The Master' as he was dubbed, represented his country in both rugby football codes, playing two rugby union tests and seven...
once said of Viv Thicknesse that he rated him the equal of any half he had seen play the game.
In February 2008, Thicknesse was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players (1908–2007) which was commissioned by the NRL
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
and ARL
Australian Rugby League
The Australian Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. It is made up of state bodies, including the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League...
to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia.
Sources
- Andrews, Malcolm (2006) The ABC of Rugby League Austn Broadcasting Corpn, Sydney
- Whiticker, AlanAlan WhitickerAlan J. Whiticker is an Australian non-fiction author with currently over 30 published books.Whiticker writes primarily on matters pertaining to the history of the sport of rugby league in Australia, but has also published works on subjects as diverse as the Wanda Beach Murders and an adaptation...
& Hudson, Glen (2006) The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players, Gavin Allen Publishing, Sydney