Kangaroos
Sincere thanks to David Gronow for permission to publish the following article and photographs.
Sincere thanks to David Gronow for permission to publish the following article and photographs.
Over the years Huddersfield have been very fortunate in the the quality of their overseas signings from Australia.
Starting at the beginning, Albert Rosenfeld, Paddy Walsh and Tommy Gleeson each played thier part in bringing success to Huddersfield during those brilliant years between 1910 and 1915.
Albert Aaron Rosenfeld was one of the remarkable players in the first Australian party that embarked on the 1909 tour of England.
In his career with the Fartown club 'Rozzy' was a member of the 'Team of All Talents' who took apart Fartown's record books in a breath-taking 1914-15 season, and in 1913-14 scored an amazing 80 tries, still a Rugby League record.
An overseas ban between 11 February 1913 and 9 June 1927 stopped any more hopeful ANZACS from taking part in English rugby league.
As the ban ended Huddersfield quickly secured the highly-rated winger Ernie Mills from the Grenfell club who went on to make 386 appearances, scoring 290 tries.
Ray Markham, another prolific try-scorer totalling 255 in his six seasons with the club, arrived at the beginning of 1933, with two more Australians, Tommy Grahame and Ron Bailey, giving sterling service prior to the Second World War.
The next three Aussies to arrive could not have predicted the fame they were going to enjoy.
Lionel Cooper, Johnny Hunter and Pat Devery became household names and were hero-worshipped by the Huddersfield fans.
Cooper created Fartown records which possibly will never be equalled.
He was leading try-scorer for seven seasons, scored 10 tries in a match and is Huddersfield's leading all-time try-scorer with a career total of 420.
Hunter was the unpredictable entertainer, and playing in the days of the defensive full back was sensational running the ball upfield.
Devery was class - in defence, attack and with his kicking was an immaculate player - in season 1952-53 he scored a club record 332 points.
In 1965, Fartown signed Bob Hagan, an international, who in his three years as club captain, proved to be a more than capable centre - in 1995, Bob was CEO of the Canterbury Bulldogs who won the ARL competition in 1995 and 1997 and to this day is still very much involved with the Men of League organisation in Australia.
The seventies brought Greg Veivers and Wayne Bennett from Australia to play for most of the 1972-73 season.
Veivers returned to Australia and captained the Queensland team from 1975 to 1978 and was selected for Australia in the 1975 World Series competition, with Bennett emerging into the most respected coach in world rugby league.
Wally Gibson arrived in 1989 and reminded older supporters of the mercurial Johnny Hunter with his cavalier attacking football from the full back position - high praise indeed.
Others around that period included Ken Kerr, Brad Davies and the popular Dave King.
In the 1990's try machine Greg Austin equalled the Rugby League try-scoring record for a centre with 52 tries, and along with Dean Hanger and Greg Pearce, started to bring success back to Huddersfield.
Huddersfield were on the 'up and up' and attracted the likes of Brandon Costin to the club, and the Super League era also saw Brad Drew, Chris Nero and Test star Michael De Vere arrive at the Galpharm.
In 2007, Drew, who had been signed from Canberra Raiders, was the lynchpin in the Giants side - when he played well the whole team performed - his efforts recognised by the fact that he was named Supporters' Player of the Year three seasons running.
One of the most successful Huddersfield signings in the modern era saw Brett Hodgson arrive from Wests Tigers for the start of the 2009 season.
A revelation at full back, he emerged as the leading scorer (98 goals, 14 tries) and won the prestigious engage Man of Steel award, was selected in the Super League Dream Team and was honoured as the Rugby League Writers Player of the Year for 2009.
To coincide with Hodgson's success, Aussie coach Nathan Brown won the 2009 engage Super League Coach of the Year.
The current Aussie incumbent is International and New South Wales State of Origin back rower Luke O'Donnell.
The Green and Gold has combined well with the Claret and Gold over the years, long may it continue to bring success to the Birthplace of Rugby League Football.
Albert RosenfeldRugby League record holder with 80 tries in a season |
Lionel CooperA total of 420 tries in his Fartown career |
Brad DrewPlay-maker and talisman for the Giants |
