Tommy Anderson (rugby league)
Encyclopedia
Born in 1890, Tommy Anderson was an Australian Rugby League
player. He played in the first ever match for South Sydney against North Sydney
at Birchgrove Oval, and scored the Souths first ever premiership try. Tommy was also the NRL leading try scorer in 1909.
in the first ever NRL game. He played for Souths from 1908 to 1910. He then played a single game for Balmain and was never seen again.
Anderson was still a teenager when the 1907 NSW vs All Golds (New Zealand) matches were played. For some time, Anderson was a wrestler and showed a promising career in Rugby Union as an Outside Back or Fullback.
However, when the South Sydney Rugby League Club was formed, Anderson aligned himself with the new game. Unlike many of the older footballers, Anderson was putting his entire career on the line if the NSWRL (New South Wales Rugby League) failed, as many people in Sydney predicted that it would. And, putting aside fears of a lifetime ban from the Metropolitan RU (Rugby Union), Tommy set out to learn the skills of a new game with his team mates.
When South Sydney first took to the field in 1908, Anderson started in the side as a winger. Shortly before half time, Anderson had the honor of scoring South Sydney's first ever premiership try. Anderson was beaten to the record of the first Rugby League try in Australia minutes earlier in the Easts (now the Sydney Roosters) vs Newtown match at Wentworth Park. South Sydney would go on to win the match 11-7. Anderson soon began the rapid rise to the top of the 'Rugby League Tree'. Tommy was soon averaging a try a match.
When Souths came up against Easts, and they knew, just like every other team in the league, that the key to winning the match was to 'quiet Dally'. This job was assigned to Tommy Anderson. Tommy was told to be physical with Messenger - make every tackle and hit him hard, to make him hesistate and deride him in front of his fans and team mates.
Well that was the plan...
Reports of the game show Anderson and Messenger meeting many times in the air, hitting chests. These clashes were so hard they were heard across the entire field. Anderson did his job of attacking Messenger valiantly. The entire stadium knew what was happening. However this seemed to have no effect on either player. Messenger played his game as if there was nothing different, and Anderson continued to hit him hard. Afterwards, Easts players were perplexed at Messenger's ability to take this barrage from Anderson.
The same could not be said for Anderson however. Reports say that he was left the field "severely shaken". It was unclear if this was because of Messenger's unaffected state or if he was sustaining an injury. Anderson's form deteriorated over the last few weeks. He lost all his confidence and skill. He then lost his place in South Sydney and never regained it
Anderson then moved to Balmain. He played a single game. His career then came to an end in 1911.
Anderson's Australian tour team mates could tell that his end came after that match against Easts. That Anderson lived out the rest of his life in 'a punch drunk state.
1908: New South Wales
First ever try against Queensland
1909: South Sydney Top Try scorer in NRL
Australian Rugby League
The Australian Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. It is made up of state bodies, including the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League...
player. He played in the first ever match for South Sydney against North Sydney
North Sydney
North Sydney may refer to:*North Sydney Council, a Local government area in Sydney*North Sydney, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney, Australia*Division of North Sydney, an electoral division serving the suburb...
at Birchgrove Oval, and scored the Souths first ever premiership try. Tommy was also the NRL leading try scorer in 1909.
Career
Anderson played for the South Sydney RabbitohsSouth 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...
in the first ever NRL game. He played for Souths from 1908 to 1910. He then played a single game for Balmain and was never seen again.
Anderson was still a teenager when the 1907 NSW vs All Golds (New Zealand) matches were played. For some time, Anderson was a wrestler and showed a promising career in Rugby Union as an Outside Back or Fullback.
However, when the South Sydney Rugby League Club was formed, Anderson aligned himself with the new game. Unlike many of the older footballers, Anderson was putting his entire career on the line if the NSWRL (New South Wales Rugby League) failed, as many people in Sydney predicted that it would. And, putting aside fears of a lifetime ban from the Metropolitan RU (Rugby Union), Tommy set out to learn the skills of a new game with his team mates.
