Frank Hyde

Coaching Career

Vital Statistics

Born
Monday, 7th February, 1916
Died
Monday, 24th September, 2007 (Aged 91 years and 229 days)

Known Family Links

Son
Greg Hyde

Biography

The doyen of rugby league broadcasters was discovered playing cricket in Moore Park in the mid-1930s by two team-mates, Newtown legends Frank Gilmore and Tom Ellis, who talked the athletic teenager into trialling with the club. Graded with the Blue Bags, Hyde scored three tries in the final of the 1937 City Cup but was then ruled by the Residential Status Committee that he would have to play for Balmain. (At the time, players had to affiliate with a club according to where they lived). The talented centre made his debut for NSW in 1938 and captained his State the following year. Hyde’s attacking prowess was a major factor in the Tigers' 1939 grand final win over Souths but WWII put an end to any chance for Australian selection for both Hyde and a host of great players. In 1940 he captain-coached Waratah Mayfield in Newcastle but when he returned to Balmain, in 1941, the Norths club protested to the NSWRL (Hyde was living at Lane Cove). Forced to play with Norths, he captain-coached the club to their only grand final appearance but despite starting favourites, the club was soundly beaten by Newtown in the 1943 decider. After his retirement in 1945, Frank gained his referee's ticket, coached Norths again (1950) but most importantly took up calling League matches with 2SM in 1953. Listening to Frank Hyde became a way of life for thousands of League fans and in a long career he was never beaten in the ratings. Awarded the MBE in 1974, this one-time Governor of The Rocks was awarded the ‘Dally M’ Life Achievement Award in 1982. He retired in 1986 after calling 33 consecutive grand finals matches. In 1995, Hyde published his long-awaited autobiography, Straight Between the Posts
- 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 49 17 28 4 34.69% List
NRL Finals 3 2 1 0 66.67% List


Club Career

NRL/NSWRL - By Year

Team Season Games W L D Win %  
North Sydney NSWRFL 1943 17 9 5 3 52.94% List
North Sydney NSWRFL 1944 14 5 8 1 35.71% List
North Sydney NSWRFL 1950 18 3 15 0 16.67% List

NRL/NSWRL - By Team

Team Years Games W L D Win %  
North Sydney 1943-44, 1950 49 17 28 4 34.69% List

Your Say

  • E Curb Nottus
    14/05/2012

    An accomplished state centre (and occasional singer of Irish classics) whose on-field career was overshadowed by a long post-retirement as THE caller of Sydney RL. Gave the game many memorable lines - "If its long enough, if its straight enough ... " One of my favourite's was his description of Easts centre Mark Harris's famously bent nose: "He looks like he's been in a donnybrook or two in his time, then again, he may have just stepped on a rake".

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

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

Sources: 2006 Official Rugby League Annual