2023 has been an unforgettable 12 months and one which a few of us want to neglect, however earlier than it fades away, let’s take a while to understand a number of the Australian rugby league gamers who will probably be leaving us for good in 2023 – and plenty of of them will quickly be away too.
Billy Bischoff Jr
Bischoff was one of many Balmain Tigers’ stalwarts within the Nineteen Fifties and Nineteen Sixties and performed 151 video games for the Black and Gold.
He was given first grade with the Tigers as a 19-year-old in 1957 enjoying at quantity 5 however rapidly established himself as the most effective facilities within the recreation.
Bischoff was a flexible participant, even discovering himself at full-back in Balmain’s 1964 grand last loss to St George’s.
He represented New South Wales in 1961 and Metropolis in each 1961 and 1962 earlier than leaving the Tigers on the finish of the 1965 season to take up a captain/coach function with West Tamworth, the place he was named captain of the nationwide group in each 1967 and 1968.
Billy Bischoff Jr. died in June 2023 on the age of 85.
Bobby Bugden
An clever midfielder with an awesome shift of tempo, Bugden made his debut for St George’s on the age of 18 in a 1954 semi-final.
He grew to become the Dragon’s first alternative midfielder the next 12 months and wore the No. 7 jersey in 1956 as they started their 11-year reign as NSWRL presidents.
5 extra main titles adopted for Bogden within the subsequent 5 years, and definitely, no midfielder would higher his file of six in six.
He adopted St George’s captain/coach Ken Kearney to Parramatta in 1962 the place he performed for an additional 4 seasons.
Bugden represented Australia on the 1959/60 Kangaroo tour and within the 1960 World Cup, scoring three tries on his first Check in opposition to France in 1960.
Bobby Bugden died in November 2023 on the age of 87.
Kevin Considine
Within the Nineteen Fifties, Newtown had been severe contenders – two of their finest gamers had been the winger duo of Kevin Considine and Ray Preston, who scored 55 tries between them in 1954.
Considine was massive and quick and performed 138 video games for the Bluebags between 1952 and 1960, making 87 tries. He left for Parramatta in 1961 after the Newtown participant’s strike, earlier than ending his profession within the nation.
Kevin Considine died in June 2023 on the age of 93.
![](https://cdn4.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Troy-Dargan.jpg)
(Photograph by Mark Colby/Getty Photographs)
Troy Dargan
Troy Dargan was a teenager making an attempt to determine himself within the NRL, enjoying for Manly, Souths, Brisbane and Parramatta earlier than becoming a member of Canberra forward of the 2024 season.
A proficient half-half, he made his debut for Souths within the 2020 third spherical, enjoying simply two top-flight video games whereas changing the injured Cody Walker. Dargan additionally performed two Assessments for the Cook dinner Islands in 2019, crossing three tries.
Troy Dargan died in December 2023 on the age of 26.
John Hayes
Johnny Hayes was a robust and versatile ahead who spent 10 years with Western Suburbs within the Nineteen Sixties.
In an period of highly effective strikers, Hayes greater than held his personal and performed alongside fellow Magpies powerful males reminiscent of Kevin Smyth, Kel O’Shea and Noel Kelly.
He was ok to be chosen for New South Wales on three events, as soon as at hooker and twice at second grade.
Hayes retired from enjoying on the finish of 1970 to educate and pursue a profession within the New South Wales Police Pressure, rising to the rank of Chief Inspector.
John Hayes died in September 2023 on the age of 84.
Matthew Johnston
Matthew Johnston was a hard-working again rower who joined the Eels in 1955 as a 19-year-old and by no means left.
He made his debut for the membership in 1957 and performed 162 matches for the membership together with 67 within the First Division.
Johnston featured within the first grade facet that received the Eels’ first last in 1963 and the next 12 months led the second grade facet to the Eels’ first premiership. He remained concerned with the membership till his demise and was a Life Eels member.
Matthew Johnston died in July 2023 on the age of 87.
Mark Lyons
Mark Lyons was a robust ahead who first got here to prominence for Penrith, making his first-grade debut in opposition to North Sydney in 1991.
He performed a complete of seven first grade matches for Penrith over the following two years earlier than heading to South Sydney in 1993.
He was out and in of the South’s First Division facet over the following few years earlier than giving up the sport to work the docks and man the Bunnies’ dressing room door on match days.
Mark Lyons died in Might 2023 on the age of 52.
![SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 03: John Sattler speaks to the media during a media opportunity for the NRL Grand Final at Rugby League Central on October 3, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Renee MacKay/Getty Images)](https://cdn4.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/GettyImages-456554358-1.jpg)
John Sattler in 2014. (Photograph by Renee McKay/Getty Photographs)
John Sattler
Merely put, John Sattler was one of many best gamers to ever put on the South Sydney boots.
A strong, relentless striker in an period when it was a matter of survival of the fittest, Sattler performed practically 200 video games in his lengthy profession with Souths after becoming a member of them from the Newcastle competitors as a 20-year-old in 1973.
Though he’s finest remembered for taking part in by way of the 1970 Grand Ultimate with a damaged jaw, Sattler’s captaincy is his major legacy.
As soon as he captained Souths in 1967, they performed in 5 successive grand finals, profitable 4 of them.
Sattler left Souths in 1973 to complete his profession in Brisbane. He has represented New South Wales on 4 events and performed 4 Assessments for Australia. He is likely one of the few gamers to have captained New South Wales, Queensland and Australia in his profession.
John Sattler died in March 2023 on the age of 80.
