Brian Hambly
Second Row, Prop
Player Bio
- Inducted:
- 2008
- Date of Birth:
- 31 October 1936
- Birthplace:
- Botany, NSW
- Nickname:
- Grumpy
- Debut Team:
- South Sydney
- Date:
- 27 May 1956
- Opposition:
- North Sydney
- Venue:
- Redfern Oval, Sydney
- Representative:
- City, Country, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Clubs:
- South Sydney, Wagga Magpies, Parramatta
Career
Milestones
- Kangaroo Tours: 1959-60, 1963-64
- Rated No. 74 in Rugby League Week’s Top 100 players: 1992
Playing
- First Class Games
- 251
- Points
- 243
- Tries
- 35
Biography
One of the toughest forwards of his time, Brian Hambly earned the respect of team-mates and opponents for his dedication in club and representative football.
In addition to 145 premiership games for Souths and Parramatta, Hambly appeared in 18 Tests and three World Cup matches and in the process built a well-deserved reputation for complete forward play.
Hambly was a great ball carrier, devastating defender and was equally at home in the second-row, as a prop and occasionally at lock.
He came into representative football in 1958, when he played for the NSW Colts against Great Britain.
The following season, Hambly played for the Wagga Magpies and it was from there that he gained selection for his first Kangaroo tour.
In England he was chosen as lock in the first two Tests, before being moved into the second row as Johnny Raper's incredible lock-forward talent could not be ignored.
Hambly linked up with Parramatta in 1961 and was a real force in the club's climb up the premiership ladder.
The Eels reached the semi-finals for the first time in 1962 and in the following year made the final. Hambly played his final Test match in 1965, but remained a real force at club level for another two years.
“A great cover defender, a powerful runner of the ball and a good team man. Hambly played his best football on the 1959-60 Kangaroo tour.”
Ian Walsh Kangaroo tour team-mate
56. Brian Hambly - Hall of Fame
Career Stats
Club Career
| Team Name | Competition | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Sydney Rabbitohs | Premiership | 1956 | 1958 | 33 | 7 | - | - | 21 |
| Wagga Magpies | 1959 | 1960 | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Parramatta | Premiership | 1961 | 1967 | 105 | 6 | 46 | - | 110 |
| Parramatta | Official Pre-Season | 1961 | 1967 | 21 | 4 | 1 | - | 14 |
| Parramatta | Touring Sides | 1963 | 1963 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| Parramatta | State Cup | 1964 | 1965 | 8 | 2 | 8 | - | 22 |
Representative Career
City - Country
| Team Name | Opponent | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City Seconds | Country Seconds |
1957
1962
1966 |
1957
1963
1966 |
4 | - | - | - | - |
| Country Firsts | City Firsts | 1959 | 1959 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 3 |
| City Firsts | Country Firsts | 1964 | 1964 | 1 | - | 1 | - | 2 |
| Country | Sydney | 1959 | 1960 | 2 | 2 | - | - | 6 |
| Sydney | Country | 1963 | 1963 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| Sydney | Touring Sides | 1966 | 1966 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
State
| Team Name | Competition | Opponent | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Interstate Series | Queensland |
1959
1963 |
1960
1963 |
7 | 2 | - | - | 6 |
| New South Wales | Touring Sides | 1962 | 1964 | 4 | - | - | - | - |
International
| Team Name | Competition | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Tests and World Cup | 1959 | 1965 | 21 | 2 | 2 | - | 10 |
| Australia | Tour Matches | 1959 | 1965 | 40 | 9 | 11 | - | 49 |
Other Representative
| Team Name | Opponent | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rest of the World | Great Britain | 1960 | 1960 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
Hall of Fame Members
National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.
