Herb Gilbert

Champion winger/centre, a product of Souths RU club, played in three amateur Tests against the All Blacks in 1910. A big player with a liking for getting over the top of the opposition, Gilbert turned to League to play with Souths in 1911. He represented NSW in his first season and toured with the 1911-12 ‘Australasian’ Kangaroos, playing in 29 matches on tour including all three Tests in the historic Ashes series win. Gilbert topped the try-scoring list on tour (20 tries) and joined English club Hull on the then record signing-on fee of £450. Gilbert became the first overseas player to lead a club to victory in the prestigious Challenge Cup when Hull defeated Wakefield Trinity in the 1914 final. On his return to Australia in 1915, he played with Souths, Easts and Wests in successive years before ending his remarkable Test career on a high note when he linked with Viv Farnsworth in the centres in two Tests in NZ (1919) and then captained Australia in the Ashes-winning series against England in 1920. After a brief career with the newly-promoted St George club, he became a coach (1921-24) and selector with the club. His three sons, Herb Jnr, Jack and Bob Gilbert all played grade with St George but Herb resigned as a selector over a conflict of interests over the selection of his son Herb in first grade. The former NSW and Australian selector (1925-37) died in 1972, age 84.