Dally Messenger
Dally Messenger, was rugby league’s first ‘star player’ and seen by many as the promoter for the establishment of rugby league, controversially converting from rugby union. Between 1908 and 1913 he played 48 games for Roosters and seven tests for Australia. He was a strong runner of the ball, a solid defender and could kick goals from anywhere on the field. One of his many team mates Dan Frawley said of Messenger, “Nobody but Dally ever knew what was going to happen when he got the ball. His team mates were often as mystified as the opposition.”
Dave Brown
Dave Brown, is well known as one of Roosters greatest point scorers and is referred to as the ‘Bradman of League’. Brown coached the Club on 84 occasions. In 1935, when Roosters won the premiership and lost only one game he scored 38 tries, this record still stands today. He was the youngest player to captain Australia, at only 22 years old. After debuting for Roosters in 1930, Brown suffered from a rare illness and in 1931 lost all his hair. He donned a leather headgear that became his trademark and conquered rugby league both for the Roosters and for Australia.
Jack Gibson
Jack Gibson, is renowned as the most legendary coach in modern rugby league and took the Roosters to two premierships in 1974 and 1975. He played 123 games for the Roosters between 1953 and 1961 before making the switch to coaching in 1967. That year he took Roosters to the finals after the club didn’t record a win in 1966. He introduced a number of new coaching techniques and applications including video previews, skin fold testing, introducing the use of weights machines and creating an overall program of rehabilitation and fitness conditioning, now referred to as a high performance unit. In 1988 Gibson received an Order of Australia Medal for his contribution to rugby league.
Arthur Beetson
Arthur Beetson, is often referred to as the best prop Australia has ever seen. He is also one of rugby leagues most well respected and liked characters. Beetson played 131 games for the Roosters between 1971 and 1978, captaining the 1974 and 1975 premiership winning teams, and coached the club between 1985 and 1988, earning the ‘Coach of the Year’ award in 1987. In 2003 he was inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame. In 2008, in rugby league’s Centenary year, Beetson was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal, for the best player on the field, for the 1974 Grand Final, as well as being named in rugby league’s Team of the Century, QLD’s Team of the Century and the Indigenous Team of the Century.
Brad Fittler
Brad Fittler, is one of modern rugby league’s greatest players. He joined the Roosters in 1996 after debuting for Penrith in 1991. He played nine seasons for the Club, missing only 24 games in that time. He captained the Roosters to a premiership victory in 2002 as well as grand finals in 2003 and 2004. Between 1996 and 2004 Fitler played 217 games, and with a total of 409 games played (both club and representative), this lead to holding a record that still stands today. He is also the youngest player to ever debut for NSW, at 18 years.
Ray Stehr
Ray Stehr, was aged just 16 years when he made his regular competition debut - still the youngest ever first grade Australian player to do so. He played 184 games for the Roosters between 1929-46 and was a member of the side that lost just one match over the three seasons between 1935, 1936 and 1937, winning the premiership across each of those seasons. He won additional premierships with the Roosters in 1940 and 1945. After retirement in 1946, he stayed involved with the game, coaching Manly in 1947-48 and Roosters in 1949. In 1961 he was the commentator for the first Australian rugby league match ever broadcast live.
Dick Dunn
Dick Dunn, was a local centre who played in Roosters final win over Canterbury in 1940 but it was for his extraordinary performance in the 1945 final that he is best remembered. Playing lock, Dunn scored 19 of his side’s 22 points (three tries, five goals) in a brilliant effort to sink Balmain. Between 1938 and 1947 he played 124 games for Roosters. Dunn was also coach of the Roosters in 1960 and 1963. He was later Vice President of the NSWRL, a chairman of the judiciary and co-manager of Australia’s tour of New Zealand in 1971. Dunn became a Member of the Order of Australia in 1986.
Ron Coote
Ron Coote, was famous for his outstanding defence and low tackling technique and is widely considered as one of the nation’s finest footballers of the 20th century. He was a key member of the Roosters back-to-back premiership winning sides in 1974 and 1975. After football, Coote remained involved with the game as a member of NSWRL judiciary for much of the 1990s. In 2000 he founded the Men of League program which supports former players, officials and referees who have fallen on hard times and remains the program’s President. He was inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame in 2005, The Rugby League Team of the Century, was named in the list of Australia’s 100 Greatest Players in 2007 to celebrate the code’s centenary year in Australia. He is a Member of the Order of Australia. The Ron Coote Cup, contested annually by the Sydney Roosters and South Sydney Rabbitohs, is also named in his honour.
Kevin Hastings
Kevin Hastings, is the first Roosters clubman to play 200 first grade games. He held the record for the number of first grade games for Roosters at 228 until broken by Luke Ricketson in 2005. Playing with the club between 1976-87, he raked in almost every major individual award in the early 1980s. He won the Rothmans Medal in 1981 and was named the Dally M Halfback of the Year in three consecutive years (1980-82). From 1980-82 he was also named Rugby League Week’s Player of the Year.
