Charles Fraser (rugby league)

Australian RL coach and former Australia international rugby league footballer

Charles Fraser

Personal information

Born| (1893-01-11)11 January 1893
Balmain, New South Wales, Australia
Died| 31 January 1981(1981-01-31) (aged 88)
Balmain, New South Wales

Playing information

Position| Fullback, Centre
| Club

Years  | Team  | Pld | T | G | FG | P
1910–26  | Balmain | 190  | 54  | 165  | 0  | 492
Representative
Years  | Team  | Pld | T | G | FG | P
1915–21  | New South Wales | 5  | 2  | 5  | 0  | 14
1911–20  | Australia | 11  | 2  | 1  | 0  | 8

Coaching information

| Club

Years | Team | Gms | W | D | L | W%
1921-32  | Balmain | 97  | 55  | 8  | 34  | 57

Source: Rugby League Project and Yesterday's Hero

Charles "Chook" Fraser (1893–1981) was an Australian rugby league footballer and later coach. He was a versatile three-quarter for the Australian national team. He played in 11 Tests between 1911 and 1920 as captain on 3 occasions. He is considered one of the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century[1]

## Balmain

[edit]

Chook Fraser was born in Short Street, Birchgrove in 1893. A Balmain junior, Fraser was graded with the Balmain Tigers at age 17, before an extraordinary seventeen year first grade career for the club at either fullback or centre from 1910 to 1926.[2]

He was member of Balmain's premiership winning sides of 1915, 1916, 1917, 1919, 1920 and 1924.[2] His 185 first grade games stood as the Balmain club record for more than four decades.[2] He was the NSW Rugby Football League's top point scorer in 1916 and 1917.[2]

He was selected in both the Wests Tigers Team of the Century and the Balmain Tigers Team of the Century in the position of centre.

## Representative career

[edit]

Fraser seated three right of circled player 1921–22 Kangaroos

In only his second year in first grade with just 15 games to his credit and still aged 18, Fraser was selected for the 1911–12 Kangaroo Tour of England.[2] He made his Test debut at full-back against England in the 1st Test of 1911 at Newcastle upon Tyne and played in twenty other tour matches. He was the youngest Australian footballer to play Test football (18 years 301 days) when he toured with the 1911–12 Kangaroos until surpassed by Brad Fittler in 1990 and then by Israel Folau in 2007.[2]

He made his state debut for New South Wales in 1912 against New Zealand. He made a further nine state appearances during his career against Queensland or visiting International sides.[2]

He made ten further Test appearances (at home against the 1914 and 1920 Lions, while touring New Zealand in 1919 and then on his second Kangaroo tour of 1921–22, with fellow Balmain players Reg Latta, Jimmy Craig and Bill Schultz playing seven times at full-back and three times at five-eighth.[2] The 1919 touring side of New Zealand was the first Australian full Test side to cross the Tasman. With the world still recovering from World War I and in the midst of the deadly Spanish flu pandemic, the team could only find passage to New Zealand on a cockroach and rat-infested cargo ship out of Newcastle harbour. Half-way across the Tasman, bites from the ship-bred vermin led to Fraser and Duncan Thompson falling victim to blood-poisoned legs.[2]

His first appearance as captain of the Kangaroos was the first test of the 1921–22 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain. He led the side in all three Tests of that series.[2]

## Post-playing

[edit]

He coached Balmain on two separate occasions.

He coached a Gundagai side to success in a country competition in 1926 before returning to coach the Balmain Tigers in 1932.[2] He remained involved with the Balmain club in the 1950s and 1960s as a talent scout and lived at Dock Road, Balmain with wife Veronica for the rest of his long life. He told Tom Goodman in the Sun Herald in 1978, "I'm 85 but I'm still a fan. I never miss a game at Leichhardt and I go to the S.C.G. for all the big games." In the same article Fraser stated that Dally Messenger was greatest player he had ever seen play Rugby League.[3]

Chook Fraser's favourite hobby was sailing. He was a life member of the 18 footer sailing league in Sydney, and was a crew member of several noted boats and skiffs of his era. Charles' third son Jim, also an avid sailor, went on to win the 18-footers World Championship in 1958 sailing in "Jantzen Girl."

Chook Fraser died at Birchgrove in 1981, age 88. He was survived by six children, 17 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren, and was buried at Field of Mars Cemetery on 3 February 1981.[4]

In 2006, Fraser was inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame.[5] In February 2008, Fraser 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.[6]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Century's Top 100 Players Archived 25 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Whiticker pp. 71–73
3. ^ The Sun Herald: Chook Fraser, Rugby League Great. 08/01/1978 (page 17)
4. ^ Sydney Morning Herald: Death/Funeral Notice 02/02/1981
5. ^ Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame Archived 18 November 2006 at the Wayback Machine
6. ^ "Centenary of Rugby League – The Players". National Rugby League & ARL. 23 February 2008. Archived from the original on 26 February 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2008.