Jack Lumsden
A fast winger like his youthful brother Eddie, Jack Lumsden got here from the Newcastle coalfields to affix Manly in 1951 and made a direct impression, scoring 12 tries in 10 video games in his first season at Sydney, together with 2 in Manly’s grand last loss to Souths wherein 12 months.
His good type continued the next 12 months and he was chosen to play for Australia within the third take a look at in opposition to the touring Kiwis. He gave vital time on the finish of 1952 to play within the Wollongong competitors, the place he went on to symbolize the New South Wales nation for a number of years.
Jack Lumsden died in March 2023 on the age of 93.
John MacDonald AM
John MacDonald was one of many greats of the sport, not solely as a participant, but in addition as a coach and administrator.
With a background in skilled speedway, ‘Cracker’ was a harmful outdoors again from Toowoomba who performed ten instances for Queensland between 1965 and 1968 earlier than becoming a member of Manly for 3 seasons in 1969, turning into membership captain in 1970.
He additionally performed 13 Assessments for Australia between 1966 and 1970 and 4 matches for New South Wales whereas with the Sea Eagles.
He returned to Toowoomba as captain/coach after leaving Manly, and coached the Queensland facet within the pre-Origin period, earlier than famously teaching the Maroons to victory of their first Origin match in 1980.
He went on to construct a powerful profession as an administrator, together with 21 years as President of the QRL and two years as President of the ARL.
John MacDonald died in September 2023.
![](https://cdn4.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Carl-Webb.jpg)
(Photograph by Cameron Spencer/Getty Photographs)
Carl Webb
Carl Webb wasn’t essentially the most proficient participant to ever put on a maroon jersey, however he was actually some of the fearsome. He has at all times left a long-lasting impression on an opponent: simply ask NSW’s Luke Bailey, with whom he loved a well-known Origin brawl.
Initially from Mount Isa, Webb made his debut for the Broncos as an 18-year-old in early 2000 alongside the likes of Shane Whipke, Gordon Tallis and Pietero Cifonisiva. If this event had startled him, he actually didn’t present it.
He performed the primary of his 12 beginning caps the next 12 months, asserting himself with a memorable attempt on his debut, and turning into the Maroons’ most popular alternative after they wanted one other strongman of their squad.
He moved north to the Cowboys in 2005 for essentially the most profitable stretch of his profession earlier than lastly transferring to the Eels in 2011, though Webb retired earlier than that season was over.
If ever a participant was created for Check match soccer, it’s Carl Webb – but, surprisingly, his solely recreation for the Kangaroos was within the 2008 Centenary Check in opposition to the New Zealanders.
Carl Webb died in December 2023 on the age of 42.
Lionel Morgan
Initially from New South Wales, Lionel Morgan was a sensation for Wynnum Manly within the Brisbane competitors within the early Nineteen Sixties.
An extended-running winger with distinctive velocity, he performed 16 instances for Queensland in his profession, making 15 tries.
Morgan made historical past in 1960 when he grew to become the primary Aboriginal participant to be chosen for the Kangaroos, scoring twice on his debut in opposition to France, enjoying alongside the likes of Reg Gasnier, Harry Wills and Ken Irvine.
Lionel Morgan died in September 2023 on the age of 85.
Tommy Ryan
Relating to making an attempt to attain targets, it is onerous to beat Tommy Ryan.
An enormous, sturdy lad, he joined St George’s from GPS rugby union and scored 81 tries in 94 first-class matches for the Dragons between 1951 and 1958.
Ryan additionally managed 4 tries in 4 exams for Australia on the 1952–53 Kangaroo tour, 20 tries in the identical tour in opposition to membership groups and 6 tries in a single match for New South Wales in opposition to Crew USA in 1953.
He received the Premiership with the Dragons in 1956 and 1957 and, within the latter 12 months, scored 26 tries in simply 19 appearances. He had one season with Rockhampton in 1955 and performed 3 matches for Queensland whereas there.
Tommy Ryan died in August 2023 on the age of 93.
Paul is aware of
Paul Sait was a flexible participant, as evidenced by the truth that he performed at middle, lock and second row in his 16 Check matches for Australia – a participant who demanded choice someplace.
He made his debut for Souths in 1968 and went on to play 160 video games for the membership. Sait was a powerful competitor and by no means backed down, however the heated competitors for locations within the South Group usually noticed him enjoying within the center.
He performed 4 Grand Finals for Souths, profitable three, and likewise performed 16 Assessments for Australia and 5 instances for New South Wales.
Paul Sait died in November 2023 on the age of 76.
![](https://cdn4.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Kyle-Turner-Souths.jpg)
(Photograph by Brendon Thorne/Getty Photographs)
Kyle Turner
Kyle Turner got here from Coonabarabran to affix South Sydney and made his first-grade debut as a 22-year-old in 2014, enjoying nearly each recreation for the Rabbitohs and coming off the bench in Souths’ well-known grand last win over the Bulldogs that 12 months.
A severe neck damage the next 12 months considerably hampered the senior back-rower’s profession, and he was ultimately launched by South Sydney on the finish of the 2019 season.
Kyle Turner died in August 2023 on the age of 31.
Kyle White
Kyle White was small in comparison with a lot of his opponents, however that by no means stopped him from placing his physique on the road each minute he was within the ring. He was the most effective defenders within the recreation.
White was an Australian schoolboy in 1987 and made his debut for the Bulldogs two years later, spending three years on the membership earlier than becoming a member of the Wests Magpies in 1992. He additionally had spells with Workington City, Illawarra and eventually Widnes earlier than fading from view.
Kyle White died in March 2023 on the age of 53.
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