Herb Brackenreg was a rugby league player in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership's inaugural season - 1908. An Eastern Suburbs rugby union player, Brackenreg had been a member of the rebel New South Wales sides that played against the New Zealand 'All Golds' in the 1907 series that helped to establish rugby league in Australia.
A goal-kicking front row forward, Brackenreg, played rugby league for the Eastern Suburbs club. He played in 8 matches for Easts including that club's first match and was a member of the NSWRL’s first premiership decider played against local rival, South Sydney. In that first season Brackenreg was selected to represent his state, New South Wales, in 2 matches. The following season Brackenreg moved to Queensland, where he played for the South Brisbane club and representing his new state in 5 matches and playing in 3 tests for Australia, he also represented Australasia.
Brackenreg once defeated Dally Messenger in an exhibition goal kicking competition.