Jack Why

Jack Why (1903-1944) was an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1920s and 30s. A New South Wales state and Australian national representative, he played in the NSWRFL Premiership for the South Sydney club, winning the 1928, 1929, 1931 and 1932 titles with them. He was also the brother of fellow South Sydney footballers, Oliver Why and Alby Why.^[1]

Biography

1920s

A South Sydney junior,^[2] Why commenced his first-grade NSWRFL Premiership career during the 1926 season.^[3] At the end of the 1928 NSWRFL season Why played for South Sydney at centre in their grand final victory against Eastern Suburbs. At the end of the 1929 NSWRFL season Why played for South Sydney at lock forward in their grand final victory against Newtown.

1930s

At the end of the 1931 NSWRFL season Why played for South Sydney on the wing in their grand final victory against Eastern Suburbs. At the end of the 1932 NSWRFL season Why played for South Sydney on the wing, scoring a try in their grand final victory against Western Suburbs. Why was chosen as a reserve for the 3rd Test against Great Britain at the SCG on 16 July 1932, but did not take the field as a player and as such was denied "test" status. Having also already played representative football for the Sydney and New South Wales sides, at the end of the 1933 season Why was chosen to go on the 1933-34 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain, becoming Kangaroo No. 189.^[4] He played in two Test matches against England on tour as well as 15 other matches.^[5] The 1934 NSWRFL season was Why's last in first grade.^[6]

Why died in 1944 while rabbiting with his son and friends in the outer Melbourne area of Bacchus Marsh.^[7]

References