Herb Gilbert
Centre
Player Bio
- Inducted:
- 2008
- Date of Birth:
- 18 September 1887
- Birthplace:
- Gulgong, NSW
- Nickname:
- -
- Debut Team:
- South Sydney
- Date:
- 29 April 1911
- Opposition:
- North Sydney
- Venue:
- Sydney Sports Ground, NSW
- Representative:
- New South Wales, Australia
- Clubs:
- South Sydney, Hull, Eastern Suburbs, Western Suburbs, St George
Career
Milestones
- Kangaroo Tour: 1911-12
- Australian Captain: Two Tests
- Challenge Cup: 1914
- Rated No. 70 in Rugby League Week’s Top 100 players: 1992
Playing
- First Class Games
- 285
- Points
- 402
- Tries
- 128
Biography
Herb Gilbert made his name as a rugby union centre with South Sydney and won selection for all three union Tests against New Zealand in 1910, scoring two tries in the second Test win and another in the third.
Switching to rugby league in 1911, Gilbert was chosen for the 1911–12 Kangaroo tour, when he appeared in all three Tests and topped the try-scoring list on tour with 20 tries.
His strong running, poise anddefence made him one of the stars of the tour, and he returned to England the following season to join Hull, who paid a then-record price for his services.
In three seasons on Humberside, Gilbert played 114 matches and led them to the 1914 Challenge Cup win over Wakefield Trinity, the first overseas captain to lift the trophy.
He returned to Souths in 1915, played one impressive season with Easts, and then linked up with Wests, where he turned that club into genuine premiership contenders.
Gilbert cut an imposing figure — there were few, if any, opposing backs who could match his impressive physical presence, or his skill.
In 1920, his combination with Viv Farnsworth played a big part in Australia regaining the Ashes.
Gilbert captained Australia in the final two Tests of that series.
He played his final season with the new St George club in 1921, after which he served the Saints as a coach, selector and committeeman for many years.
“Herb had the perfect temperament. I can never recall him getting rattled to the slightest degree.”
Billy Cann 1911-12 Kangaroo team-mate
14. Herb Gilbert - Hall of Fame
Career Stats
Club Career
| Team Name | Competition | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Sydney | Premiership |
1911
1915 |
1912
1915 |
23 | 6 | 3 | - | 24 |
| South Sydney | City Cup | 1915 | 1915 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| Hull | England First Class Games | 1912 | 1915 | 114 | 57 | 1 | - | 173 |
| Eastern Suburbs | Premiership | 1916 | 1916 | 23 | 6 | 3 | - | 24 |
| Eastern Suburbs | City Cup | 1916 | 1916 | 2 | - | - | - | - |
| Western Suburbs | Premiership | 1917 | 1920 | 51 | 23 | - | - | 69 |
| Western Suburbs | City Cup |
1917
1920 |
1918
1920 |
8 | 2 | - | - | 6 |
| St George | Premiership | 1921 | 1921 | 8 | 1 | - | - | 3 |
| St George | City Cup | 1921 | 1921 | 8 | 3 | - | - | 9 |
Representative Career
State
| Team Name | Competition | Opponent | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Interstate series | Queensland |
1911
1919 |
1912
1919 |
3 | 1 | - | - | 3 |
| New South Wales | Touring teams |
1912
1919 |
1912
1920 |
5 | 2 | - | - | 6 |
International
| Team Name | Competition | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Tests |
1911
1919 |
1912
1920 |
7 | 2 | 1 | - | 8 |
| Australia | Tour matches |
1911
1919 |
1912
1919 |
30 | 25 | 1 | - | 77 |
Other Representative
| Team Name | Opponent | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kangaroos | Metropolis | 1912 | 1912 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| Metropolis | Country | 1912 | 1912 | 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.
