Frank Burge

Coaching Career

Vital Statistics

Nickname(s)
Chunky
Born
Tuesday, 14th August, 1894
Died
Saturday, 5th July, 1958 (Aged 63 years and 324 days)

Awards & Accolades

International Hall Of Fame
2004
National Rugby League Hall Of Fame
2004
Immortal
2018

Known Family Links

Brother
Peter Burge
Laidley Burge
Alby Burge

Biography

The greatest try-scoring forward the code has produced, 'Chunky' Burge was a product of Souths RU club. Switching to league, he played first grade for Glebe in 1911, at age 16, and was unlucky not to have toured with the Kangaroos that year. A dashing attacking player at lock, Burge's long-striding running style saw him score a record 146 tries during his first grade career. He scored 6 tries playing for Sydney against a visiting Maori side in 1922 and still holds the premiership record for scoring 8 tries in a club match for Glebe in 1920. Burge made his Test debut against Great Britain in 1914 and after taking part in the Test series against NZ (1919) and Great Britain (1920) he toured with the 1921-22 Kangaroos. Burge was a true professional; innovative and dedicated, and his coaching career influenced the way the game was played in this country. After setting a host of club records with Glebe, he was captain-coach of runners-up St George in 1927 and coached Norths (1935), C’bury (1936), Newtown (1940) and Wests (1947) after his retirement as a player. In 1937 he travelled overseas as a supporter of the Kangaroos but was taken ill in NZ (the first port of call) and was forced to return home. Always one who prided himself on his physical fitness Burge died in 1958, age 64, after watching a Norths v Newtown match at Henson Park.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Coaching 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   Games W L D Win %  
NRL 171 105 58 8 61.40% List
Country Carnival 2 2 0 0 100.00% List
NRL Finals 12 3 9 0 25.00% List
City vs Country Firsts 1 1 0 0 100.00% List


Representative

Australia - By Team

Team Years Games W L D Win %  
NSW City Firsts 1938 1 1 0 0 100.00% List


Club Career

NRL/NSWRL - By Year

Team Season Games W L D Win %  
St George NSWRFL 1927 18 13 4 1 72.22% List
St George NSWRFL 1928 14 12 2 0 85.71% List
St George NSWRFL 1929 17 11 5 1 64.71% List
St George NSWRFL 1930 17 8 7 2 47.06% List
Eastern Suburbs NSWRFL 1932 15 9 6 0 60.00% List
North Sydney NSWRFL 1935 17 9 7 1 52.94% List
Canterbury NSWRFL 1936 15 9 4 2 60.00% List
St George NSWRFL 1937 8 5 2 1 62.50% List
Newtown NSWRFL 1940 15 9 6 0 60.00% List
North Sydney NSWRFL 1945 15 8 7 0 53.33% List
Western Suburbs NSWRFL 1947 20 12 8 0 60.00% List

NRL/NSWRL - By Team

Team Years Games W L D Win %  
St George 1927-30, 1937 74 49 20 5 66.22% List
Eastern Suburbs 1932 15 9 6 0 60.00% List
North Sydney 1935, 1945 32 17 14 1 53.13% List
Canterbury 1936 15 9 4 2 60.00% List
Newtown 1940 15 9 6 0 60.00% List
Western Suburbs 1947 20 12 8 0 60.00% List
Overall1927-1947 171 105 58 8 61.40% List

Your Say

  • Anonymous
    12/03/2012

    Statistically, a peerless player. Lifted an average side (Glebe) to a position of being competitive with the top teams. If only there was footage of Burge, Messenger, Horder, et al.

  • Polyhistor
    26/04/2012

    146 tries in 154 first-grade games (8 in one game) speaks for itself. Percentage-wise,
    far in advance of other try-scoring forwards
    such as Steve Menzies!

  • Want to have your say about this player? Add a comment.

Contributions: Greg Fiveash, Andrew Ferguson, Shawn Dollin, Rugby League Tables, Alan Katzmann, Bill Bates, Jamie Murdoch