David 'Toppo' Topliss

Playing Career

Vital Statistics

Full Name
David John Topliss
Nickname(s)
Toppo
Born
Thursday, 29th December, 1949
Died
Monday, 16th June, 2008 (Aged 58 years and 169 days)
Place Of Birth
Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England

Awards & Accolades

Lance Todd Trophy
1979

Biography

Wakefield Trinity five-eighth (1968-80) appeared in four Tests for Great Britain but his talents were under-utilised at Penrith in the mid-1970s. At Balmain however, Topliss was one of the star players of the 1977 season. Topliss, who scored a club record-equalling five tries in a match against Newtown that year, produced a one-man demolition act on Manly in the minor preliminary semi-final that year. He later returned to Australia as a member of the 1979 Lions before joining Hull (1980-85) and Oldham (1986-87).
- 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 %  
Tour Matches Great Britain 6 2 -   - 6 3 3 0 50.00% List
Test Series 4 - -   - - 1 3 0 25.00% List
The Ashes 4 - -   - - 1 3 0 25.00% List
European Championship 1 - -   - - 1 0 0 100.00% List
NRL 30 10 -   1 31 12 17 1 40.00% List
NRL Finals 2 1 -   1 4 1 1 0 50.00% List
Yorkshire Cup 13 3 -   - 11 10 3 0 76.92% List
English Championship 143 55 -   1 189 91 46 6 63.64% List
Regal Trophy 12 4 -   - 12 6 5 1 50.00% List
Challenge Cup 20 6 -   2 21 13 5 2 65.00% List
Premiership Trophy 9 3 -   - 11 4 5 0 44.44% List
Tour Matches Hull FC 1 1 -   - 3 0 1 0 0.00% List
Lancashire Cup 5 - -   - - 3 2 0 60.00% List
Tour Matches Oldham 1 - -   - - 0 1 0 0.00% List
UK Second Division 7 1 -   - 4 4 3 0 57.14% List


International

Test Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Great Britain 1973, 1979, 1982 4 - -   - - 1 3 0 25.00% List
England 1975 1 - -   - - 1 0 0 100.00% List
Overall1973-1982 5 0 0   0 - 2 3 0 40.00% List

International Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Great Britain 1973-1982 1 - -   - - 0 1 0 0.00% List


Club Career

NRL/NSWRL - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Penrith NSWRFL 1976 12 - -   - - 2 10 0 16.67% List
Balmain NSWRFL 1977 18 10 -   1 31 10 7 1 55.56% List

NRL/NSWRL - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Penrith 1976 12 - -   - - 2 10 0 16.67% List
Balmain 1977 18 10 -   1 31 10 7 1 55.56% List
Overall1976-1977 30 10 0   1 31 12 17 1 40.00% List

English Career - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Wakefield 1980/81 32 8 -   1 25 17 14 1 53.13% List
Hull FC 1981/82 27 13 -   2 41 21 5 1 77.78% List
Hull FC 1982/83 36 22 -   - 66 27 7 2 75.00% List
Hull FC 1983/84 30 15 -   - 60 21 8 1 70.00% List
Hull FC 1984/85 26 4 -   - 16 15 9 2 57.69% List
Oldham 1985/86 15 3 -   - 12 9 4 2 60.00% List
Oldham 1986/87 33 6 -   - 24 16 17 0 48.48% List
Wakefield 1987/88 10 1 -   - 4 5 5 0 50.00% List

English Career - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Wakefield 1980, 1987 42 9 -   1 29 22 19 1 52.38% List
Hull FC 1981-84 119 54 -   2 183 84 29 6 70.59% List
Oldham 1985-86 48 9 -   - 36 25 21 2 52.08% List
Overall1980-1988 209 72 0   3 248 131 69 9 62.68% List

Your Say

  • Anonymous
    27/03/2016

    Best fiveight that I have ever seen. Some footballers should find some old footage and see how to get a backline moving properly

  • Anonymous
    18/04/2017

    Best attacking footballer I have ever seen

  • Want to have your say about this player? Add a comment.

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

Sources: Irvin Saxton's Record Keepers' Club, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1983-84, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1982-83, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1981-82, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1985-86, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1987-88, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1986-87, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1984-85, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1988-89