Ron Saddler
Ronald William Saddler was an Australian rugby league footballer of the 1960s and 1970s. A New South Wales and Australian international representative three-quarter back, he played in Sydne's NSWRFL Premiership for the Eastern Suburbs club.
Originally from Tweed Heads, Saddler played for Sydney club Eastern Suburbs in the years 1963-64 and 1966-71.[1]
An Aboriginal centre, Saddler was selected for the 1967/68 Kangaroo Tour, playing in 12 matches, but no tests. Saddler has been allocated Eastern Suburbs player number 529.
He was the first indigenous player captain New South Wales - 6 years before Arthur Beetson.
Ron Saddler's former Sydney Roosters teammate Kevin Junee, another 1967-1968 Kangaroo, said "Saddler got the nod as the Blues captain in 1967 because he was respected by teammates and opponents alike".
Upon his retirement from Sydney, he captain-coached Murwillumbah Brothers for a number of years in the 1970s. He resided in the Murwillumbah Area until his death in May 2016.[2]
References
- ↑ RugbyLeagueProject.org profile
- ↑ David Middleton - League Historian. 'Forgotton Indegious Star' 4/02/2013
Sources
- Whiticker, Alan & Hudson, Glen (2006) The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players, Gavin Allen Publishing, Sydney