Earl Harrison – western area Sporting Walk of Famer

A TOUGH tackling farmer from Gulargambone became Australian rugby league player 378 when he played his first Test against New Zealand in 1963.

The young five-eighth was playing for Gilgandra at the time and capped a remarkable season where he was outstanding for Western Division, Country and NSW, and in New Zealand when his name was read out for the 1963 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain.

Earl earned huge praise from the legendary Reg “Puff the Magic Dragon” Gasnier who rated him the perfect link. With coach Arthur Summons and back-up No.7 Barry Muir feeding him, Earl distributed to Gasnier, Peter Dimond and the flying feet of wingers Ken Irvine and Mike Cleary.

Earl can hold his head high as a member of the first Kangaroos to return from England with the Ashes. He remains lifelong friends with Les Johns and toured for nearly four months including Christmas in England and an extended trip to France.

Teammates on that famous 1963 tour, where the Aussies clinched the Ashes with a brilliant 50-12 win at Swinton, included Noel Kelly, Kevin Ryan, the Thornett brothers, Dick and Ken, and the very first Immortal Johnny Raper.

Earl’s Test career continued against New Zealand and South Africa. He played nine Tests for his country and was one of the rare Earl Harrison is looking on as Prince Philip chats with Noel Kelly before one of the Tests in England. breed who did it while playing in Gilgandra and with Coonamble and Coonabarabran.

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Above:

1963 Kangaroos: Earl Harrison is front row, second from the right

Right:

Earl in representative gear on his way to an Australian cap