Frank Johnson (rugby league)

Infobox rugby league biography
new = yes
playername = Frank Johnson


imagesize =
caption =
fullname = Frank Johnson
nickname =
living = no
dateofbirth = 1922
placeofbirth =
countryofbirth = Australia
dateofdeath = 1993
placeofdeath =
countryofdeath = Australia
height(ft) =
height(in) =
height(m) =
weight(kg) =
weight(lb) =
weight(st) =
position =
club1 = St. George
year1start = 1944
year1end = 1945
appearances1 = 23
tries1 = 1
goals1 =
fieldgoals1 =
points1 = 3
club2 = Newtown
year2start = 1947
year2end = 1954
appearances2 = 118
tries2 = 1
goals2 =
fieldgoals2 =
points2 = 3
teamA = New South Wales
yearAstart = 1947
yearAend = 1950
appearancesA = 5
triesA =
goalsA =
fieldgoalsA =
pointsA = 0
teamB = Australia
yearBstart = 1948
yearBend =
appearancesB =
triesB =
goalsB =
fieldgoalsB =
pointsB =
updated = 16:42, 16 August 2008 (UTC)
source = The Encyclopedia of Rugby League

Frank Johnson, OAM, (born 1922, died 1993) is an Australian former rugby league player, coach and administrator who devoted much of his life to the development of the game in Australia.

Playing Career

Johnson, who began his senior career as a sixteen year-old playing for Port Kembla on the New South Wales south coast,cite web|publisher="Sporting Pulse"|title=Frank Johnson Medal History and Winners |url=http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=7-719-0-0-0&sID=3028&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=52994&sectionID=3028 |accessdate=2008-08-16] primarily played at hooker. He was first selected to represent for NSW Country in 1940.

During World War II, Johnson played two seasons with St. George in 1944–1945. In 1946 he returned to the south coast and captain-coached Wollongong in 1946.

In 1947, Johnson was back in Sydney, this time with the Newtown Bluebags. He was selected for the New South Wales team and at the end of the 1948 season he toured with the Kangaroos. Johnson injured his leg early in the tour in England and he participated in only seven non-Test games.

Johnson was made captain-coach of the Bluebags in 1952 and in 1953 he was a non-playing coach. His attempt to retire from playing was not entirely successful as he was required to fill in on-field occasionally and in 1954 he was persuaded to return as hooker for the season by his coaching successor, Col Geelan. The team made it to the Grand Final but were beaten by Souths and Johnson finally retired from playing.

Post-playing Career

Following his retirement, Johnson maintained his connection with the game, firstly as a coach with Western Suburbs (Illawarra) in 1957. He coached them to their first premiership win.

In 1962, Johnson was a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) Coaching Panel and replaced Keith Gittoes as director of coaching in 1974.

Johnson was responsible for developing coaching and playing skills in Darwin, the Northern Territory and Papua New Guinea. From 1970 to 1975 he coached the Darwin and Northern Territory teams. It was in his honour that the "Frank Johnson Medal", Darwin Rugby League's equivalent of the "Rothman's Medal" was named. The Medal was first awarded in 1973.cite web|publisher="Sporting Pulse"|title=Frank Johnson Medal History and Winners |url=http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=7-719-0-0-0&sID=3028&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=52994&sectionID=3028 |accessdate=2008-08-16]

Johnson was honoured with life membership of the NSWRL in 1982 and received the Order of Australia Medal.

Frank Johnson died in 1993, aged 70.

References

*cite book | author=Alan Whiticker & Glen Hudson |title=The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players |year=2007
publisher="Gary Allen Pty Ltd" |location=Wetherill Park, New South Wales |isbn=9781877082931 |pages=page 269

External links

* [http://www.nrlstats.com/archive/players.cfm?PlayerID=3718 "Frank Johnson" at "NRL Stats"]