The NSWRL would today like to wish former NSW captain and Newtown centre Dick Poole a very Happy 90th Birthday.
Poole was born in Surry Hills on 27 November 1930 and made his first-grade debut for the ‘Blue Bags’ as an 18-year-old in 1950.
He played 11 games for NSW between 1954-57 and captained the team in 1956 which won the series against Queensland 3-1. He also captained the team twice that won the 1957 series 4-0, including the 69-5 win in Game Three where he scores a double.
Poole also represented NSW in 1954 where he played five-eighth against Great Britain in the match which was abandoned by referee Aub Oxford due to constant fighting.
He also represented his country on 13 occasions with his greatest moment coming as captain-coach of Australia’s World Cup victory in 1957. Under his leadership, Australia remained undefeated in the four-nation competition.
Poole played in the Newtown teams which finished runner-up to the South Sydney Rabbitohs in consecutive Grand Finals in 1954-55.
His representative career effectively ended in 1958 after he injured his achilles tendon and he was forced to retire midway through 1961 due to recurring asthma.
He returned to coach Newtown in 1966-68 and in the centenary of rugby league celebration in 2008 was named in the club’s 18-man Team of the Century.