Jim Mathews

"Jim Mathews" (Leighton, NSW) was a rugby league footballer who played for the Canterbury Bulldogs, Eastern Suburbs clubs in the New South Wales Rugby League(NSWRL) competition.

Mathews, a five-eight, played 17 matches for the Canterbury Bankstown side in the years (1962-63) before joining Eastern Suburbs the following season at a time when Easts were experiencing the bleakest period in the clubs history , they won just 2 matches in ’64, 3 in ’65 and were winless in ’66. Under new coach ,Jack Gibson, Mattews was appointed captain and in a dramatic turn around led Easts to consecutive semi finals. At the end of the 1968 season he left Easts and returned to rural NSW where he played out the remainder of his career in the Illawarra competition.

Said to be a tough and rugged player, the five – eight, is recognised as Eastern Suburbs 543rd player. Matthews played 70 matches for the Sydney Roosters and scored 138 points, coming from 8 tries, 53 goals and 4 field goals.

References

* cite book | last=Whiticker, Alan and Hudson, Glen |title=The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players |year=2007
publisher="Gary Allen Pty Ltd" |location=Wetherill Park, New South Wales |isbn=9781877082931 |pages=609