Playing Career
Vital Statistics
- Full Name
- Garry William Dowling
- Nickname(s)
- Milky
- Born
- Friday, 7th November, 1952
- Died
- Saturday, 5th March, 1983 (Aged 30 years and 117 days)
- Place Of Birth
- Camden, New South Wales, Australia
Biography
One of the fittest players in the premiership during the 1970s Garry Dowling was a strong, explosive fullback with C’bury after coming from Oakdale in NSW's Southern Division. He played for NSW in 1975 but joined P’matta after eight seasons with C’bury. In 1980 he was chosen whilst playing on wing in club games to tour NZ with the Australian side as a fullback. Dowling was named ‘Player of the Series’ after fine displays in Australia's two Test victories. He later joined Wests for one final season and despite playing for NSW in 1981, he left Sydney to play for the Gold Coast ‘Vikings’. Dowling was tragically killed in a car accident near Mt Tambourine (Queensland) on his way home from a trial match in Beaudesert in March 1983.
- ALAN WHITICKER
Playing 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 | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NRL | 170 | 67 | 22 | 1 | 246 | 97 | 66 | 7 | 57.06% | List | ||||
| Endeavour Cup | 2 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50.00% | List | ||||
| Craven Mild Cup | 19 | 2 | 3 | - | 12 | 8 | 11 | 0 | 42.11% | List | ||||
| National Panasonic Cup | 7 | 10 | - | - | 30 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 57.14% | List | ||||
| NRL Finals | 10 | 3 | - | - | 9 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 50.00% | List | ||||
| Interstate Matches | 3 | 2 | - | - | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 66.67% | List | ||||
| Tour Matches | New South Wales Firsts | 1 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | List | |||
| Tour Matches | Australia | 5 | 2 | - | - | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 60.00% | List | |||
| Test Series | 2 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | List | ||||
| State of Origin | 1 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | List | ||||
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Test Matches - By Team | ||||||||||||||
| Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
| Australia | 1980 | 2 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | List | |||
International Matches - By Team | ||||||||||||||
| Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
| Australia | 1980 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00% | List | |||
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Australia - By Team | ||||||||||||||
| Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
| NSW Country Seconds | 1971 | 1 | - | 1 | - | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | List | |||
| NSW City Seconds | 1973, 1975, 1977 | 3 | 2 | 1 | - | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | List | |||
| NSW Firsts | 1975, 1977, 1981 | 4 | 2 | - | - | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 75.00% | List | |||
| NSW | 1981 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | List | |||
| Overall | 1971-1981 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 66.67% | List | |||
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NRL/NSWRL - By Year | ||||||||||||||
| Team | Season | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
| Canterbury | NSWRFL 1971 | 7 | - | 19 | - | 38 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 57.14% | List | |||
| Canterbury | NSWRFL 1972 | 9 | 1 | - | - | 3 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 55.56% | List | |||
| Canterbury | NSWRFL 1973 | 21 | 8 | 2 | - | 28 | 12 | 8 | 1 | 57.14% | List | |||
| Canterbury | NSWRFL 1974 | 23 | 12 | - | 1 | 37 | 15 | 8 | 0 | 65.22% | List | |||
| Canterbury | NSWRFL 1975 | 16 | 11 | 1 | - | 35 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 50.00% | List | |||
| Canterbury | NSWRFL 1976 | 17 | 4 | - | - | 12 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 64.71% | List | |||
| Canterbury | NSWRFL 1977 | 15 | 3 | - | - | 9 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 46.67% | List | |||
| Canterbury | NSWRFL 1978 | 5 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 2 | 0 | 60.00% | List | |||
| Parramatta | NSWRFL 1979 | 25 | 14 | - | - | 42 | 17 | 8 | 0 | 68.00% | List | |||
| Parramatta | NSWRFL 1980 | 13 | 9 | - | - | 27 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 38.46% | List | |||
| Western Suburbs | NSWRFL 1981 | 19 | 5 | - | - | 15 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 52.63% | List | |||
NRL/NSWRL - By Team | ||||||||||||||
| Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
| Canterbury | 1971-78 | 113 | 39 | 22 | 1 | 162 | 65 | 43 | 5 | 57.52% | List | |||
| Parramatta | 1979-80 | 38 | 23 | - | - | 69 | 22 | 15 | 1 | 57.89% | List | |||
| Western Suburbs | 1981 | 19 | 5 | - | - | 15 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 52.63% | List | |||
| Overall | 1971-1981 | 170 | 67 | 22 | 1 | 246 | 97 | 66 | 7 | 57.06% | List | |||
Contributions:
Greg Fiveash, Andrew Ferguson, Rugby League Tables, Paul Carter, Alan Katzmann, Shawn Dollin, Bill Bates, AJ Lucantonio
Your Say
02/10/2012
My father use to take me to Belmore Oval in the mid 70's to watch Canterbury play, I remember Garry Dowling as a big strong running fullback, all muscle he soon became my idol as when-ever he got the ball he was a hand-full to the other team to tackle... A truly great fullback.
