Benny Wearing

Australia international rugby league player

Not to be confused with Ben Wearing.

Benny Wearing

Personal information

Full name| Benjamin Wearing
Born| 11 June 1901
Redfern, New South Wales
Died| 9 April 1968(1968-04-09) (aged 66)
Maroubra, New South Wales

Playing information

Position| Wing
| Club

Years  | Team  | Pld | T | G | FG | P
1921–33  | South Sydney | 172  | 144  | 202  | 0  | 836
Representative
Years  | Team  | Pld | T | G | FG | P
1923–32  | New South Wales | 23  | 17  | 37  | 0  | 125
1928  | Australia | 1  | 2  | 3  | 0  | 12
1928–30  | NSW City | 2  | 2  | 7  | 0  | 20
1927  | Metropolis | 1  | 2  | 0  | 0  | 6

Source: [1]

Benny Wearing (11 June 1901 – 9 April 1968) was an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s and 1930s. An Australian international and New South Wales representative three-quarter, he played his club football in the NSWRFL Premiership for South Sydney. Wearing was the third player in Australian rugby league history to score 100 premiership tries.

## Playing career

[edit]

Wearing was a prodigious try-scoring wing three-quarter and scored all of Souths' 12 points in their grand final loss in 1923. He then went on to play a major part in South Sydney's 7 premiership victories between 1925 and 1932.

For the seasons 1925 and 1928 he was the NSW Rugby League's top point scorer and in three consecutive seasons from 1926 to 1928 he was the League's top try scorer, a feat only ever achieved by two other players – Gordon Wright in the 1920s and Nathan Blacklock 1999 to 2001.

Having been representing New South Wales since 1924, Wearing debuted for Australia in the 3rd dead rubber Test of 1928 against the touring British Lions side. He scored two tries and kicked three goals to help Australia to a 21 to 14 victory at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Despite that contribution and good club form in 1929, he was overlooked by selectors for the 1929–30 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain. Wearing is listed on the Australian Players Register as Kangaroo No. 150.[2]

Wearing retired having played 173 first grade games for Souths between 1921 and 1933 which stood as the club record till Jack Rayner eclipsed it in the late 1950s. He scored 836 points for the Rabbitohs (144 tries and 202 goals) which stood as the club record for several decades. His 144 career tries for the Rabbitohs stood as the club record for over eight decades until it was broken in 2014 by Nathan Merritt when he scored his 145th try in an 18–2 victory over the Penrith Panthers.[3]

## Accolades

[edit]

In February 2008, Wearing was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players (1908–2007) which was commissioned by the NRL and ARL to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia.[4][5]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Benny Wearing. Rugby League Project
2. ^ ARL Annual Report 2005, page 53
3. ^ "South Sydney Rabbitohs Rugby League Player Report - Benny Wearing". www.ssralmanac.com.
4. ^ Peter Cassidy (23 February 2008). "Controversy reigns as NRL releases top 100 players". Macquarie National News. Archived from the original on 25 February 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2008.
5. ^ "Centenary of Rugby League – The Players". NRL & ARL. 23 February 2008. Archived from the original on 26 February 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2008.

## Further reading

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Benny Wearing.

* Andrews, Malcolm (2006) The ABC of Rugby League, Austn Broadcasting Corpn, Sydney
* NRL Official 2007 Season Guide, News Magazines Surry Hills Sydney, for the National Rugby League

* v
* t
* e

South Sydney squad - 1927 NSWRFL Premiers (7th title)

* 1\. Harry Kadwell
* 2\. Benny Wearing
* 3\. Vic Lawrence
* 4\. Sid Harris
* 5\. Harry Finch
* 6\. Alf Blair (Capt./Coach)
* 7\. Michael O'Connor

* 8\. David Watson
* 9\. Alby Carr
* 10\. Chas Fennell
* 11\. George Treweek
* 12\. Edward Root
* 13\. Harry Cavanough

* v
* t
* e

South Sydney squad - 1928 NSWRFL Premiers (8th title)

* 1\. Alan Righton
* 2\. Benny Wearing
* 3\. Jack Why
* 4\. Harry Finch
* 5\. Reg Williams
* 6\. Harry Kadwell
* 7\. Jim Breen (c)

* 8\. Harry Cavanough
* 9\. Alf Binder
* 10\. David Watson
* 11\. Edward Root
* 12\. George Treweek
* 13\. Oscar Quinlivan

* Coach: Charlie Lynch

* v
* t
* e

South Sydney squad - 1929 NSWRFL Premiers (9th title)

* 1\. Albert Spillane
* 2\. Benny Wearing
* 3\. Oscar Quinlivan
* 4\. Harry Eyres
* 5\. Reg Williams
* 6\. Jack Jones
* 7\. Alf Blair (c)

