Jack Fitzgerald (rugby league)

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Jack Fitzgerald
Personal information
Full nameJohn Leo Fitzgerald
Born4 January 1925
Lismore, New South Wales, Australia
Died19 March 1965(1965-03-19) (aged 40)
Playing information
Position Wing
Club
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
1949–55 Western Suburbs 60210063
Coaching information
Club
YearsTeamGmsWDLW%
1961–64 Western Suburbs 805322566
Source: [1]

Jack Fitzgerald (1925-1965) was an Australian professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s, and coached in the 1960s. He played for Western Suburbs as a winger and later coached the club from 1961 to 1964.

Contents

Playing career

Fitzgerald began his career with Western Suburbs in 1949. In 1952, Fitzgerald was a member of the Western Suburbs side which claimed their fourth and final premiership defeating South Sydney in the grand final, with Fitzgerald scoring a try. Fitzgerald played for three more seasons before retiring as a player. [2] [3]

Coaching career

Fitzgerald began his coaching career in the lower grades at Western Suburbs until taking over as first grade coach in 1961. In his first year as coach, Fitzgerald won the minor premiership with Wests as they made the grand final against the all conquering St George side. Wests lost the match 22–0 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Fitzgerald then coached the club as they reached the 1962 and 1963 grand finals against St George losing on both occasions. This would be the last time that Western Suburbs would make a grand final as a stand-alone club. Fitzgerald coached for one last season in 1964 before stepping down. He died in 1965 aged 40. [4]

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References

  1. ↑ "Jack Fitzgerald - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". Rugbyleagueproject.org.
  2. ↑ "From the Vault: Magpies' last Grand Final victory". 28 March 2012.
  3. ↑ "Western Suburbs Magpies First Grade Players". Wests Magpies.
  4. ↑ Masters, Roy (28 August 2012). "With its future secure, league banks on its past for the stuff that legends are made of". The Sydney Morning Herald.
Sporting positions
Preceded by Coach
Western Suburbs colours.svg
Western Suburbs
1961–1964		Succeeded by
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