Eric Simms (rugby league)

Eric Simms
Simms in 2012
Personal information
Full nameEric John Simms
Born (1945-08-02) 2 August 1945 (age 79)
Karuah, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
PositionFullback, Centre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1965–75 South Sydney[1] 206 23 803 86 1841
1976 Crookwell[2]
Total 206 23 803 86 1841
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1968 New South Wales 1 0 6 1 14
1968–70 Australia[3] 8 1 39 3 87
1969 NSW City 1 0 4 1 10
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
1976–77 Crookwell[2]
1978 La Perouse[2]
Total 0 0 0 0
Source: [4]

Eric Simms (born 2 August 1945) is an Indigenous Australian former professional and national representative rugby league footballer who has been named among the nation's finest of the 20th century. His primary position was at fullback although he could also play as a centre. Simms played his entire first grade career for South Sydney with whom he won four premierships and was top point-scorer for four consecutive seasons.

In August 2008, Simms was named at fullback in the Indigenous Team of the Century.[5][6][7] Simms set several records in his playing days, some which still stand. He was a notable goal-kicker (field, penalty and conversion) who once kicked five field goals in eleven minutes (in a match against Penrith in 1969).[8] It has been said of Simms, and specifically his ability to kick field goals, that he's "one of the few men whose influence was such it single-handedly changed the game".[9][10]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference 2010seasonguide was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Bell was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Australian Internationals, P to U, Australian Test Records 1908–2009, 2009 in review", Big League Magazine, 9 December 2009, p 218
  4. ^ RLP
  5. ^ "Modern stars join greats in Indigenous Team of Century". ABC News. 9 August 2008. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Gandon1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Gandon2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Kieza was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Kent was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference Manton was invoked but never defined (see the help page).