Ernie 'Bunty' Norman

Playing Career

Vital Statistics

Full Name
Ernest James Norman
Nickname(s)
Bunty
Born
Monday, 12th August, 1912
Died
Tuesday, 3rd August, 1993 (Aged 80 years and 356 days)
Place Of Birth
Paddington, New South Wales, Australia

Awards & Accolades

National Rugby League Hall Of Fame
2008

Biography

Easts junior, graded as a centre/five-eighth at the age of 17 in 1930, made his international debut just two years later. A NSW rep in 1931, Norman was selected for Australia in the opening match of the 1932 Ashes series following his game for Sydney against the visiting Lions. Norman was moved to the centres for the Second Test but he was injured in Australia's heroic 15-6 win in the 'Battle of Brisbane' and missed the deciding Test in Sydney. The following year he was unfortunately ruled out of the 1933-34 Kangaroo tour with torn knee ligaments but was later a member of the champion Easts' club that won three consecutive premierships (1935-37). Norman played in three Tests against NZ on the 1935 Kiwi tour after replacing the injured Vic Hey and was the preferred pivot against England in the 1936 Ashes series. Norman finally made a tour of England and France when he was the only specialist five-eighth selected on the 1937-38 Kangaroo tour. He played in two Tests against NZ and two against England on tour but following his retirement, lived in relative seclusion in the Eastern Suburbs area until his death in 1993, at the age of 80.
- 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 101 26 -   - 78 78 20 3 77.23% List
City vs Country Firsts 5 2 -   - 6 3 1 1 60.00% List
Interstate Matches 13 3 -   - 9 8 5 0 61.54% List
NRL Finals 10 1 -   - 3 5 5 0 50.00% List
Tour Matches Sydney Roosters 5 1 -   - 3 4 1 0 80.00% List
Tour Matches Metropolis 1 - -   - - 0 1 0 0.00% List
Tour Matches Australia 30 6 -   - 18 19 10 1 63.33% List
Test Series 12 1 -   - 3 5 7 0 41.67% List
The Ashes 7 - -   - - 2 5 0 28.57% List
Tour Matches Sydney Firsts 1 - -   - - 0 1 0 0.00% List
Tour Matches New South Wales Firsts 1 - -   - - 1 0 0 100.00% List
City Cup 2 - -   - - 2 0 0 100.00% List


International

Test Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australia 1932, 1935-37 12 1 -   - 3 5 7 0 41.67% List


Representative

Australia - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
NSW Firsts 1931-32, 1936-37 17 3 -   - 9 12 5 0 70.59% List
NSW City Firsts 1931-33, 1936-37 5 2 -   - 6 3 1 1 60.00% List
NSW City Probables 1931-32 2 2 -   - 6 2 0 0 100.00% List
Metropolis 1932 1 - -   - - 0 1 0 0.00% List
NSW City Seconds 1935 1 - -   - - 0 1 0 0.00% List
Sydney Firsts 1936 2 1 -   - 3 0 2 0 0.00% List
Overall1931-1937 28 8 0   0 24 17 10 1 60.71% List


Club Career

NRL/NSWRL - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Eastern Suburbs NSWRFL 1931 14 - -   - - 10 4 0 71.43% List
Eastern Suburbs NSWRFL 1932 9 4 -   - 12 8 1 0 88.89% List
Eastern Suburbs NSWRFL 1933 12 5 -   - 15 8 4 0 66.67% List
Eastern Suburbs NSWRFL 1934 17 4 -   - 12 13 4 0 76.47% List
Eastern Suburbs NSWRFL 1935 18 5 -   - 15 17 1 0 94.44% List
Eastern Suburbs NSWRFL 1936 12 4 -   - 12 11 0 1 91.67% List
Eastern Suburbs NSWRFL 1937 8 4 -   - 12 6 0 2 75.00% List
Eastern Suburbs NSWRFL 1938 4 - -   - - 1 3 0 25.00% List
Eastern Suburbs NSWRFL 1939 7 - -   - - 4 3 0 57.14% List

NRL/NSWRL - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Eastern Suburbs 1931-39 101 26 -   - 78 78 20 3 77.23% List

Your Say

  • Kirsty Thomas
    31/07/2013

    My name is Kirsty, and Ernie Norman was my Great Grandfather. He is an inspiration to me and was a really great player. He has passed onto me a love of the great game of Rugby League and I have always gone for the Roosters. I am very happy to see him being recognised for his achievements.

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

Sources: Newspapers, 2006 Official Rugby League Annual