Jim Comans

  • Playing Career

Playing Career

Vital Statistics

Full Name
James Leopold Vincent Comans
Born
Saturday, 2nd March, 1912
Died
Thursday, 30th July, 1992 (Aged 80 years and 150 days)
Place Of Birth
Redfern, New South Wales, Australia

Biography

A first grade player age 18, Comans started his career as a centre with University before making a reputation as a ‘thinking man's’ forward. He served with RAAF during the Second World War, piloting Lancaster bombers, before becoming a leading Sydney solicitor. Comans acted on behalf of trainers and jockeys in appeals to the AJC and sorted out contracts for players such as Ken Thornett, Dick Thornett, Barry Rushworth, Kevin Ryan and Ken Day. In 1980 he became a feared but respected Chairman of the NSWRL Judiciary. He first set about making the judiciary meetings open to the media but is today credited with cleaning up the image of the game in the early 1980s when he handed out record suspensions to players found guilty of foul play (most noticeably Les Boyd, Steve Kneen and Bob Cooper). He was responsible for the much-quoted retort to champion halfback Steve Mortimer that if he ever came before the judiciary again, that ‘rugby league will be just a memory for you’. Comans stood down in 1986 when he was out-voted 2-1 by fellow panel members regarding the suspension of Parramatta prop Geoff Bugden for an alleged spear tackle. Comans passed away in 1992.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Additional Notes

Was a Flight Lieutenant with the RAAF during World War II. He was involved in the 'Battle of Britain' air battle. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and bar for his efforts. After the war he became a lawyer before being one of the most influential men in Rugby League in the early 1980's when he headed the judiciary which was intent on cleaning up the game.

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 36 4 -   - 12 2 34 0 5.56% List


Club Career

NRL/NSWRL - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
University NSWRFL 1932 4 - -   - - 1 3 0 25.00% List
University NSWRFL 1933 1 - -   - - 0 1 0 0.00% List
University NSWRFL 1934 13 2 -   - 6 1 12 0 7.69% List
University NSWRFL 1935 12 - -   - - 0 12 0 0.00% List
University NSWRFL 1936 6 2 -   - 6 0 6 0 0.00% List

NRL/NSWRL - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
University 1932-36 36 4 -   - 12 2 34 0 5.56% List

Your Say

  • Michael Lee
    28/09/2018

    My father in law was navigator in Jim Comans’ crew in the Second World War. We have a number of photographs of the crew and would love to be in touch with any members of Jim Comans’ family.

  • Stephen J Noblett
    08/01/2024

    Reply to Mark Lee read the Crew by David Price if you haven't already. It details the crews of Jim Comans with his Lancasters service during WW2.

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

Sources: 2006 Official Rugby League Annual