What's new
By:
Advanced search…
The Front Row Forums

Register a free account today to become a member of the world's largest Rugby League discussion forum! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Rugby league great Ian Walsh dies after long illness

Bulldog Force

Bulldog Force

Referee
Messages
20,619
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ter-long-illness/story-e6frexpr-1226612355317

Rugby league great Ian Walsh dies after long illness

355182-ian-walsh.jpg

Ian Walsh has died after a long illness. Source: News Limited



FORMER Australian captain-coach and St George legend Ian Walsh has died, throwing the rugby league world into mourning.

Walsh, 80, who returned to his home town of Forbes a decade ago, died after a long illness.

He was a giant of the game in his playing days as the 1963 Test captain, leading Australia to its historic Ashes triumph against Great Britain in England with wins in the First Test 28-2 at Wembley, 50-12 in the second Test at Swinton before losing the third Test 16-5 at Leeds.

It was the first time an all Australian side had won the rugby league Ashes in England. The only previously successful Ashes-winning team was the 1911-12 side that included New Zealand players.

Walsh described he historic Ashes win as "the greatest moment of my rugby league life. We had finally done it."



Credited with establishing the template for modern day hookers of intelligent running from dummy half, Walsh joined St George from the bush in 1962, playing in five winning grand final sides in the club’s record run of 11 successive premierships between 1956-66.

He was captain-coach of the 1966 side that won the grand final 23-4 against Balmain and the 1967 side that lost 12-11 to Canterbury in the final, ending St George’s record run.

Walsh played 25 Tests between 1959-66, toured with the 1959-60 and 1963-64 Kangaroos and made two tours to New Zealand.

He was a strong contender for the Australian Rugby League team of the Century in 2008 and was named in the NSW Country Rugby League’s Team of the Century.

He also coached Parramatta in 1971-72 and for more than a decade was a forthright and fearless rugby league columnist with The Daily Telegraph.

Team-mates and friends were mourning today when they learned of Walsh’s passing.

"He was a great player and a great man. I toured with him in 1967 and played under him at St George," said Immortals fullback Graeme Langlands.

"It’s a sad day for rugby league."

Former Test forward Noel Cleal and Walsh founded a strong friendship in recent years based on their rural upbringing.

"We both loved the bush. There was never a better man to go camping and fishing with than Ian.

"We talked a lot of football. He was a great companion and a great footballer."

Funeral details are yet to be announced.

353588-ian-walsh.jpg

Ian Walsh (right).




353225-ian-walsh.jpg

Ian Walsh for the Dragons.
 
S

stg666

Juniors
Messages
890
a sad time indeed. condolences to all of his immediate family and also to the saint george family of supporters. a REAL legend has passed.
 
G

Godz Illa

Coach
Messages
18,745
Looms large in all the Saints history books, so I didnt have to see him play to know he is a legend. RIP
 
Willow

Willow

Assistant Moderator
Messages
110,954
When Ian Walsh took over the captaincy from Norm Provan in 1966, Saints were an older team and tipped not to continue the premiership run. To make matters worse, Saints lost Reg Gasnier for the season with a knee injury. Many pundits had written us off, and with good reason.

Obviously no captain wanted that credential next to their name. To combat the age factor, Walsh put the players through a heavy training schedule. He brought in Changi survivor, George Daldry, to keep the players fit. It was groundbreaking at the time. In addition, he told the senior players where to play. They protested, but Walsh proved to be a strong leader. For example, he moved Billy Smith into the centres and Johnny Raper into the front line defence. The result was a stronger and smarter team... and good enough to go all the way. Walsh proved all the critics wrong.

Far from being a first year skipper to witness the end of an era, Walsh captained the club to our 11th consecutive premiership - a world record for any professional sport. Not a bad tick to have against your name.

Well done Abdul. RIP.
 
chris_el

chris_el

Juniors
Messages
123
RIP Ian Walsh.
That Grand Final was incredible, i love how the players kick during the play the ball and try to disrupt the play the ball. If that was done today, instant penalty.
 
tumbidragon

tumbidragon

First Grade
Messages
6,771
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/dragons-legend-ian-walsh-dies-20130404-2h8d1.html
Australian rugby league legend Ian Walsh has died aged 80.
Walsh, who returned to his home town of Forbes a decade ago, passed away on Thursday morning after a long illness, leaving a huge legacy in the game he loved.
The St George great had the unique distinction of being the only player to captain-coach his club to a premiership and his country to an Ashes series win - a feat he achieved in 1966.
---353t_walsh_20130404115353470712-300x0.jpg
Ian Walsh following a Test match on the Kangaroos 1959-60 tour of Great Britain.