28/07/2013
He was one of the most explosive ball runners I have ever seen, still remember the news of his death - I was on holidays and driving from Sydney to the Gold Coast, Qld. A very sad day for me as I had followed his career from club to club.... Thanks for the memories Garry.
14/05/2014
Garry.Dowling.was.a.freak.of.a.player.a.super.fullback.when.I.saw.him.play.for.the.mighty.bulldogs.in.the.early.sevenths.late.eighties.he.scored.tries.all.over.the.place.a.pleasure.two.watch.him.play.died.two.early.
26/06/2014
Just that he was a very nice bloke and is still missed to this day.
23/09/2014
Garry was my hero when he played for Canterbury and I still followed him when he left the club. It was so tragic when he died so young and I will never forget him.
14/05/2017
Garry Dowling played 113 games for Canterbury and 37 matches for Parra
26/12/2020
The most explosive fullback ever every time he chimed in attack the whole crowd stood up loved watching him play for canterbury
23/04/2021
I remember watching Garry Dowling all through his career at Parramatta. He was a freak of a fullback and ran the ball hard. He deserved his Australian jumper and did the Aussies proud. He was very much my pin-up boy back then and my dad had to sit me down to tell me he had died. I was crushed for a very long time (still am now I reminisce). He was taken from us way too soon. R.I.P. Gazza.
16/06/2021
Garry was my father and he died when I was 5 years old. I never got to know him, I never got to see him play , I can only go by comments that those that knew him have made over the years , and most say that he was a great guy with a big heart and some great football skills. Wish I could have met him , always in my heart xxxx
27/06/2021
I remember watching Garry when he was playing for Oakdale in the Group 6 Southern Division competition.
He was an absolute outstanding fullback. As a fullback myself I tried to model my game on his exploits.
Absolute tragedy when he died.
08/08/2021
I remember watching the team training st Belmore in the 70s. Gary used to have a bronxe Ford GT. One of my favorite cars at the time. He was married to Peta Dowling.
26/06/2022
He's the reason I've been a canterbury supporter for
Over 50 years never missed a game at belmore oval
The crowd always stood up when he chimed in from fullback one of Canterbury's finest players RIp
25/11/2022
Hi Lauren, you chose some beautiful words in memory of your father. I iadmired Garry both on & off the field as I was just coming into first grade as he was winding down his Sydney career.
Yes I was a running fullback just like him & tried to perfect my style on the back of his. Garry was a special talent, unsung hero in many games & a great man off the field.
His passing left an empty part in me that will never recover, he was one of only a few players that I have forever idolised.
40 years next March seems unreal, where has time gone. Lauren every footballer & football fan back in the 70s & early 80s remember Garry Dowling, I can reassure you that...all the best.
06/01/2024
I think, for Lauren especially, Garry's impact on my father would explain it all.
Dad wasn't a huge rugby league supporter. He went to our St George team games occasionally. Enjoyed the crowd, atmosphere at Jubilee. We usually only ever did 2 away matches, Leichardt and Belmore Ovals. Leichardt because Dad grew up there. Belmore because of the following.
He was in a book store in the city in his lunch hour - popped over and saw a book signing [no idea what book]. There was young Garry all by himself there at the signing table. Dad popped over and said hi. Dad said Garry was just the nicest young guy and they had a really good chat. He came home and told me.
Turns out e never forgot that chat. He asked if I wanted to go to the Saints/Bulldogs [Berries still then?] game at Belmore. Sure!
Sorted out why early - He was there to support Garry and Canterbury :)
Like many here, Dad told me when Garry died - I'd missed it on the news. Dad was a bit sad. That's the impact he made in one chat in a book shop!
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