Lionel Morgan (rugby league) explained

Lionel Morgan
Birth Date:1938 8, df=yes
Club1:Wynnum-Manly
Year1start:1959
Year1end:68
Appearances1:106
Teama:Brisbane
Triesa:23
Pointsa:147
Teamb:Queensland
Yearbstart:1960
Yearbend:63
Appearancesb:12
Triesb:9
Goalsb:0
Fieldgoalsb:0
Pointsb:27
Teamc:Australia
Yearcstart:1960
Appearancesc:3
Triesc:2
Goalsc:0
Fieldgoalsc:0
Pointsc:6
Source:[1] [2] RLP

Lionel Morgan (12 August 1938 – 16 September 2023) was an Australian rugby league playernamed amongst the nation's finest of the 20th centuryand coach. Morgan was the first Indigenous Australian to be selected to play in a recognised rugby league Test match.[3] He primarily played on the wing.[4]

Rugby League career

A New South Wales' Schoolboy representative player, Morgan moved from Tweed Heads to play for Wynnum-Manly in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership. In 1960 he was selected for the second and third Tests of the French tour of Australia. He scored two tries on his international debut. At the end of the 1960 season, he played one match for Australia in the 1960 World Cup, again against France, at Wigan. Morgan's selection for the Tests made him the first Indigenous Australian to represent at an international level in any major national sporting team.[5] In 1962 he was named Queensland's Best Back.[6]

A representative of Brisbane in the Bulimba Cup, Morgan scored 24 tries and 147 points in just 18 games between 1959 and 1963. In 1962, he scored 5 tries and 6 goals in a single match against Ipswich.[7]

Morgan was subjected to racism throughout his career. He has described an incident in a match against Ipswich. "I was tackled over the sideline, and apparently the whole Ipswich team jumped on top of me," he said. "I woke up in hospital." In another incident he was hospitalised after being punched by a spectator.[8]

Morgan continued his association with rugby league as coach of the Queensland Rugby League's Indigenous Under-16 team.[9]

Personal life

Morgan was born on 12 August 1938,[10] in Tweed Heads, New South Wales.[11]

His four sons all spent time playing for Wynnum-Manly.[12]

Morgan died on 16 September 2023, at age 85.[13] [14]

Honour

In August 2008, Morgan was named on the wing in the Indigenous Team of the Century.[15]

Hall of Fame

In August 2024, the National Rugby League announced that Morgan was a posthumous inductee into the National Rugby League Hall of Fame. Morgan, who was ascribed Hall of Fame number 116, was amongst eleven male players in the 2024 Class.[16]

General sources

Notes and References

  1. Book: Colin Tatz. Aborigines in Sport. 1987. The Australian Society For Sports History. Bedford Park, South Australia. 0-85837-603-2. 81.
  2. Book: Alan Whiticker & Glen Hudson. The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players (with Queensland Section). 1995. Gary Allen Pty Ltd. Smithfield, New South Wales. 978-1-877082-93-1. 516.
  3. Web site: Queensland Government:Community Spirit. A league of their own. 10 August 2008. 1 September 2007. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080809060647/http://www.communities.qld.gov.au/department/publications/communityspirit/2007/edition8/league.html. 9 August 2008 .
  4. Web site: Dr Greg Mallory. RL1908.com. The Decline of Brisbane Community Culture – An Oral History Perspective. 10 August 2008.
  5. Web site: Sean Fagan. RL1908.com. First Indigenous Rugby League Footballers. 10 August 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080903001711/http://www.rl1908.com/History/indigenous.htm. 3 September 2008. dead.
  6. Web site: Queensland Rugby League . Queensland Indigenous Greats Named . 10 August 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080723073017/http://www.qrl.com.au/display.php?pg_id=3115 . 23 July 2008 . dead .
  7. Book: J E Christison. Ipswich Rugby League: The Bulimba Cup Era 1925 to 1972. 2009. J. E. Christison . 978-0-9806074-0-6.
  8. News: Sydney Morning Herald. Pioneers' pride lives on, despite all the bruises. Glenn Jackson. 24 February 2010. 13 February 2010.
  9. Web site: Queensland Rugby League . No Eligibility Dramas For Jones . 10 August 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080725080637/http://www.qrl.com.au/display.php?pg_id=2385 . 25 July 2008 . dead .
  10. Web site: Morgan, Lionel . . 17 September 2023 . Morgan, Lionel Aboriginal rugby league player and the first indigenous player selected at test level. Milestone Born12 Aug 1938 Occupation Sportsperson.
  11. News: 'An inspiration and trailblazer': Indigenous rugby league player Lionel Morgan dies, aged 85 . 17 September 2023 . ABC News . 17 September 2023 . en-AU.
  12. News: Wynnum Herald . Morgan among century's best . 13 September 2008 . 1 September 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090926061826/http://wynnum-herald.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/morgan-among-centurys-best/ . 26 September 2009 .
  13. Web site: Vale Lionel Morgan . National Rugby League . 17 September 2023 . en . 17 September 2023.
  14. News: Meyn . Travis . Robert . Craddock . Lionel Morgan, the first indigenous man to play Test rugby league for Australia, dies aged 85 . 17 September 2023 . . 17 September 2023.
  15. News: ABC News. Modern stars join greats in Indigenous Team of Century. 10 August 2008. 9 August 2008.
  16. Web site: NRL Hall of Fame 2024 Class. 14 Aug 2024. NRL. NRL Media Release. 14 Aug 2024.

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