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David Topliss

Playing Career

All information provided below is based only on data available in the RLP database and should be used as a guide only.

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

Competitions Won

European Championship
1974/75
English Championship
1982/83
Challenge Cup
1981/82
Yorkshire Cup
1982/83, 1983/84

Honours & Awards

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

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.

Representative Career - International Comp WinsStartsIntAPP3ST4ST3PT4PTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Tests (Senior International Matches) -5-5------------23-40.00%List
Other International Matches -1-1-------------1-0.00%List
The Ashes -4-4------------13-25.00%List
Tour MatchesWakefield TrinityWAK-1-11---1---3----1-0.00%List
Tour MatchesGreat BritainGBR-10-102---2---6---73-70.00%List
Tour MatchesHull FCHUL-1-11---1---3----1-0.00%List
Tour MatchesOldhamOLD-1-1-------------1-0.00%List
Test Series -4-4------------13-25.00%List
European Championship 11-1------------1--100.00%List
Club Career - Australia Comp WinsStartsIntAPP3ST4ST3PT4PTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) -2823010---10-1131---1217140.00%List
NRL Finals -2-21---1-114---11-50.00%List
Club Career - UK Comp WinsStartsIntAPP3ST4ST3PT4PTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
English Championship 113761433223--55-11189---9146663.64%List
Premiership Trophy -9-912--3---11---45-44.44%List
Challenge Cup 11822051--6-2221---135265.00%List
Regal Trophy -111124---4---12---65150.00%List
Yorkshire Cup 213-1312--3---11---103-76.92%List
Lancashire Cup -5-5------------32-60.00%List
UK Top Division 113761433223--55-11189---9146663.64%List
UK Second Division -527-1--1---4---43-57.14%List
Overall StartsIntAPP3ST4ST3PT4PTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
First Class 241142555729--86-44291---152931059.61%List

Test Matches - By Team

TeamYears StartsIntAPP3ST4ST3PT4PTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Great Britain1973, 1979, 1982 4-4------------13-25.00%List
England1975 1-1------------1--100.00%List

International Matches - By Team

TeamYears StartsIntAPP3ST4ST3PT4PTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Great Britain1973-1982 1-1-------------1-0.00%List

NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) - By Year

TeamSeason StartsIntAPP3ST4ST3PT4PTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
PenrithPenrith19761976 NSWRFL 10212------------210-16.67%List
BalmainBalmain19771977 NSWRFL 18-1810---10-1131---107155.56%List

NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) - By Team

TeamYears StartsIntAPP3ST4ST3PT4PTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Penrith1976 10212------------210-16.67%List
Balmain1977 18-1810---10-1131---107155.56%List

English Career - By Year

TeamSeason StartsIntAPP3ST4ST3PT4PTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Wakefield T.Wakefield1977/78 --0----------------List
Wakefield T.Wakefield1979/80 --0----------------List
Wakefield T.Wakefield1980/81 32-328---8-1125---1714153.13%List
HullHull1981/82 2522713---13-2241---215177.78%List
HullHull1982/83 36-3622---22---66---277275.00%List
HullHull1983/84 29130-15--15---60---218170.00%List
HullHull1983/84 --0----------------List
HullHull1984/85 22426-4--4---16---159257.69%List
OldhamOldham1985/86 15-15-3--3---12---94260.00%List
OldhamOldham1986/87 32133-6--6---24---1617-48.48%List
Wakefield T.Wakefield1987/88 8412-1--1---4---66-50.00%List

English Career - By Team

TeamYears StartsIntAPP3ST4ST3PT4PTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Wakefield1980, 1987 4044481--9-1129---2320152.27%List
Hull1981-84 11271193519--54-22183---8429670.59%List
Oldham1985-86 47148-9--9---36---2521252.08%List

Your Say

  • Anonymous
    27 Mar 2016 3:50pm

    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 Apr 2017 11:12pm

    Best attacking footballer I have ever seen

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

Sources:RFL Player Registers, Irvin Saxton's Record Keepers' Club, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook (1981-82 to 1999), Match Video