* 8\. Frank O'Connor
* 9\. Alf O'Connor
* 10\. Carl Eggen
* 11\. Alf Binder
* 12\. David Watson
* 13\. Jack Why

* Coach: Charlie Lynch

* v
* t
* e

South Sydney squad - 1931 NSWRFL Premiers (10th title)

* 1\. Albert Spillane
* 2\. Benny Wearing
* 3\. Jack Morrison
* 4\. Pat Maher
* 5\. Jack Why
* 6\. Jim Deeley
* 7\. Harry Eyres

* 8\. Carl Eggen
* 9\. Edward Root
* 10\. Frank Curran
* 11\. George Treweek (c)
* 12\. Frank O'Connor
* 13\. Percy Williams

* Coach: Charlie Lynch

* v
* t
* e

South Sydney squad \- 1932 NSWRFL Premiers (11th title)

* 1\. Albert Spillane
* 2\. Benny Wearing
* 3\. Alby Black
* 4\. Pat Maher
* 5\. Jack Why
* 6\. Jim Deeley
* 7\. Percy Williams

* 8\. Edward Root
* 9\. Jack Peterson
* 10\. Frank Curran
* 11\. George Treweek (c)
* 12\. Frank O'Connor
* 13\. Eric Lewis

* Coach: Charlie Lynch

* v
* t
* e

National Rugby League season top points scorers

* 1908 Horrie Miller
* 1909 Arthur Conlin
* 1910 Dally Messenger
* 1911 Dally Messenger
* 1912 Dally Messenger
* 1913 Harold Horder
* 1914 Harold Horder
* 1915 Wally Messenger
* 1916 Charles Fraser
* 1917 Charles Fraser
* 1918 Harold Horder
* 1919 A McPherson
* 1920 Frank Burge
* 1921 Rex Norman
* 1922 Harold Horder
* 1923 Arthur Oxford
* 1924 Jack Courtney
* 1925 Benny Wearing
* 1926 Jack Courtney
* 1927 Alf Blair
* 1928 Benny Wearing
* 1929 Jim Craig
* 1930 Jim Craig
* 1931 Jack Lynch
* 1932 Les Mead
* 1933 Syd Christensen
* 1934 Dave Brown
* 1935 Dave Brown
* 1936 Syd Christensen
* 1937 Jack Beaton
* 1938 Tom Kirk
* 1939 Neville Smith
* 1940 Tom Kirk
* 1941 Neville Smith
* 1942 Ray Lindwall
* 1943 Tom Kirk
* 1944 Tom Kirk
* 1945 Dick Dunn
* 1946 Tom Kirk
* 1947 Pat Devery
* 1948 Jack Lindwall
* 1949 Bill Keato
* 1950 Bill Keato
* 1951 Ron Rowles
* 1953 Ron Rowles
* 1954 Ron Rowles
* 1955 Doug Fleming
* 1956 Doug Fleming
* 1957 Darcy Russell
* 1958 Harry Bath
* 1959 Darcy Russell
* 1960 Brian Graham
* 1961 Bob Landers
* 1962 Don Parish
* 1963 Fred Griffiths
* 1964 Fred Griffiths
* 1965 Fred Griffiths
* 1966 Bob Lanigan
* 1967 Eric Simms
* 1968 Eric Simms
* 1969 Eric Simms
* 1970 Eric Simms
* 1971 Graeme Langlands
* 1972 Allan McKean
* 1973 Graeme Langlands
* 1974 Graham Eadie
* 1975 Graham Eadie
* 1976 Graham Eadie
* 1977 Michael Cronin
* 1978 Michael Cronin
* 1979 Michael Cronin
* 1980 Steve Gearin
* 1981 Steve Rogers
* 1982 Michael Cronin
* 1983 Michael Eden
* 1984 Steve Gearin
* 1985 Michael Cronin
* 1986 Terry Lamb
* 1987 Ross Conlon
* 1988 Gary Belcher
* 1989 Andy Currier & Ricky Walford
* 1990 Mal Meninga
* 1991 Daryl Halligan
* 1992 Daryl Halligan
* 1993 Daryl Halligan
* 1994 Daryl Halligan
* 1995 Matthew Ridge
* 1996 Jason Taylor
* 1997 Jason Taylor (ARL) Ryan Girdler (SL)
* 1998 Ivan Cleary
* 1999 Matt Geyer
* 2000 Joel Caine
* 2001 Andrew Johns & Ben Walker
* 2002 Hazem El Masri
* 2003 Hazem El Masri
* 2004 Hazem El Masri
* 2005 Brett Hodgson
* 2006 Hazem El Masri
* 2007 Hazem El Masri
* 2008 Luke Covell
* 2009 Hazem El Masri
* 2010 Michael Gordon
* 2011 Benji Marshall
* 2012 Jarrod Croker
* 2013 James Maloney
* 2014 James Maloney & Johnathan Thurston
* 2015 James Maloney
* 2016 Jarrod Croker
* 2017 Nathan Cleary
* 2018 Latrell Mitchell
* 2019 Latrell Mitchell
* 2020 Adam Reynolds
* 2021 Reuben Garrick
* 2022 Valentine Holmes
* 2023 Jamayne Isaako
* 2024 Valentine Holmes

