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Alby Why

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
Albert Why
Born
Wednesday, 2nd August, 1899
Died
Monday, 29th December, 1969 (Aged 70 years and 149 days)
Place Of Birth
Brewarrina, New South Wales, Australia

Known Family Links

Brother
Jack Why

Competitions Won

NSWRFL Premiership (NRL)
1925, 1926, 1927
City Cup
1924, 1925

Biography

Former Newtown centre who was equally at home in the forwards also played in Souths’ wins against University and St George in the 1926-27 finals. Carr played for Huddersfield in England with team-mate Sid Harris the following year but suffered an injury early in his English career. He refused to have a knee operation and secretly returned to Australia by boat to the relative obscurity of player-coach in country NSW.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Additional Notes

Alby Why played under the name Albert Carr / Alby Carr for most of his career after agreeing to play under the name in a third grade game with Mascot in 1921. He made first grade under the name and decided to keep it. He then went to England and played his career there under the assumed name. It wasn't until he returned home and he wanted to play under his actual name that the whole story came out.

Playing Career Statistics

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

Representative Career - International Comp WinsStartsIntAPP3ST3PTTG2FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Tour MatchesNew South Wales FirstsNFI-5-52-2---6---23-40.00%List
Representative Career - Australia Comp WinsStartsIntAPP3ST3PTTG2FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Tour MatchesNew South Wales XIIINSX-1-1------------10.00%List
Interstate Series -1-1-----------1-0.00%List
Club Career - Australia Comp WinsStartsIntAPP3ST3PTTG2FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Country Carnival -3-32-2---6---3--100.00%List
NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) 36927127-27---81---5812181.69%List
NRL Finals -6-61-1---3---42-66.67%List
City Cup 292116-6---18---63254.55%List
Overall StartsIntAPP3ST3PTTG2FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
First Class 8228433-33---99---6516377.38%List

Australia - By Team

TeamYears StartsIntAPP3ST3PTTG2FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
NSW Firsts1924-25 5-52-2---6---23-40.00%List
Possibles (AU)1925 1-1----------1--100.00%List
Metropolis1926-27 2-22-2---6---2--100.00%List
NSW XII1927 1-1------------10.00%List
Metropolis Seconds1927 1-1----------1--100.00%List

NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) - By Year

TeamSeason StartsIntAPP3ST3PTTG2FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
NewtownNewtown19221922 NSWRFL 82103-3---9---45140.00%List
SouthsSouth Sydney19241924 NSWRFL 5-51-1---3---41-80.00%List
SouthsSouth Sydney19251925 NSWRFL 11-113-3---9---11--100.00%List
SouthsSouth Sydney19261926 NSWRFL 18-187-7---21---162-88.89%List
SouthsSouth Sydney19271927 NSWRFL 17-178-8---24---152-88.24%List
SouthsSouth Sydney19301930 NSWRFL 10-105-5---15---82-80.00%List

NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) - By Team

TeamYears StartsIntAPP3ST3PTTG2FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Newtown1922 82103-3---9---45140.00%List
South Sydney1924-27, 1930 61-6124-24---72---547-88.52%List

Your Say

  • Victor Eke
    31 May 2024 10:12pm

    My grandfather (Roy Carr) brother was Albert Carr. His friend was Albert Why. Albert Why didn't have enough money to pay for registration to play and Albert Carr said don't worry play under my name (registration).

  • Angela Why
    10 Feb 2026 11:15pm

    Alby Why (Carr) was my great grandfather and was an indigenous man. We think that may be a reason for the name change too. There was a lot of prejudice around back then.

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