## Sources

[edit]

* Whiticker, Alan (2004) Captaining the Kangaroos, New Holland, Sydney
* Andrews, Malcolm (2006) The ABC of Rugby League Austn Broadcasting Corpn, Sydney
* Centenary Test Game Day Souvenir Program (2008), News Magazines, Surry Hills, Sydney

Sporting positions

Preceded by

Reg Latta
1931

|  Coach

Balmain Tigers
1932  | Succeeded by

George Robinson
1933–1934

Preceded by

Arthur Halloway
1916–1920

|  Coach

Balmain Tigers
1921–1924  | Succeeded by

Alf Fraser
1925–1929

Preceded by

Herb Gilbert

|  Captain

Australia
1921–1922  | Succeeded by

Jim Craig

* v
* t
* e

Balmain squad – 1916 NSWRFL Premiers (2nd title)

* 1\. Lyall Wall
* 2\. Reg Latta
* 3\. Charles Fraser
* 4\. Jim Craig
* 5\. Jack 'Junker' Robinson
* 6\. Albert "Rick" Johnston
* 7\. Arthur Halloway

* 8\. Alf Fraser
* 9\. D. Cranston
* 10\. E. Burnicle
* 11\. Bill Schultz
* 12\. D. Stewart
* 13\.  Robert Craig

* v
* t
* e

Balmain squad – 1924 NSWRFL Premiers (6th title)

* 1\. Des Ponchard
* 2\. Jim Love
* 3\. Dud Millard
* 4\. Billy Craig
* 5\. Tommy Kennedy
* 6\. Charles Fraser (Capt./Coach)
* 7\. Norm Robinson

* 8\. Bill Schulz
* 9\. Horrie Watt
* 10\. Alf Fraser
* 11\. Roy Liston
* 12\. Les Hayes
* 13\. Reg Latta

* 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

* v
* t
* e

Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame

2002|

* Clive Churchill
* Reg Gasnier
* Johnny Raper
* Graeme Langlands
* Bob Fulton
* Wally Lewis

2003|

* Dally Messenger
* Dave Brown
* Wally Prigg
* Keith Holman
* Arthur Beetson
* Mal Meninga

2004|

* Harry Bath
* Norm Provan
* Ken Irvine
* Harold Horder
* Frank Burge
* Vic Hey

2005|

* Jimmy Craig
* Chris McKivat
* Duncan Thompson
* Brian Bevan
* Brian Carlson
* Ron Coote

2006|

* Ken Kearney
* Sid "Sandy" Pearce
* Charles Fraser
* George Treweek
* Duncan Hall
* Peter Sterling

2007|

* Arthur Halloway
* Tom Gorman
* Joe Pearce
* Harry Wells
* Keith Barnes
* Mick Cronin

2018|

* Viv Farnsworth
* Brad Fittler
* Charles Fraser
* Dan Frawley
* Peter Gallagher
* Herb Gilbert
* Eric Grothe Sr.
* Howard Hallett
* Brian Hambly
* Andrew Johns
* Les Johns
* Noel Kelly
* Brett Kenny
* Johnny King
* Terry Lamb
* Allan Langer
* Glenn Lazarus
* Darren Lockyer
* Eddie Lumsden
* Bob McCarthy
* Frank McMillan
* Peter "Mick" Madsen
* Gene Miles
* Steve Mortimer
* Barry Muir
* Herb Narvo
* Ernie Norman
* Andy Norval
* John O'Neill
* Kel O'Shea
* Wayne Pearce
* Ray Price
* Tom Raudonikis
* Steve Roach
* Steve Rogers
* Albert Rosenfeld
* John Sattler
* Billy Smith
* Herb Steinohrt
* Ray Stehr
* Viv Thicknesse
* Ken Thornett
* Ian Walsh
* Steve Walters
* Benny Wearing
* Shane Webcke
* Eric Weissel
* Ricky Stuart
* Steve Menzies
* Gorden Tallis
* Petero Civoniceva
* Cliff Lyons
* Mark Graham

* v
* t
* e

Balmain Tigers Team of the Century (1908-2007)

* 1\. Keith Barnes (c)
* 2\. Larry Corowa
* 3\. Charles Fraser
* 4\. Jim Craig
* 5\. Arthur Patton
* 6\. Pat Devery
* 7\. Arthur Halloway

* 8\. Steve Roach
* 9\. Ben Elias
* 10\. Arthur Beetson
* 11\. Paul Sironen
* 12\. Harry Bath
* 13\. Wayne Pearce

* 14\. Tom Burke
* 15\. Tim Brasher
* 16\. Peter Provan
* 17\. Bob Boland

* Coach: Norm "Latchem" Robinson

* v
* t
* e

Balmain Tigers head coaches

* 1908-13 Robert Graves
* 1914-15 Bill Kelly
* 1916-20 Arthur Halloway
* 1921-24 Charles Fraser
* 1925-29 Alf Fraser
* 1929 Reg Latta
* 1930 Norm Robinson
* 1930 Cec Fifield
* 1931 Reg Latta
* 1932 Charles Fraser
* 1933-34 George Robinson
* 1935-36 Joe Busch
* 1937 Harold Matthews
* 1938-43 Bill Kelly
* 1944-47 Norm Robinson
* 1948-50 Athol Smith
* 1951 Jim Duckworth
* 1952-53 Arthur Patton
* 1954-56 Norm Robinson
* 1957 Sid Ryan
* 1958-60 John O'Toole
* 1961-66 Harry Bath
* 1967-68 Keith Barnes
* 1969-73 Leo Nosworthy
* 1974 Alan Mason
* 1975-76 Paul Broughton
* 1977-79 Ron Willey
* 1980 Dennis Tutty
* 1981-86 Frank Stanton
* 1987 Bill Anderson
* 1988-90 Warren Ryan
* 1991-93 Alan Jones
* 1994-99 Wayne Pearce

Authority control databases

International|

* FAST
* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* United States

*[Pld]: Played
*[T]: Tries
*[G]: Goals
*[FG]: Field goals
*[P]: Points
*[Gms]: Games
*[W]: Wins
*[D]: Draws
*[L]: Losses
*[W%]: Win percentage
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template