Harry Bath
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Harry Bath (born 1924) was an Australian rugby league player. His position of choice was as a Second-row forward. He is commonly said to be the best Australian rugby league player never to be picked for Australia.
Contents |
[edit] Playing career
Harry Bath, nicknamed 'the old fox', was graded as a sixteen year old to play for the Brisbane club Southern Suburbs in 1940. He went on to represent both Queensland and New South Wales before he turned twenty-one. He moved to the Balmain Tigers in 1946 having spent around six years with Southern Suburbs. He was unlucky not to be picked for Australia's match against Great Britain after impressing in his first season with Balmain. Test selection looked a certainty but he was unavailable for selection due to an injury sustained in a game playing for New South Wales. In his first season for Balmain, he helped his side reach the Grand Final in which they defeated St. George Dragons 13-12. A year later he again helped Balmain reach their second successive Grand Final appearance. Once again Balmain came out on top defeating the Canterbury Bulldogs 13-9. After a successful two year period with Balmain, Harry Bath accepted an offer to play in England for Barrow. The forward only stayed at Barrow for six months before being signed by Warrington. He spent a total of nine seasons for Warrington and in the process playing in over 500 games for the club. His major highlight while playing for Warrington was when he captained the club to victory in the replay of the 1954 Challenge Cup in front of a massive record crowd 102,569 people. Harry Bath's reputation for being a skilful ball-player and a great goal kicker grew while playing in England. He scored over 700 goals in his career, including 173 goals in the 1952-53 season. After enjoying a marvellous stint in England, particularly for Warrington, Harry Bath decided to return to Australia in 1957. He was signed by St. George after his former club Balmain decided against signing him due to his age of 33. In 1957 St. George won the competition, winning the Grand Final against Manly 31-9. He was the leading point scorer in the competition in 1957 scoring a club record of 225 points (3 tries, 108 goals) in a season for the St. George Dragons. His 16 points in the Grand Final has never been equalled. In 1958 St. George once again made it to the Grand Final and once again won this time against Western Suburbs defeating them by 20-9. As with the previous season Bath topped the point scoring chart, totalling 211 points. The following season St. George once again won the premiership this time with a 20-0 Grand Final defeat of Manly. Unfortunately for Bath he was sent off in the Grand Final defeat. He was again overlooked for Kangaroo selection and decided to hang up his boots at the end of 1959 at the age of 35.
[edit] Coaching Career
He decided to take up a career in Rugby League coaching. He joined the inaugural NSWRL coaching panel in 1961. He was selected manager, coach and as the only selector for the Australian national team's 1962 Ashes series. His greatest achievements while coaching the national side was leading the Kangaroos to World Cup glory in the 1968 Rugby League World Cup and 1970 Rugby League World Cup. He also coached the team on their tours of New Zealand in 1969 and 1971 in which there was mixed results. He coached the Australian side in the 1972 Rugby League World Cup in which they lost the Grand Final to Great Britain in controversial circumstances. The match was locked at 10-10 after full time and was still locked at 10-10 after extra time, but Great Britain was awarded the victory due to having a better league placing from earlier on in the competition. Harry Bath also took up the helm of his former club Balmain. He guided them to Grand Final appearances in 1964 and 1966 in which both times they lost to St. George 6-11 and 4-23 respectively. He also coached Newtown between 1969 and 1972. He came out of retirement to coach his other former club St. George to premiership success in 1977. The Grand Final against Parramatta was drawn 9-9 but St. George won the replay 22-0. He again coached the Dragons to premiership success in 1979 after their 17-13 Grand Final victory over Canterbury. His side was nicknamed 'Bath's Babes'. He retired from Rugby League coaching in 1981.
[edit] Hall of Fame
Harry Bath was recognised in 2004 for his outstanding achievements in not only playing Rugby League but also coaching. For this he was inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame.
