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Post by Electric Eel on May 30, 2020 16:53:57 GMT 10
Ray Higgs Born - 1950 Parramatta 1975 - 1977 Games - 70 Wikipedia
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Post by Electric Eel on May 30, 2020 16:54:16 GMT 10
Hard-as-nails Queensland forward (originally from Roma but representing Nambour) represented his state against Great Britain in 1974. The withdrawal of Souths forward Gary Stevens on the eve of the First Test in Brisbane catapulted Higgs into the Australian team. He then came to Parramatta and although he did not play in another Test, starred in Australia's World Cup wins in 1975 and 1977. As captain of the Eels, Higgs led by example; a tough but fair second-row forward, he won the coveted Rothmans Medal in 1976. Captaining Parramatta in consecutive grand final losses in 1976-77, Higgs was responsible for a courageous effort against Manly when he completed the match with a broken cheekbone. A valued defender, he made a club record 50 tackles in a match against Canterbury at Cumberland Oval. However, after the club's loss in the 1977 grand final replay against St George, differences of opinion with coach Terry Fearnley saw him join Manly. (Author Neil Cadigan cites Fearnley's attempts to re-sign the club's former Test prop Bob O'Reilly for the 1978 season as the real reason for the split). Higgs returned to Queensland after an injury-plagued 1978 season and played against NSW in one of the two non-State-of-Origin matches in 1980.
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Post by Electric Eel on May 30, 2020 16:54:37 GMT 10
Ray Higgs (born 1950) is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s. An Australian international and Queensland representative forward, he played club football in the NSWRFL Premiership with Sydney's Parramatta Eels for three seasons between 1975-1977 and Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles for one season 1978.
Playing career
Originally from Roma, Queensland, Higgs played for Nambour Crushers and Souths Magpies. He was selected to represent Queensland and then made his debut for the Australian national side in 1974. The following year he helped the Kangaroos to victory in the 1975 World Cup. After winning both the Rothmans Medal and the Rugby League Week player of the year award in 1976, he captained his club, the Parramatta Eels, to that year's and 1977's Grand Finals. Higgs continued representing Australia, featuring in The Kangaroos' triumph in the 1977 World Cup. Higgs is listed on the Australian Players Register as Kangaroo No. 478. He played a total of nine Tests for Australia between 1974-1977.
After only four seasons in the NSWRFL, Ray Higgs returned to Queensland in 1979.
Accolades
In 2011, Higgs was inducted into the Parramatta Eels hall of fame.
Wikipedia
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