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Alex MurphyShare your memories and thoughts on Alex Murphy
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assaweel
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As a young footy player I had the pleasure of watching the 1963 English team that toured Australia. As a half back Alex Murphy was the player that lit up the game. I remember being at the SCG the day they played St George and gave them a football lesson. I think it was after this tour that the Aussies decided to redefine the whole structure of the game, especially the coaching, and they have not looked back.
I was honoured to meet and have a photo taken with Alex at a function during the 1994 Kangaroo Tour. What a thrill that was. I also met on the night players of the calibre of Alan Prescott. Mike Sullivan and Eric Ashton. But Alex was always my favourite.
A few years after the tour I decided to see if I could contact Alex and have my photo autographed. With the help of the St Helens RL Club, I was able to contact Alex, and he not only signed my photo and an action shot he also sent a nice photo of himself signed Alex Murphy OBE.
I also attended the Final of the 2006 Tri Series between Australia and NZ, and you wouldn't believe it, but Alex along with Neil Fox and Billy Boston were sitting 15 metres away from me. Unfortunately I noticed them to late and they had made a quick exit from the ground after the game and a chance of a lifetime may have gone also.
I'm hoping someday to meet up with Alex again.
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nkpom
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Thanks for that - a great story about that St George game is that Alex had a broken bone in his arm but kept it secret so that he could play!
St George were by far the best tem in Aus at the time - so good that the rules of the game were changed to stop them! - and this was the first time ever that a Lions team would take on a club side.
In a magnificent game - the Lions triumphed.
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xiii heroes
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| assaweel wrote: | As a young footy player I had the pleasure of watching the 1963 English team that toured Australia. As a half back Alex Murphy was the player that lit up the game. I remember being at the SCG the day they played St George and gave them a football lesson. I think it was after this tour that the Aussies decided to redefine the whole structure of the game, especially the coaching, and they have not looked back.
I was honoured to meet and have a photo taken with Alex at a function during the 1994 Kangaroo Tour. What a thrill that was. I also met on the night players of the calibre of Alan Prescott. Mike Sullivan and Eric Ashton. But Alex was always my favourite.
A few years after the tour I decided to see if I could contact Alex and have my photo autographed. With the help of the St Helens RL Club, I was able to contact Alex, and he not only signed my photo and an action shot he also sent a nice photo of himself signed Alex Murphy OBE.
I also attended the Final of the 2006 Tri Series between Australia and NZ, and you wouldn't believe it, but Alex along with Neil Fox and Billy Boston were sitting 15 metres away from me. Unfortunately I noticed them to late and they had made a quick exit from the ground after the game and a chance of a lifetime may have gone also.
I'm hoping someday to meet up with Alex again. |
Alex toured in 1958 and 1962.
It was on the '62 tour that a game against St George was arranged. The series had been won and an extra game was added so that GB had to face what was considered the crack Aussie domestic side. GB battered St George by some 30 points.
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assaweel
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| xiii heroes wrote: | Alex toured in 1958 and 1962.
It was on the '62 tour that a game against St George was arranged. The series had been won and an extra game was added so that GB had to face what was considered the crack Aussie domestic side. GB battered St George by some 30 points. |
That is correct re the tour being in 1962, because it was in 1963 that The Kangaroos smashed Great Britain.
Thanks for reminding me xiii heroes. 
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xiii heroes
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It took 11 tours before you could win your first one over here 
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assaweel
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That is certainly correct. But after the 1962 Tour of Australia by GB, the Aussies needed to find answers and they did. The Aussies have been fairly dominant ever since. The English need to learn so lessons, but maybe the influence of 'soccer' in the UK is too much to overcome.
I wish there were still full scale Kangaroo Tours.
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