Frank Johnson (rugby league)
Encyclopedia
Frank Johnson OAM
(born 1922, died 1993), is an Australian former rugby league
footballer, coach and administrator who devoted much of his life to the development of the game in Australia.
south coast, primarily played at hooker. He was first selected to represent for NSW Country
in 1940.
During World War II
, Johnson played two seasons with St. George
in 1944–1945. In 1946 he returned to the south coast and captain-coached Wollongong in 1946.
In 1947, Johnson was back in Sydney, this time with the Newtown Bluebags
. He was selected for the New South Wales team and at the end of the 1948 season he toured with the Kangaroos. Johnson injured his leg early in the tour in England and he participated in only seven non-Test games.
Johnson was made captain-coach of the Bluebags in 1952 and in 1953 he was a non-playing coach. His attempt to retire from playing was not entirely successful as he was required to fill in on-field occasionally and in 1954 he was persuaded to return as hooker for the season by his coaching successor, Col Geelan
. The team made it to the Grand Final but were beaten by Souths
and Johnson finally retired from playing.
In 1962, Johnson was a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League
(NSWRL) Coaching Panel and replaced Keith Gittoes as director of coaching in 1974.
Johnson was responsible for developing coaching and playing skills in Darwin
, the Northern Territory
and Papua New Guinea
. From 1970 to 1975 he coached the Darwin and Northern Territory teams. It was in his honour that the Frank Johnson Medal, Darwin Rugby League
's equivalent of the Rothman's Medal was named. The Medal was first awarded in 1973.
Frank Johnson's nephew, John Johnson is the A Grade coach for the Palmerston Raiders
in Darwin. Also Frank's Great nephew Matthew Johnson plays for the club and is a junior Northern Territory rep.
Johnson was honoured with life membership of the NSWRL in 1982 and received the Order of Australia Medal
.
Frank Johnson died in 1993, aged 70.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 1922, died 1993), is an Australian former 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...
footballer, coach and administrator who devoted much of his life to the development of the game in Australia.
Playing career
Johnson, who began his senior career as a sixteen year-old playing for Port Kembla on the New South WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
south coast, primarily played at hooker. He was first selected to represent for NSW Country
City vs Country Origin
City vs Country is an annual Australian rugby league football match that takes place in New South Wales between City and Country representative sides. The City side represents the Sydney metropolitan area...
in 1940.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Johnson played two seasons 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,...
in 1944–1945. In 1946 he returned to the south coast and captain-coached Wollongong in 1946.
In 1947, Johnson was back in Sydney, this time with the Newtown Bluebags
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...
. He was selected for the New South Wales team and at the end of the 1948 season he toured with the Kangaroos. Johnson injured his leg early in the tour in England and he participated in only seven non-Test games.
Johnson was made captain-coach of the Bluebags in 1952 and in 1953 he was a non-playing coach. His attempt to retire from playing was not entirely successful as he was required to fill in on-field occasionally and in 1954 he was persuaded to return as hooker for the season by his coaching successor, Col Geelan
Col Geelan
Col Geelan was an Australian rugby league footballer and Coach. He played club football in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership for the Newtown Jets and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, and he also represented New South Wales and Australia...
. The team made it to the Grand Final but were beaten by Souths
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
and Johnson finally retired from playing.
Post-playing Career
Following his retirement, Johnson maintained his connection with the game, firstly as a coach with Western Suburbs (Illawarra) in 1957. He coached them to their first premiership win.In 1962, Johnson was a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League
New South Wales Rugby League
The New South Wales Rugby League is the governing body of rugby league in New South Wales and is a member of the Australian Rugby League. It was formed in Sydney on 8 August 1907 and was known as the New South Wales Rugby Football League until 1984 when forward thinking marketing managers decided...
(NSWRL) Coaching Panel and replaced Keith Gittoes as director of coaching in 1974.
Johnson was responsible for developing coaching and playing skills in Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
, the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
and Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
. From 1970 to 1975 he coached the Darwin and Northern Territory teams. It was in his honour that the Frank Johnson Medal, Darwin Rugby League
Darwin Rugby League
The Darwin Rugby League is a rugby league competition based in Darwin, Northern Territory. The competition is administered by the Northern Territory Rugby League which is the body that takes care of the League's Affairs...
's equivalent of the Rothman's Medal was named. The Medal was first awarded in 1973.
Frank Johnson's nephew, John Johnson is the A Grade coach for the Palmerston Raiders
Palmerston Raiders
The are an Australian Semi-professional rugby league team based in Palmerston, Northern Territory. They compete in the Darwin Rugby League , Darwin's Local rugby league competition....
in Darwin. Also Frank's Great nephew Matthew Johnson plays for the club and is a junior Northern Territory rep.
Johnson was honoured with life membership of the NSWRL in 1982 and received the Order of Australia Medal
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
.
Frank Johnson died in 1993, aged 70.