Brian Carlson

Coaching Career

Vital Statistics

Full Name
Brian Patrick Carlson
Born
Sunday, 12th February, 1933
Died
Tuesday, 14th April, 1987 (Aged 54 years and 60 days)
Place Of Birth
Wyoming, New South Wales, Australia

Awards & Accolades

International Hall Of Fame
2005
National Rugby League Hall Of Fame
2005

Biography

Brian Carlson rates as one of the most talented and inventive backline players to represent Australia. A product of the Norths Newcastle club, he was graded in 1951 (playing against France) before representing Country, NSW and the Kangaroos the following year. The 19-year-old winger played in four Tests against Great Britain and France on tour and topped the try-scoring list with 29 tries. Carlson was a natural athlete with a fine step and swerve and a great kicking game. In 1954, he moved to Wollongong Souths but a ruptured kidney injury almost ended his life. The much-travelled international recovered however, and linked with Newcastle Souths two years later. In a great comeback, he forced his way back into the Australian Test team in 1957. Carlson had signed with Blackall (Queensland) that year but a contractual dispute actually saw him stranded without a club. This did not stop the national selectors from choosing him for the World Cup competition, with the fullback finishing as top-scorer (28pts - 2t, 11g) as well as being named ‘Player of the Series’ after Australia's historic victory. After the completion of World Cup commitments, Carlson signed with Norths and later formed an uncanny understanding with champion winger Ken Irvine. In the First Test against NZ in 1959, which Australia won 9-8, Carlson was chosen as fullback and was also named Test captain. He appeared in Tests against Great Britain (1958 and 1959-60) and France (1959-60 Kangaroo tour) and it was his goal that hit the posts in the Second Test loss that denied Australia the Ashes. After playing in the 1960 World Cup, he achieved the honour of captain-coaching Australia on the NZ Tour of 1961. At the end of the 1962 season Carlson quit North Sydney to captain-coach Souths Newcastle. The League world was saddened by his death in 1987, aged 54 - the year before the Newcastle Club re-entered the NSWRL.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Coaching Career Statistics

All statistics shown in this section are based only on data available in the RLP database, and are not necessarily a complete and/or 100% accurate representation of a player's career. This information should be used as a guide only. If you see a question mark (?), it denotes that the figure is not available.

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.

Competitions

Competition   Games W L D Win %  
Tour Matches Australia 8 7 1 0 87.50% List
Test Series 2 1 1 0 50.00% List
Tour Matches Newcastle Firsts (AU) 1 1 0 0 100.00% List
City vs Country Firsts 3 1 2 0 33.33% List


International

Test Matches - By Team

Team Years Games W L D Win %  
Australia 1961 2 1 1 0 50.00% List

International Matches - By Team

Team Years Games W L D Win %  
Australia 1961 1 1 0 0 100.00% List


Representative

Australia - By Team

Team Years Games W L D Win %  
Newcastle (AU) 1964 5 5 0 0 100.00% List
NSW Country Seconds 1964-66 3 1 2 0 33.33% List
NSW Country Firsts 1967-68 3 1 2 0 33.33% List
Overall1964-1968 11 7 4 0 63.64% List

Your Say

  • Col the Bear
    05/02/2011

    Brian Carlson is a member of the North Sydney Team of the Century (fullback).

  • Austin Punch
    15/10/2021

    As a young boy in 1957 I first watched Brian Carlson play for the Bears. I saw him many times over the following few seasons. He was the most wonderful attacking Rugby League fullback I have ever seen in my lifetime. Just recently I saw a video of Australia playing the Rest of the World in the 1957 World Cup. He made 5 try saving tackles in that game - he was a great defender also!

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Contributions: Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson, Greg Fiveash, Paul Carter, Rugby League Tables, Alan Katzmann, Bill Bates