The New South Wales Rugby League has paid tribute to former NSW Blues and Australian centre Peter Dimond, who passed away yesterday.
Originally from Dapto on the NSW south coast, Dimond followed the path of his older brother Bobby, who represented Australia on the 1948 Kangaroo tour. After representing NSW Country as a teenager Dimond joined Western Suburbs in Sydney in 1958 and proved an immediate sensation.
His powerful frame was allied with a robust approach that inspired confidence in his team-mates and fear in the opposition. Dimond went on to play more than 150 matches across 10 seasons with the Magpies, highlighted by four Grand Finals where they faced the St George juggernaut. His tally of 84 tries for the club has never been bettered.
Dimond also played for NSW between 1958-63 and made ten Test appearances for Australia, most notably all six on the 1963 Kangaroo tour when Australia reclaimed The Ashes.
After leaving Sydney he spent time in Newcastle with Souths and Maitland as well as a stint on the far north coast at Murwillumbah. An iconic figure for his generation, Dimond was named in the Western Suburbs Team of the Century and remained a popular figure at the annual Kangaroo reunion.
The NSWRL President Bob Millward OAM said: “Peter was known as a very good blockbusting winger for Western Suburbs, NSW and Australia.
“He is one of 47 Illawarra Kangaroos representatives to come through our ranks and we are very proud of him. His name is proudly displayed on the honour boards at the Illawarra Steelers.”
The NSWRL extends our sincere condolences to his family and friends.