Dally Messenger, was rugby league’s first ‘star player’ and seen by many as the promoter for the establishment of rugby league, controversially converting from rugby union. Between 1908 and 1913 he played 48 games for Roosters and seven tests for Australia. He was a strong runner of the ball, a solid defender and could kick goals from anywhere on the field. One of his many team mates Dan Frawley said of Messenger, “Nobody but Dally ever knew what was going to happen when he got the ball. His team mates were often as mystified as the opposition.”
Dave Brown
Dave Brown, is well known as one of Roosters greatest point scorers and is referred to as the ‘Bradman of League’. Brown coached the Club on 84 occasions. In 1935, when Roosters won the premiership and lost only one game he scored 38 tries, this record still stands today. He was the youngest player to captain Australia, at only 22 years old. After debuting for Roosters in 1930, Brown suffered from a rare illness and in 1931 lost all his hair. He donned a leather headgear that became his trademark and conquered rugby league both for the Roosters and for Australia.
Jack Gibson
Jack Gibson, is renowned as the most legendary coach in modern rugby league and took the Roosters to two premierships in 1974 and 1975. He played 123 games for the Roosters between 1953 and 1961 before making the switch to coaching in 1967. That year he took Roosters to the finals after the club didn’t record a win in 1966. He introduced a number of new coaching techniques and applications including video previews, skin fold testing, introducing the use of weights machines and creating an overall program of rehabilitation and fitness conditioning, now referred to as a high performance unit. In 1988 Gibson received an Order of Australia Medal for his contribution to rugby league.
Arthur Beetson
Arthur Beetson, is often referred to as the best prop Australia has ever seen. He is also one of rugby leagues most well respected and liked characters. Beetson played 131 games for the Roosters between 1971 and 1978, captaining the 1974 and 1975 premiership winning teams, and coached the club between 1985 and 1988, earning the ‘Coach of the Year’ award in 1987. In 2003 he was inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame. In 2008, in rugby league’s Centenary year, Beetson was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal, for the best player on the field, for the 1974 Grand Final, as well as being named in rugby league’s Team of the Century, QLD’s Team of the Century and the Indigenous Team of the Century.
Brad Fittler
Brad Fittler, is one of modern rugby league’s greatest players. He joined the Roosters in 1996 after debuting for Penrith in 1991. He played nine seasons for the Club, missing only 24 games in that time. He captained the Roosters to a premiership victory in 2002 as well as grand finals in 2003 and 2004. Between 1996 and 2004 Fitler played 217 games, and with a total of 409 games played (both club and representative), this lead to holding a record that still stands today. He is also the youngest player to ever debut for NSW, at 18 years.
Ray Stehr
Ray Stehr, was aged just 16 years when he made his regular competition debut - still the youngest ever first grade Australian player to do so. He played 184 games for the Roosters between 1929-46 and was a member of the side that lost just one match over the three seasons between 1935, 1936 and 1937, winning the premiership across each of those seasons. He won additional premierships with the Roosters in 1940 and 1945. After retirement in 1946, he stayed involved with the game, coaching Manly in 1947-48 and Roosters in 1949. In 1961 he was the commentator for the first Australian rugby league match ever broadcast live.
Dick Dunn
Dick Dunn, was a local centre who played in Roosters final win over Canterbury in 1940 but it was for his extraordinary performance in the 1945 final that he is best remembered. Playing lock, Dunn scored 19 of his side’s 22 points (three tries, five goals) in a brilliant effort to sink Balmain. Between 1938 and 1947 he played 124 games for Roosters. Dunn was also coach of the Roosters in 1960 and 1963. He was later Vice President of the NSWRL, a chairman of the judiciary and co-manager of Australia’s tour of New Zealand in 1971. Dunn became a Member of the Order of Australia in 1986.
Ron Coote
Ron Coote, was famous for his outstanding defence and low tackling technique and is widely considered as one of the nation’s finest footballers of the 20th century. He was a key member of the Roosters back-to-back premiership winning sides in 1974 and 1975. After football, Coote remained involved with the game as a member of NSWRL judiciary for much of the 1990s. In 2000 he founded the Men of League program which supports former players, officials and referees who have fallen on hard times and remains the program’s President. He was inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame in 2005, The Rugby League Team of the Century, was named in the list of Australia’s 100 Greatest Players in 2007 to celebrate the code’s centenary year in Australia. He is a Member of the Order of Australia. The Ron Coote Cup, contested annually by the Sydney Roosters and South Sydney Rabbitohs, is also named in his honour.
Kevin Hastings
Kevin Hastings, is the first Roosters clubman to play 200 first grade games. He held the record for the number of first grade games for Roosters at 228 until broken by Luke Ricketson in 2005. Playing with the club between 1976-87, he raked in almost every major individual award in the early 1980s. He won the Rothmans Medal in 1981 and was named the Dally M Halfback of the Year in three consecutive years (1980-82). From 1980-82 he was also named Rugby League Week’s Player of the Year.