Garry 'Jimmy' Jack

Coaching Career

Vital Statistics

Nickname(s)
Jimmy
Born
Tuesday, 14th March, 1961
Current Age
63 years and 42 days
Place Of Birth
Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia

Awards & Accolades

Dally M Fullback Of The Year
1985, 1986, 1988
Dally M Representative Player Of The Year
1985
Golden Boot Award
1986

Known Family Links

Father
Keith Jack

Biography

The 'Golden Boot' awarded to Garry Jack as the finest league player in the world in 1987 is a good measure of the standing he attained during his career. The dashing, snowy-haired fullback trialled with Wests on the recommendation of his Wests Wollongong coach Paul Sait in 1981 and, after playing the latter part of the season in first grade, he was signed by Balmain secretary Keith Barnes. Aggressive, fast and safe under pressure Jack was seen at his best running the ball back strongly and breaking the first line of defence. He made his State of Origin debut in 1984 and was selected in the three Test series against Great Britain. For the next four years Jack was the No.1 fullback in the world, missing only the First Test on the tour of NZ in 1985. Jack played in all nine Tests in 1986 (NZ, Papua New Guinea, GB and France on the Kangaroo tour) and was the first Australian fullback to score three tries in a Test (against France in the Second Test at Carcassonne). He stayed on to play for Salford after the tour but although he represented NSW and Australia in 1987 he stood down from the State of Origin match in Los Angeles. After playing in Australia's World Cup victory in NZ the following year Jack’s Test career suddenly ended. An unhappy State of Origin match in 1989 saw him announce his retirement from rep football, leaving the way for Canberra’s Gary Belcher to assume the role. After the disappointment of grand final losses in 1988-89 with the Tigers, Jack tried to regain his place in the rep teams but found the door firmly closed. Signing with Salford he was still in great form when he quit the Tigers at the end of 1992 having surpassed Keith Barnes' record for first grade matches (since surpassed by Ben Elias and Paul Sironen). Accepting a manager-coach position with Salford Jack was relieved of the coaching duties before being sacked as manager of the club in early 1995. He returned to the Tigers that year to play the final season of his career but was back in the news in 1999 when he sued former Manly forward Ian Roberts for injuries suffered after an altercation in a match in 1991.
- 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 %  
English Championship 50 19 30 1 38.00% List
Regal Trophy 6 4 2 0 66.67% List
Challenge Cup 4 1 2 1 25.00% List


Club Career

English Career - By Year

Team Season Games W L D Win %  
Salford 1993/94 35 14 21 0 40.00% List
Salford 1994/95 25 10 13 2 40.00% List

English Career - By Team

Team Years Games W L D Win %  
Salford 1993-94 60 24 34 2 40.00% List

Your Say

  • scott
    22/09/2012

    garry was the best fullback in rugby league in the b
    80's and it was a great pleasure watching garry play the great sport

  • Anonymous
    06/04/2014

    The man now has two AFL stars who graduated to the Swans from Cherrybrook

  • john m
    05/04/2016

    wonderful fullback,for balmaim nsw Australia courages defender,strong elusive ball runner,,80 minute player,one of the greastist fullbacks ever,,,,

  • Anonymous
    10/09/2016

    Great fullback,, best defence fullback ever you tough courageous.

  • Anonymous
    04/04/2017

    Garry jack,, was a wonderful defence fullback,, who was strong, wholehearted, and put his body on the line everytime,, great fullback, from John m

  • John m
    23/08/2019

    Garry (Jimmy) jack was one of the greatest fullback ever for balmain NSW & Australia,, tough explosive, fearless,, wonderful player,,My favourite player of all time,,,

  • Brad
    28/06/2021

    Exciting, aggressive, fast and what a side step. Great anticipation. Could run down and tackle some of the fastest wingers in the world.

  • John Martin
    31/10/2022

    Garry jack ( Jimmy) was without doubt the greatest fullback in the 1980s, he set the standard for being explosive from return kicks at fullback,and he is without doubt probably the most brilliant defensive fullback of all time,, courageous & fearless, Wether it was for balmain NSW or Australia, I will never forget that brilliant tackle he made on Alan mc indoe in game two of the 1988 state of origin series, jack came across from a roaring mc indoe running up the sideline from he's own try line, looked destined to score, and Jimmy came from nowhere put he's body on the line, and smashed him around the legs over the sideline, surely one the greatest tackles ever, thankyou so much for the wonderful memories,????????

  • Tiger Cub
    24/02/2023

    Jimm was the first of the Running Fullbacks terrific to watch TIGERS FAN SINCE 1966

  • Robbie
    30/06/2023

    Garry Jack doesn't BBQ.

  • Stoney
    03/07/2023

    Garry Jack, top bloke, some player, a favorite to talk about round the BBQ.

  • Anonymous
    13/08/2023

    Great work, but do you have mid week games before 1986?
    I did play in one at Wests in 1981, and a few at Balmain from 1982-85.
    Do you have these stats?
    Thanks
    Garry Jack.

  • Roger
    26/01/2024

    A good bloke but was so tight he squeeked when he walked

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Contributions: Rugby League Tables, Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson, AJ Lucantonio, Paul Carter, Greg Fiveash, Alan Katzmann, Steven Russo, Max Turner, Bill Bates

Sources: ARL Rugby League Yearbook 1996, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1989-90, Match Video, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1987-88, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1988-89, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1990-91, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1991-92, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1992-93, Irvin Saxton's Record Keepers' Club, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1988-89, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1993-94, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1994-95