Gordon Clunas

Last updated

Gordon Clunas
Personal information
Full nameGordon Robert Clunas
Born5 January 1916
Canterbury, New South Wales, Australia
Died16 February 1977(1977-02-16) (aged 61)
Playing information
Position Fullback, Lock
Club
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
1940–44 Canterbury-Bankstown 190000
Source: [1]
As of 16 April 2019

Gordon Clunas was an Australian professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s and 1940s. He played for Canterbury-Bankstown in the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) competition.

Contents

Background

Clunas played junior rugby league for Campsie.

Playing career

Clunas made his debut for Canterbury against Western Suburbs in 1937 during the City Cup competition. It wasn't until the 1940 season that Clunas made his first grade debut for the club which was against North Sydney. In 1940, Canterbury reached their second grand final against Eastern Suburbs. Clunas played at lock as Canterbury were defeated 24–14 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The following season, Canterbury finished 2nd in 1941 and reached the final but were once again defeated by Easts 24–22.

In 1942, Clunas made 1 appearance for Canterbury and missed out on the club's second premiership victory over St George. In the following 2 seasons, Canterbury went from winning the premiership in 1942 to running last in 1943 and 1944 claiming the wooden spoon. As of the 2019 season, no other club has gone from premiers to wooden spooners the next season with the exception of Melbourne who won the premiership in 2009 but were later stripped of the title for major breaches of the salary cap in 2010 and made to play for no points which resulted in the club coming last.

Clunas last season in the top grade was in 1944 but continued to play reserve and third grades for the club. In total, Clunas made 92 appearances for Canterbury. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Post playing

Clunas became Canterbury's third grade coach and held the position from 1946 to 1953. Clunas later became chairman of the Canterbury Leagues Club board throughout the 1970s.

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References

  1. ↑ "Gordon Clunas- Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". Rugbyleagueproject.org.
  2. ↑ "BULLDOGS RUGBY LEAGUE CLUB - OFFICIAL WEBSITE". thebulldogs.com.au.
  3. ↑ Alan Whiticker/Glen Hudson: The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players. (1995 edition) ISBN   1875169571
  4. ↑ "NRL Grand Final: South Sydney Rabbitohs looking to join rugby league's greatest drought breakers". ABC News. October 2014.
  5. ↑ "PREMIERSHIP RECORDS". www.nrl.com. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  6. ↑ "How a bookie's tip-off brought down the Storm". www.smh.com.au. 22 April 2010.


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