Wally Lewis

Playing Career

Vital Statistics

Full Name
Walter James Lewis
Nickname(s)
The King
Born
Tuesday, 1st December, 1959
Current Age
64 years and 109 days
Place Of Birth
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Awards & Accolades

Dally M Representative Player Of The Year
1982, 1984, 1988
Golden Boot Award
1984
Dally M Five-Eighth Of The Year
1988
Harry Sunderland Medal
1988
Immortal
1999
International Hall Of Fame
2002
National Rugby League Hall Of Fame
2002

Known Family Links

Brother
Heath Lewis
Scott Lewis
Nephew
Lachlan Lewis

Biography

One of the most spectacularly talented and controversial players in the history of the game the career of Wally Lewis may have divided the League world in its devotion of him but there was no denying his genius at five-eighth. A member of the 1977 Australian Schoolboys RU side which toured Europe (launching the careers of Michael O'Connor, Tony Melrose and the Ella brothers) Lewis immediately switched to League and played with Brisbane Valleys from 1978-83 before moving to Wynnum-Manly (1984-87). He made his state debut as a halfback in 1980 before being selected as lock in Queensland's inaugural State of Origin team. Lewis went on to captain the Maroons in 22 consecutive matches, with the 'State of Origin' concept riding on the back of his ability to motivate an entire state behind him. At times blunt and outwardly abrasive NSW fans enjoyed, at best, a love-hate relationship with him. He made his Test debut against France in 1981 but NSW critics panned his performance. Despite being named vice-captain of the 1982 Kangaroos he failed to gain a place in the Test teams and was used mainly as a reserve player. Lewis' stay with Wakefield Trinity in England in 1983-84 was deemed unsuccessful but when he took over as Australian captain in 1984 he went on to be one of the best the code has seen, captaining his country in 23 consecutive Tests. His efforts were often inspirational - turning the Third Test at Wigan in 1986, playing brilliantly in a losing side in the Third Test in Sydney in 1988, or smashing his forearm in the final of the World Cup in 1988. In 1985 he was the inaugural winner of the Adidas 'Golden Boot' award for best player in the world but critics said that he had not yet proven himself in the Sydney competition. 'King' Wally was revered in Queensland and the QRL moved quickly to block moves by Manly to sign him in 1986. With the advent of the Brisbane Broncos in 1988, however, grand final success looked a formality but things went terribly wrong for Lewis. After beating NSW 3-nil in both the 1988-89 series and touring NZ with the Australian side, a broken fore-arm led to his losing the Test captaincy to Mal Meninga for the Test against France in Parkes in 1990. In a controversial decision Lewis was then ruled unfit to lead the Kangaroos, despite having a medical clearance, thereby missing the opportunity to surpass records held by Clive Churchill (captain 24 Tests) and Reg Gasnier (played 36 Tests). He handled the disappointment tactlessly; citing a conspiracy by selectors to protect the records, although he later retracted the allegation. Then, Brisbane dumped him at year's end after already relieving him of the club captaincy. Lewis turned out for the G’Coast in 1991, drawing good crowds to the fledgling club and like a true champion, leading Queensland to an emotional series win before announcing his retirement after 29 State of Origin matches (28 as captain and 8 man-of-the-match awards). He won back his Test spot (but not the captaincy) for the First Test against NZ in Melbourne but fans did not see the ‘Lewis’ of old and he was one of the first players sacked after Australia's shock defeat. Despite achieving the personal milestone of being the G’Coast club's first Test player Lewis took on the daunting role of captain-coach in 1992 (the last player in the modern era to carry such a position) with the club finishing with the wooden spoon for the second successive year. Retiring as a player he stood down as coach following a third straight wooden spoon in 1993, and consecutive losses as coach of Queensland's State of Origin side led to his dumping in 1994. Later a commentator with Channel 9 and FoxSports, Wally Lewis will be remembered as one of the most competitive captains Australian sport has seen in any code. However, if there is one regret to his career it is the fact that NSW spectators did not accept him for what he was - a champion, warts and all. In 1999, Lewis’ name was belatedly added to list of post-war ‘Immortals’, joining Churchill, Raper, Fulton, Beetson, Gasnier and also Graeme Langlands, at the apex of the game’s greatest players. Biography; Forever the King (2004).
- 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 %  
Interstate Matches 4 - -   - - 0 4 0 0.00% List
Tour Matches Queensland Firsts 2 2 -   - 7 1 1 0 50.00% List
Tour Matches Brisbane Firsts 1 - -   - - 0 1 0 0.00% List
National Panasonic Cup 10 9 7   - 46 4 6 0 40.00% List
State of Origin 31 7 1   2 30 19 12 0 61.29% List
Tour Matches Australia 42 18 9   2 88 40 2 0 95.24% List
Test Series 28 9 -   2 15 24 4 0 85.71% List
The Ashes 11 5 -   2 44 10 1 0 90.91% List
Tour Matches Queensland Origin 3 3 1   - 14 2 1 0 66.67% List
English Championship 9 4 -   - 16 4 5 0 44.44% List
Challenge Cup 1 2 -   - 8 1 0 0 100.00% List
World Cup 9 5 -   - 20 7 2 0 77.78% List
QRL 4 2 0   - 8 3 1 0 75.00% List
NRL 80 26 14   - 132 38 39 3 47.50% List
NRL Finals 1 - -   - - 0 1 0 0.00% List
Tooheys Challenge Cup 2 2 -   - 8 1 1 0 50.00% List


