Playing Career
Vital Statistics
- Born
- Wednesday, 15th February, 1939
- Current Age
- 85 years and 61 days
Biography
Balmain junior, captain of the club’s President Cup team in 1957, played fullback for the Tigers in 1958 as understudy to Keith Barnes. Drake moved to Queensland to further his career and played for Brisbane Souths. There he represented Queensland in three consecutive years before touring NZ with the Australian team in 1961 and made his Test debut. Against Great Britain in the Third Test in 1962 he grabbed a unique piece of rugby league history when he scored the first try by an Australian fullback in 54 years of Ashes clashes. Although he represented Queensland against NZ in 1963 Drake missed selection with the Ashes-winning 1963-64 Kangaroos and returned to Sydney later spent two seasons with Easts.
- 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 | 32 | 6 | - | - | 18 | 9 | 23 | 0 | 28.13% | List | ||||
| NRL Finals | 2 | 1 | - | - | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50.00% | List | ||||
| Interstate Matches | 18 | 4 | - | - | 12 | 5 | 12 | 1 | 27.78% | List | ||||
| Tour Matches | Queensland Firsts | 3 | 1 | - | - | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 33.33% | List | |||
| Tour Matches | Toowoomba | 1 | 2 | - | - | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00% | List | |||
| Tour Matches | Australia | 8 | 10 | - | - | 30 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 87.50% | List | |||
| Test Series | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | List | ||||
| Tour Matches | Brisbane Firsts | 2 | 1 | - | - | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.00% | List | |||
| The Ashes | 1 | 1 | - | - | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | List | ||||
| Craven Mild Cup | 6 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 5 | 0 | 16.67% | List | ||||
| ||||||||||||||
Test Matches - By Team | ||||||||||||||
| Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
| Australia | 1961-62 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | List | |||
| ||||||||||||||
Australia - By Team | ||||||||||||||
| Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
| QLD Firsts | 1959-63 | 21 | 5 | - | - | 15 | 6 | 14 | 1 | 28.57% | List | |||
| Toowoomba | 1960 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00% | List | |||
| Brisbane Firsts | 1962-63 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.00% | List | |||
| Overall | 1959-1963 | 24 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 6 | 16 | 2 | 25.00% | List | |||
| ||||||||||||||
NRL/NSWRL - By Year | ||||||||||||||
| Team | Season | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
| Balmain | NSWRFL 1958 | 12 | 5 | - | - | 15 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 50.00% | List | |||
| Eastern Suburbs | NSWRFL 1964 | 14 | 1 | - | - | 3 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 14.29% | List | |||
| Eastern Suburbs | NSWRFL 1965 | 6 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 5 | 0 | 16.67% | List | |||
NRL/NSWRL - By Team | ||||||||||||||
| Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
| Balmain | 1958 | 12 | 5 | - | - | 15 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 50.00% | List | |||
| Eastern Suburbs | 1964-65 | 20 | 1 | - | - | 3 | 3 | 17 | 0 | 15.00% | List | |||
| Overall | 1958-1965 | 32 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 9 | 23 | 0 | 28.13% | List | |||
Contributions:
Paul Carter, Andrew Ferguson, Shawn Dollin, Greg Fiveash, Rugby League Tables, Alan Katzmann, Max Turner, Bill Bates
Your Say
05/10/2012
Frank was the first footballer to wear coloured boots. He wore white boots onto the SCG and maroon boots when representing QLD. Perhaps more significantly, Frank, known variously as "Twinlke Toes' and 'The Elvis Presley of Rugby League" , invented the cut down boot. He had his bootmaker neighbour install studs on his running shoes. It is believed this was the first time anywhere in the world this innovation had ocurred. Frank was the heir apparent to Clive Churchill and sadly at the peak of his game, broke his hip as captain of Easts and he never recovered the pace that had made him such a devastating full back.
27/08/2013
played for brisbane brothers in 1967. missed playing in 67 grand final hurt.
31/08/2013
frank played for brisbane brothers in 1967.missed the grand final with injury. morrie pinfold who later went to st george was his replacement.
26/04/2014
He was the most exciting Rugby player I have ever seen. My Dad and I discovered him when we began watching the weekly club matches in Toowoomba in the late 1950s, and we immediately adopted the All Whites as "our" team. He was sheer magic to watch, every game. I left Toowoomba and Australia in 1963, and apart from the fact that he married a second-cousin of mine I never encountered his name again. But I remember it well. Thanks for the memory.
27/04/2018
Besides being a great Rugby League veteran and former fine player of the game, Frank is a wonderful ambassador for the game. A gentleman.
05/05/2018
The most exciting fullback ever along with Clive Churchill. His forays into the backline had the spectators on their feet at most games he played for Brisbane Souths & for Queensland. Brilliant player.
19/08/2018
Just.had.lunch.with.Frank..wonderful.to.spent.so.time.with.him..Thank.you.frank..Glen.m
20/09/2018
Frank Drake was noted on the field for his " bodgie" haircut and colourful style. I remember Tiger Black going berserk when he scored his try in the 1960 Test and nearly scored another.
02/10/2022
My year six hero when he played for All Whites in Toowoomba. Then my friend and debut ball mate with Jan and Marg. Had so many arguments with dad over his lairy cut off boots the first l say. Stay well
Want to have your say about this player? Add a comment.