A giant of the game in his playing days, Walsh captained Australia to its historic 1963 Ashes triumph against Great Britain in England with wins in the first Test 28-2 at Wembley, 50-12 in the second Test at Swinton before losing the third Test 16-5 at Leeds.
Advertisement
It was the first time an all Australian side had won the rugby league Ashes in England.
The only previously successful Ashes-winning team was the 1911-12 side that included New Zealand players.
Walsh described that Ashes win as "the greatest moment of my rugby league life. We had finally done it."
Credited with establishing the template for modern-day hookers of intelligent running from dummy-half, Walsh joined St George from the bush in 1962, playing in five winning grand final sides in the club's record run of 11 successive premierships between 1956-66.
He was captain-coach of the 1966 side that won the grand final 23-4 against Balmain and the 1967 side that lost 12-11 to Canterbury in the final, ending St George's record run.
Walsh played 25 Tests between 1959-66, toured with the 1959-60 and 1963-64 Kangaroos and made two tours to New Zealand.
He was a strong contender for the Australian Rugby League team of the Century selected in 2008 and was named in the NSW Country Rugby League's Team of the Century.
He also coached Parramatta in 1971-72 and for more than a decade was a forthright and fearless rugby league columnist with the Daily Telegraph.
Teammates and friends were mourning after learning of Walsh's passing.
"He was a great player and a great man. I toured with him in 1967 and played under him at St George," said Immortal fullback Graeme Langlands.
"It's a sad day for rugby league."
Former Test forward Noel Cleal and Walsh founded a strong friendship in recent years based on their rural upbringing.
"We both loved the bush. There was never a better man to go camping and fishing with than Ian," said Cleal.
"We talked a lot of football. He was a great companion and a great footballer."
Funeral details are yet to be announced.
Click to expand...
 
tumbidragon

tumbidragon

First Grade
Messages
6,771
Legend of the Club, Country and the Rugby league world. Played in an era where no prisoners were taken and took none. Thanks for the wonderful and successful history of our mighty club!

RIP legend.
 
Old_Timer

Old_Timer

Juniors
Messages
1,927
I saw Ian's career with us from start to finish. He was a good old style hooker very much in the mould of Killer Kearney. I know he won a lot of scrums for us against the feed in the days when scrums were a contest. He was also a very tough man on the footy field and an absolute gentleman off it. If memory serves me well, I think Frank Facer brought him to the club from Eugowra in southern NSW. He served our club with distinction and much missed by us that had the privilege to see him play.
R.I.P. Ian.
 
W.Smith

W.Smith

Juniors
Messages
616
Well sed on previous page Willow (2 thumbs up)

I never saw Abdul play in person but ive seen the footage and read heaps of stuff about him and his exploits at STG and coach of Parra, Aust etc

In 1984 my brother and i travelled into the old Sports Ground when we lived at Fairfield in Sydney to watch Easts v Saints and as we sat there a couple rows back from the front fence at the right end of the front section on th Paddo side Ian Walsh and his daughter came and sat next to us

I recognised Abdul straight away and kept sneaking sideways looks at him during the games coz evn tho' i was 20 i appreciated him as a Dragons legend and i was actually a little awe struck all day, as Abdul sat there watching the footy all day listening to the races with his transistor radio held close to his ear :)

I knew he had moved back to Forbes sometime ago due to illness and on a trip to Wagga Wagga recently i got the Missus to get a photo of me with an Ian Walsh tribute memorabillia picture that hangs on the front wall of one of the pubs in Forbes :cool:

RIP Abdul
 
Last edited:
The Preacher

The Preacher

First Grade
Messages
7,193
I was lucky to see the end part of Abdul Walsh's career, and he was Saints through and through. His battles with noel Kelly were tremendous as was their partnership in state and Australian games. One would play hooker and the other prop. Imagine those two packing down against you ??? A great player, a Saints man and a legend of a man. Condolences to the family and RIP to a legendary Saint.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Top