International

Test Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australia 1981-89, 1991 35 12 4   2 56 30 5 0 85.71% List

International Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australia 1981-1988 1 1 -   - 4 1 0 0 100.00% List

World Cup Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australia 1981-1989 9 5 -   - 20 7 2 0 77.78% List


Representative

Australia - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Brisbane Firsts 1979, 1981, 1983, 1986-87 7 5 7   - 31 1 6 0 14.29% List
QLD Firsts 1979-82 6 1 -   - 3 1 5 0 16.67% List
QLD 1980-91 34 10 2   2 44 21 13 0 61.76% List
Oceania 1984 1 - -   - - 1 0 0 100.00% List
Overall1979-1991 48 16 9   2 78 24 24 0 50.00% List


Club Career

NRL/NSWRL - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Wynnum-Manly BRL 1987 4 2 0 / 2 0.00% - 8 3 1 0 75.00% List
Brisbane NSWRL 1988 19 15 8 / 16 50.00% - 76 13 6 0 68.42% List
Brisbane NSWRL 1989 18 4 2 / 8 25.00% - 20 13 5 0 72.22% List
Brisbane NSWRL 1990 9 1 1 / 1 100.00% - 6 5 3 1 55.56% List
Gold Coast NSWRL 1991 14 3 2 / 4 50.00% - 16 1 12 1 7.14% List
Gold Coast NSWRL 1992 20 3 1 / 7 14.29% - 14 6 13 1 30.00% List

NRL/NSWRL - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Wynnum-Manly 1987 4 2 - / 2 0.00% - 8 3 1 0 75.00% List
Brisbane 1988-90 46 20 11 / 25 44.00% - 102 31 14 1 67.39% List
Gold Coast 1991-92 34 6 3 / 11 27.27% - 30 7 25 2 20.59% List
Overall1987-1992 84 28 14 / 38 36.84% 0 140 41 40 3 48.81% List

English Career - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Wakefield 1983/84 10 6 -   - 24 5 5 0 50.00% List

English Career - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Wakefield 1983 10 6 -   - 24 5 5 0 50.00% List

Your Say

  • Anonymous
    16/08/2011

    just brillant

  • Anonymous
    22/04/2012

    the last comment stated "just brilliant".....you know what, he was better than that!!

  • Queenslander
    01/06/2012

    No words can describe the king

  • matt geiger
    23/07/2012

    best ive ever seen

  • Pete from Wynnum
    02/08/2012

    Wally will always be known as the most influential player in the history of the game. On the field he was clever, strong & aggressive. The King was absolutely brilliant.

