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1932 Kangaroo Jersey - Wally Prigg. Wally Prigg who played his…
Sale Title:
Auction House:
Auction Location:
Sydney
Date:
7-Jun-2012
Lot No.
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Description:
1932 Kangaroo Jersey - Wally Prigg. Wally Prigg who played his whole career in the Newcastle competition was the first player to tour three times with the Kangaroos and the only player to make three sea voyages to England with Kangaroo teams. Altogether, Prigg spent more than a year of his life as a Kangaroo tourist. He turned 21 on his first tour in 1929-30 and acquitted himself well, playing 16 tour matches, including the first two Tests. Four years later, he was at the height of his powers as a player when he toured as a member of Frank McMillan's Kangaroos. The wiry lock forward played all three Tests on tour and created a slice of history by scoring the first rugby league try on French soil in an international between Australia and England. Prigg returned to France four years later as captain of the Kangaroos and led Australia into the inaugural Test against the French in Paris. He was a rarity in that his entire club career was played outside the major centres of Sydney and Brisbane, as he preferred to stay in Newcastle, where he turned out for Wests and Centrals. In 1938, league pioneer Billy Cann rated Prigg rugby league's greatest lock to that point, and in doing so he reflected what came to be an almost unanimity of view about a footballer who was called more than once 'Newcastle's favourite son': that Wally Prigg stands tall in the line of champion Australian lock forwards. Games for NSW: 35 (1929-39); Tests for Australia: 19 (1929-38) - seven as captain Representative landmarks: Kangaroo tours 1929-30, 1933-34, 1937-38 (captain); Australian tour of New Zealand 1935. Wally Prigg was admitted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame in 2003. In February 2008, Prigg was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players (1908–2007) which was commissioned by the NRL and ARL to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia. In 2008 Prigg was named in New South Wales' Rugby League Team of the Century. Wally played for Wests Newcastle 1927-28 and for Central Newcastle 1929-39 and is a member of the Hunter Region Sports Hall of fame. Assessment: The Kangaroo jersey was made by David Jones and the jersey has a number of moth holes on the left and right breast and the shoulder. The vibrant colour however is well preserved and it is in good condition. The number has been removed. The 1932 series in Australia was close fought with England narrowly winning the first Test 8-6 at the SCG. The Australian’s had their own “Battle of Brisbane” in the second match. Mirroring the Rorke’ s Drift Test some 18 years before, the Aussies were down to 11 men for periods of the second half and at one stage were down to 10! Nevertheless they won 15-6 but ultimately lost the decider 18-13. Wally played in the first Test and was ruled out of the remaining Tests due to injury. This lot is offered by the family also being sold as separate lots are a 1932 law book and Wally’s copy of the 1933-34 Kangaroos photo.
Estimate:
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Price:
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Category:
Unclassified