Tom Kirk

Tom Kirk (1916-1994) was an Australian professional rugby league footballer of the 1930s and 40s. A New South Wales state representative goal-kicking fullback, he played in Sydney's New South Wales Rugby Football League for the Canterbury-Bankstown and Newtown clubs (with whom he won premierships) as well as with North Sydney.^[1] Kirk also became the first player to score 1,000 career points in the NSWRFL. He was also the first player to become the season's top point scorer on 5 occasions : 1938, 1940, 1943, 1944, 1946.

Former fullback of Tumut's Maher Cup team, Kirk moved to Sydney and first tasted premiership success with Canterbury's 1938 Grand Final-winning team, landing four goals in the 19-6 win over Easts in the final. That year he also topped the competition's point-scorers list and the following year made his debut for NSW in the centres.

Kirk,(back row 2nd from left) in the Newtown 1943 premiership team

Joining Newtown, Kirk became the first player to kick 100 goals in a season in 1943, including five in the 34-7 win over Norths in the premiership decider. He was the season's leading point scorer on five occasions, the last in 1946.

He twice kicked a club record 11 goals during the 1944 season and set Newtown's club record for most points in a match with 25 (1 try and 11 goals) against St George, on 26 August 1944.

In 1947 Tom Kirk joined North Sydney Bears for his last season in Sydney, and made a return to the New South Wales side in his final year in the Sydney competition.

He finished his playing career at Barmedman, New South Wales in 1948.^[2]

Kirk died in March 1994.^[3]

References

• Newtown stats at rleague.com