Ron Roberts
Encyclopedia
Ron Roberts was an Australian rugby league
player. He was a state
and national representative, who is known for scoring a try in 1950 which won Australia an Ashes series. His club career was with the St. George Dragons
and he was a member of their 1949 premiership-winning side.
in 1949 and played three seasons with the club as a winger. That first year he scored two tries in the Dragons'
1949 Grand Final victory over the South Sydney Rabbitohs
and was the League's season top try scorer. He made his representative debut for New South Wales
that year and was selected for Australia's tour of New Zealand
appearing in five minor matches and making his full representative debut in the 2nd Test in Auckland
.
series against Great Britain
, Roberts was overlooked by selectors for other wingers including his club teammate Noel Pidding
. The series was locked at 1-all after two games.
The decider was played on a quagmire at the Sydney Cricket Ground
and Roberts had regained his national wing spot after a one year absence. The rain had been consistent in the lead up week and before the match forty tonnes of sand were dumped on the SCG to save the match from abandonment. Fourteen minutes from the end in pouring rain with the scores locked 2-all, Australia executed a back-line movement from a play-the-ball. Centre Keith Middleton sent the ball out to an unmarked Roberts who ran 40 metres and crossed in the corner for the only try of the match and a 5-2 win.
The victory gave Australia the Ashes for the first time since 1920 and as a result the memorable impact of that moment dwarfed Roberts' short but classy career. In a 1980s poll by Rugby League Week
that try was rated the greatest single moment in the code's Australian history.
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...
player. He was a 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...
and national representative, who is known for scoring a try in 1950 which won Australia an Ashes series. His club career was with the St. George Dragons
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,...
and he was a member of their 1949 premiership-winning side.
Playing career
Roberts was a giant of a man who joined St. GeorgeSt. 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 1949 and played three seasons with the club as a winger. That first year he scored two tries in the Dragons'
1949 Grand Final victory over the South Sydney Rabbitohs
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 was the League's season top try scorer. He made his representative debut 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...
that year and was selected for Australia's tour of 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...
appearing in five minor matches and making his full representative debut in the 2nd Test in Auckland
Carlaw Park
Carlaw Park was a multi-purpose stadium in Parnell, a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand.-History:The stadium's grandstands and terraces were built in 1916, and it became the home of rugby league in Auckland from 1921...
.
Defining moment
For the first two Tests of the 1950 domestic AshesRugby League Ashes
The Ashes is the name given to the trophy awarded to the winner of a best-of-three series of rugby league football test series between Great Britain and Australia...
series against Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
, Roberts was overlooked by selectors for other wingers including his club teammate Noel Pidding
Noel Pidding
Noel Pidding is an Australian former rugby league player. He was a state and national representative, whose goal-kicking prowess enabled him to set a number of long-standing club and Australian point scoring records. His club career was with the St. George Dragons and he was a member of their 1949...
. The series was locked at 1-all after two games.
The decider was played on a quagmire at the Sydney Cricket Ground
Sydney Cricket Ground
The Sydney Cricket Ground is a sports stadium in Sydney in Australia. It is used for Australian football, Test cricket, One Day International cricket, some rugby league and rugby union matches and is the home ground for the New South Wales Blues cricket team and the Sydney Swans of the Australian...
and Roberts had regained his national wing spot after a one year absence. The rain had been consistent in the lead up week and before the match forty tonnes of sand were dumped on the SCG to save the match from abandonment. Fourteen minutes from the end in pouring rain with the scores locked 2-all, Australia executed a back-line movement from a play-the-ball. Centre Keith Middleton sent the ball out to an unmarked Roberts who ran 40 metres and crossed in the corner for the only try of the match and a 5-2 win.
The victory gave Australia the Ashes for the first time since 1920 and as a result the memorable impact of that moment dwarfed Roberts' short but classy career. In a 1980s poll by Rugby League Week
Rugby League Week
Rugby League Week is the second highest selling Australian rugby league magazine, behind major competitor Big League...
that try was rated the greatest single moment in the code's Australian history.