George Nicholls (born 14 May 1944 in Widnes, Lancashire) is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s. A Great Britain and England international representative forward, he played his club rugby for Widnes and St. Helens. Eventually becoming a St Helens RLFC Hall of Fame inductee, he won the Man of Steel Award, Harry Sunderland Trophy and Lance Todd Trophy with the club. With Great Britain, he won the 1972 Rugby League World Cup.
Playing career
International honours
While playing club football for Widnes,[1] Nicholls played at loose forward for the 1972 Great Britain Lions who retained the World Cup that year. The St Helens club acquired his services in 1973 for £9,000. In the 1975–76 Northern Rugby Football League season's Challenge Cup final Nicholls helped the St Helens side to victory.
World Club Challenge appearances
Nicholls played Right-second-row, i.e. number 12 in St. Helens' 2-25 defeat by the 1975 NSWRFL season premiers, Eastern Suburbs Roosters in the unofficial 1976 World Club Challenge at Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday 29 June 1976.[2]
Challenge Cup final appearances
In the 1978 Challenge Cup final he was in the St Helens team which lost 14-12 to Leeds, but won the Lance Todd Trophy. The voting for the Lance Todd Trophy took place after 70 minutes when St Helens were leading 12-5. Leeds scored 9 points (2 tries, a goal and a drop goal) in the last ten minutes to win the match. Several journalists said that if the vote had been at the end of the match they would have voted for the Leeds player John Holmes. That year Nicholls was also voted the best player in the Championship, claiming the second-ever Man of Steel Award.
County Cup final appearances
George Nicholls played Left-prop, i.e. number 8, in Widnes 8-15 defeat by Wigan in the 1971 Lancashire Cup final during the 1970–71 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Saturday 28 August 1971.[3]
BBC2 Floodlit Trophy final appearances
George Nicholls played loose forward/lock in Widnes' 0-5 defeat by Leigh in the 1972 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy final during the 1972-73 season at Central Park, Wigan on Tuesday 19 December 1972, played Left-second-row, i.e. number 11, in St. Helens' 22-2 victory over Dewsbury in the 1975 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy final during the 1975-76 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Tuesday 16 December 1975, and played Left-second-row in the 7-13 defeat by Widnes in the 1978 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy final during the 1978–79 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Tuesday 12 December 1978.
Club career
Nicholls became the first player in history to win the Lance Todd Trophy, Harry Sunderland Trophy, and the Man of Steel Award.
References
External links
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(2/4), e.g. The Number of Games Played in the 1977 World Cup. ★=Played in Final.
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(7/9), e.g. The Number of Games Played in the 1975 World Cup. ★=Played in Final.
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