When South Sydney first took to the field in 1908, Anderson started in the side as a winger. Shortly before half time, Anderson had the honor of scoring South Sydney's first ever premiership try. Anderson was beaten to the record of the first Rugby League try in Australia minutes earlier in the Easts (now the Sydney Roosters) vs Newtown match at Wentworth Park. South Sydney would go on to win the match 11-7. Anderson soon began the rapid rise to the top of the 'Rugby League Tree'. Tommy was soon averaging a try a match.
New Zealand Test Series
With the Test series against New Zealand already lost, the Australian selectors went with Anderson in the 3rd test.Anderson slotted in at the centres with Dally Messenger. Jim Devaraux was moved to the wing to allow for Anderson. At the break, New Zealand had a 6-0 lead. Few opportunities came Anderson's way. The ball was then shot out of the scrum to Messenger who then scooted in for a try. New Zealand would then score again to make the score 9-3. Messenger and Devaraux would soon combine and make an opening for Anderson to run in the try out wide. The score was now 9-8 to the New Zealanders. The home side were ripping into the Australians in an attempt to quiet their less experienced opponents. These clashes had become so 'close-quarters' that Anderson and Robert Graves both had their shirts ripped off. Two late tries to, including one to a half naked Robert Graves, gave Australia the win 14-9.State of Origin
Tommy Anderson was chosen in New South Wales first ever game against Queensland. The match was held as a trial for the Australian Kangaroo's selection. Anderson scored five tries in NSW smashing of Queensland 43-0. Anderson's name was again placed in the record books for the first ever try against Queensland. His performance guaranteed him a spot in the Kangaroo's squad.Great Britain Test Series
The Kangaroo's set sail for Great Britain on the day thepremiership finals began, forcing Anderson and his South Sydney team mates to miss out on South Sydney's first ever Premiership win. Anderson played just five tests in Great Britain, and it is tought that his young age held him back from playing more.1909 NRL season
Upon return to Australia, Tommy immediately took back his place in South Sydney and scored two tries in a spiteful 20-0 win over Newcastle. securing Souths a place in the final. As events transpired, the win by the 'Red and Greens' meant their winnig of the premiership, after Balmain fotfieted. This slightly disappointed Anderson, after again having missed out on playing the final. On the up side, Anderson was just 21, had two premierships, Test Match appearances, State, and International representation. Yet his career was over within 18 months.Why?
In 1910 the Sydney Compition was well and truly alive. Top Union players had converted to League, crowds were huge, the English Lions were on there way ... and the Easts (Sydney Roosters) were filthy. Despite having the best players in the country, including Dally Messenger, they had no titles to their name, and South Sydney had two from two.When Souths came up against Easts, and they knew, just like every other team in the league, that the key to winning the match was to 'quiet Dally'. This job was assigned to Tommy Anderson. Tommy was told to be physical with Messenger - make every tackle and hit him hard, to make him hesistate and deride him in front of his fans and team mates.
Well that was the plan...
Reports of the game show Anderson and Messenger meeting many times in the air, hitting chests. These clashes were so hard they were heard across the entire field. Anderson did his job of attacking Messenger valiantly. The entire stadium knew what was happening. However this seemed to have no effect on either player. Messenger played his game as if there was nothing different, and Anderson continued to hit him hard. Afterwards, Easts players were perplexed at Messenger's ability to take this barrage from Anderson.
The same could not be said for Anderson however. Reports say that he was left the field "severely shaken". It was unclear if this was because of Messenger's unaffected state or if he was sustaining an injury. Anderson's form deteriorated over the last few weeks. He lost all his confidence and skill. He then lost his place in South Sydney and never regained it
Anderson then moved to Balmain. He played a single game. His career then came to an end in 1911.
Anderson's Australian tour team mates could tell that his end came after that match against Easts. That Anderson lived out the rest of his life in 'a punch drunk state.
Records
1908: South Sydney First try scored for South Sydney1908: New South Wales
New 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...
First ever try against Queensland
1909: South Sydney Top Try scorer in NRL