  • Paul Murphy
    15/08/2012

    Wally played for Wakefield Trinity for 10 games, and was a hit not a flop. Even now Trinity fans want him in there team. Wakefield was a team that was not good enough for the top division but too good for the second division,but were amazing for ten games from december to february. He made his Trinity debut against Peter Stirlings Hull,who were probably the best side in the league. A full house at Belle Vue saw Trinity beaten 32-16. 16-16 at half time, trinity fell away due to a jet lagged Wally. That Hull side contained Peter Strirling, Gary Kemble, James Leuluai, Gary Divorty and Dane O'Hara.

  • Anonymous
    28/11/2013

    ur a rugby league ledgend

  • Anonymous
    25/04/2014

    Played against him and with him. Gentlemen & true champion.

  • harvey
    24/10/2014

    awesome dude!!! epic man!!! legendary football player!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Anonymous
    06/02/2015

    The best there ever was. The best there ever will be.

  • maddog
    19/02/2015

    THERES ONLY 1 WALLY LEWIS. THE GREATEST
    PLAYER I HAVE EVER SEEN.

  • michael mcfadyen
    13/07/2016

    you are still the best standoff i have ever seen in all facets
    I study your moves hard and try to implement :)

    I salute you Wally

  • BARRY THOMSON
    05/09/2016

    it was a pleasure to have witnessed Wally play Rugby League. With Valleys in Brisbane league he was a revelation. Then Wynnum but when Wally played for us in 1980 in that first State of Origin a new career started. We loved what you bought to our State Team. Playing for Australia with your pride & passion as always made us proud. Thanks Wally.

  • Anonymous
    23/06/2017

    The King is truly one of the greats of this great game, and arguably the greatest.

  • Anonymous
    01/10/2017

    NSW fan here, Wally is the most dominant player I have seen, unbelievable talent, a conductor who controlled the entire game. he stood way above the best NSW could offer and they were great players themselves. He was one of a kind. Pleasure to watch

  • Browney
    02/12/2017

    Have you the stats from Valleys and Wynnum Manly playing days. Important as he represented Australia from there.

  • Anonymous
    05/04/2018

    He was the greatest player in the history of rugby league.

  • Anonymous
    04/08/2018

    After reading your achievement Wally I like many Queenslander have nothing but praise for what you have achieve

  • Paul
    08/12/2019

    Wally Lewis was the best ever he played the whole of his career at five eight. He played against some great five eights and he had the wood on all of them. There has been some great players after his time but they would not have been as great marking up to Wally Lewis.,

  • Costa
    30/03/2020

    Fabulous player an immortal all the way. The King should have come to Sydney with Gene Miles to Manly in 1984 but QRL under Ron McCaulife would not let him go

  • James
    18/04/2020

    Wally Lewis made the players around him play better. He was a fantastic leader who demonstrated how to win with his positive actions.

    In consideration of all the very best players to have played Rugby League, in my view there are only three than can lay claim to being judged the best ever; Wally Lewis, Andrew Johns and
    Jonathan Thurston...but in my view, Wally Lewis is ‘The Greatest’...Rugby League’s answer to Muhammad Ali.

  • john
    11/10/2020

    as Tina Turner said simply the best better than all the rest. Champion

  • Anonymous
    12/12/2020

    As a kid I looked up to him. I am still doing this today 40 years later. He meant so much to so many people. He is an icon of a generation. The greatest I have ever seen.

  • Josho
    03/10/2021

    Simple.The greatest,the best!The most influential player in Rugby League history.Will forever be cast in Bronze.The King,the Emperor of Lang park.The captain of the 84 Kangaroos.Enough said!!

  • Josho
    20/06/2023

    Full disclosure here.I am a proud QUEENSLANDER !!! Wally's Lewis simply the best!1986 Kangaroos,Sterling at half back,Kenny and Miles in the centres.Doesnt get any better then that.Go theMAROONS!!

  • Anonymous
    31/07/2023

    Only the words “The Best Ever”. Putting aside qld and Australia, I would love to see the attendence figures when Wally was the Man at Wynnum Manly, my mother actually ran onto field at a wynnum game with an umbrella to protect Wally because the opposing side where giving him a very bad time ( all illegal of course, it was only the slim chance they had of beating “The King”

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

Sources: NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1989-90, Match Video, 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 1984-85