Roy Kirkaldy

Rated the best Australian hooker since ‘Sandy’ Pearce, Roy Kirkaldy was denied the chance to play for Australia because of the advent of World War II. He played for 14 seasons with Waratah Mayfield in the Newcastle competition before moving to C’bury in 1938. Despite being 28 years of age Kirkaldy spent a decade with the club and, with Henry Porter and Eddie Burns, formed one of the most potent front row partnerships the game has seen. Kirkaldy, 'the prince of hookers', won premierships with the club in 1938 and 1942 and represented NSW in ten matches during 1938-41 (he overcame a serious injury in 1943 to continue his career with C’bury). Kirkaldy passed away in 1973, aged 63.