Cliff 'Napper' Lyons

Referee Career

Vital Statistics

Nickname(s)
Napper
Born
Thursday, 19th October, 1961
Current Age
62 years and 152 days
Place Of Birth
Narrandera, New South Wales, Australia

Awards & Accolades

Clive Churchill Medal
1987
Dally M Five-Eighth Of The Year
1990, 1994
Dally M Player Of The Year
1990, 1994
RLW Player of the Year
1994
National Rugby League Hall Of Fame
2018

Biography

Born in Narrandera, teenager Cliff Lyons came to the Cronulla district as a boarder from the Mount Druitt area (Tregear) and was graded as a second rower with the Sharks in 1981. He then played with the Gundagai Tigers for three seasons where he represented Riverina against NZ in 1982 and Great Britain in 1984. Lyons signed with Norths midway through that year, following his Riverina coach Greg Hawick to the Bears in 1985, before signing with Manly. His early career, which included stays with Leeds (1985-86) and Sheffield Eagles (1986-87) in England, saw him targeted by rival forwards but Lyons was tough enough to stand up for himself and there was no denying his talent at five-eighth. ‘Cliffy’ became a favourite with the Brookvale Oval crowds; represented NSW in the State of Origin match in Los Angeles in 1987and won the Clive Churchill Medal for his dynamic, try-scoring display against Canberra in the grand final. Lyons’ ability to set up tries for his support players with his uniquely unpredictable weaving runs saw him consistently win player awards, culminating in his ‘breakthrough’ rep season in 1990, age 29. After winning the coveted 'Dally M' Player of the Year award, he received his call-up to the Australian Test team on the 1990 Kangaroo tour. With Australia losing the First Test, Lyons was thrust into the Second Test team and repaid the faith shown in him by former club coach Bob Fulton by finishing one of the best team tries ever seen in an international match. He then switched play at a crucial stage which resulted in Ricky Stuart’s run that led to the winning try of the match. Lyons produced a solid display in the Third Test 14-0 shutout to win the Ashes before going on to play in both Tests in France (he was ‘man of the match’ in the Second Test). Lyons toured Papua New Guinea in 1991 and remained the focal point of the Manly attack with his deft ball skills and his authoritative bursts around the rucks. Cliff was particularly in his element in the ‘Sevens’ competitions; winning the ‘Player of the Competition’ in 1994 and captaining the Aboriginal ‘Dream Team’ in 1996. Despite winning his second Gold 'Dally M' award in 1994 he missed selection for what would have been a second Kangaroo tour. Lyons resisted a lucrative offer from the W’Reds to stay with the Sea Eagles in 1995 and went on to play in three consecutive grand finals (premiers 1996). At the end of the 1998 season, in which he was mainly used off the interchange bench, Lyons reluctantly retired after not being offered a contract. January 1999 found him playing for Warringah in a RU Sevens competition but following the Sea Eagles’ disastrous start to the 1999 season he made a comeback with the club and passed the 300 first grade mark during his career. At the end of the year he was named Aboriginal Sportsman of the Year (tied with Nicky Winmar) and captained Australian Aborigines in an unofficial ‘test’ against Papua New Guinea in Cairns. Cut from the newly-formed N’Eagles at year’s end he signed with Umina and captain-coached the Central Coast club in 2001, the year he celebrated his 40th birthday. Three years later he was still playing in the Manly ‘A’ Grade competition – a modern marvel. Biography, From the Bush to Brookvale (2000).
- ALAN WHITICKER

Referee Career Statistics

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Your Say

  • andy
    31/08/2012

    i supported leeds for over 60 years and in all that time cliff lyons is in my opinion is the best stand off leeds we have ever had his ability to read a game was first class leeds has lost 6 cup finals in a row if we had have a player of cliff lyons ability we may won all 6

  • Anonymous
    02/05/2020

    My dad coach cliff and me and we used to pick him up from his boarding school to go to training at GJRLF club in the southern and shire thanks Signed WAYNE JUDD or back then it was juddy

  • Eddie katrib
    05/06/2020

    I’m 36 years old and I’ve been watching footy since 1991 till today and I’ve never seen such a champion exciting five eight to watch the way he read the game in taking on the line passing kicking cliffy was distructive in the last 3 decades cliffy should be the best number 6 to put the jumper on

  • Anonymous
    23/03/2023

    2 dally ms.2 premierships.in the best era.

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

Sources: ARL Rugby League Yearbook 1997, NRL Rugby League Yearbook 1999, NRL Rugby League Yearbook 2000, ARL Rugby League Yearbook 1996, NRL Rugby League Yearbook 1998, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1989-90, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1987-88, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1988-89, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1990-91, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1991-92, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1992-93, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1994, ARL Rugby League Yearbook 1995, Irvin Saxton's Record Keepers' Club, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1989-90, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1986-87, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1987-88, Match Video