* v
* t
* e

National Rugby League season top try scorers

* 1908 Horrie Miller
* 1909 Tommy Anderson
* 1910 Arthur McCabe
* 1911 Dave Garlick
* 1912 Roy Algie
* 1913 Harold Horder
* 1914 Harold Horder
* 1915 Frank Burge
* 1916 Frank Burge
* 1917 Harold Horder
* 1918 Frank Burge
* 1919 Gordon Wright
* 1920 Gordon Wright
* 1921 Gordon Wright
* 1922 Cec Blinkhorn
* 1923 Herman Peters
* 1924 Tommy Kennedy
* 1925 Benny Wearing
* 1926 Benny Wearing
* 1927 Benny Wearing
* 1928 Tony Redmond
* 1929 Alan Brady
* 1930 Morrie Boyle
* 1931 Jack Lynch
* 1932 Alan Ridley
* 1933 Jack Gray-Spence
* 1934 Dave Brown, Fred Gardner & Vic Hey
* 1935 Dave Brown
* 1936 Fred Tottey
* 1937 Fred Tottey
* 1938 Don Manson
* 1939 Sid Goodwin
* 1940 Jack Lindwall
* 1941 Percy Dermond & Sel Lisle
* 1942 Jack Lindwall
* 1943 Cyril McMahon
* 1944 Sid Goodwin
* 1945 Chicka Cahill & Jack Snare
* 1946 Jack Lindwall
* 1947 Bob Lulham
* 1948 Norm Jacobson
* 1949 Ron Roberts
* 1950 Jack Troy
* 1951 John Graves
* 1952 Peter O'Brien
* 1953 Ian Moir
* 1954 Ray Preston
* 1955 Brian Allsop & Ian Moir
* 1956 Tommy Ryan
* 1957 Tommy Ryan
* 1958 Eddie Lumsden
* 1959 Ken Irvine
* 1960 Reg Gasnier
* 1961 Johnny King
* 1962 Eddie Lumsden
* 1963 Reg Gasnier
* 1964 Reg Gasnier
* 1965 Johnny King
* 1966 Ken Irvine
* 1967 Les Hanigan
* 1968 Stan Gorton
* 1969 Ken Irvine
* 1970 Ken Irvine
* 1971 Paul Cross
* 1972 Bob Fulton
* 1973 Bob Fulton
* 1974 Kevin Junee & Bill Mullins
* 1975 Johnny Mayes
* 1976 Bob Fulton
* 1977 Russel Gartner
* 1978 Larry Corowa
* 1979 Mitch Brennan & Tom Mooney
* 1980 John Ribot & Wayne Wigham
* 1981 Terry Fahey
* 1982 Steve Ella
* 1983 Phil Blake
* 1984 Terry Lamb & Steve Morris
* 1985 Steve Linnane
* 1986 Phil Blake & Garry Schofield
* 1987 Terry Lamb
* 1988 John Ferguson
* 1989 Gary Belcher
* 1990 Mal Meninga
* 1991 Alan McIndoe
* 1992 Mark Bell & Tim Brasher
* 1993 Noa Nadruku
* 1994 Steve Renouf
* 1995 Steven Menzies
* 1996 Noa Nadruku
* 1997 Terry Hill (ARL) Matthew Ryan (SL)
* 1998 Darren Smith
* 1999 Nathan Blacklock
* 2000 Nathan Blacklock
* 2001 Nathan Blacklock
* 2002 Nigel Vagana
* 2003 Rhys Wesser
* 2004 Amos Roberts
* 2005 Matt Bowen
* 2006 Nathan Merritt
* 2007 Matt Bowen
* 2008 Brett Stewart
* 2009 Brett Morris
* 2010 Shaun Kenny-Dowall & Akuila Uate
* 2011 Ben Barba & Nathan Merritt
* 2012 Ben Barba
* 2013 Michael Jennings, Jorge Taufua & David Williams
* 2014 Alex Johnston
* 2015 Semi Radradra
* 2016 Jordan Rapana & Suliasi Vunivalu
* 2017 Josh Addo-Carr & Suliasi Vunivalu
* 2018 David Fusitu'a
* 2019 Maika Sivo
* 2020 Alex Johnston
* 2021 Alex Johnston
* 2022 Alex Johnston
* 2023 Dominic Young
* 2024 Alofiana Khan-Pereira

*[Pld]: Played
*[T]: Tries
*[G]: Goals
*[FG]: Field goals
*[P]: Points
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template