Playing Career
All information provided below is based only on data available in the RLP database and should be used as a guide only.
Vital Statistics
- Full Name
- Johnny Edward Riley
- Born
- Thursday, 22nd June, 1939
- Current Age
- 86 years and 356 days
Biography
St George junior came into first grade to partner the equally youthful Reg Gasnier during the club's unbeaten year in 1959. The two teenagers formed a great combination in the centres during their first year, playing for NSW and touring with the 1959-60 Kangaroos. (Incredibly, injury ruled both players out of the club's grand final win over Manly). Riley, who had been a non-playing reserve in the series against the Kiwis in 1959, made his sole Test appearance in the First Test against Great Britain as well as playing in 13 other matches. The remainder of his career did not reach those heights and his only other grand final appearance with the champion club was in 1962. Riley later played for Moorabbin in the Victorian RL competition during the mid-1960s
- ALAN WHITICKER
Playing Career Statistics
To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.
| Representative Career - International | Comp Wins | Starts | Int | APP | 3ST | 3PT | T | G | 2FG | FG | Pts | Bin5 | Bin | Off | W | L | D | Win% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests (Senior International Matches) | - | 2 | - | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | - | - | 100.00% | List | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Ashes | - | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | 100.00% | List | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tour Matches | AustraliaAUS | - | 15 | - | 15 | 2 | - | 2 | - | - | - | 6 | - | - | - | 10 | 5 | - | 66.67% | List | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Test Series | - | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | 100.00% | List | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Representative Career - Australia | Comp Wins | Starts | Int | APP | 3ST | 3PT | T | G | 2FG | FG | Pts | Bin5 | Bin | Off | W | L | D | Win% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interstate Series | - | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | 0.00% | List | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NSW City vs Country Firsts | 1 | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | - | 3 | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | 100.00% | List | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NSW City vs Country | 1 | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | - | 3 | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | 100.00% | List | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club Career - Australia | Comp Wins | Starts | Int | APP | 3ST | 3PT | T | G | 2FG | FG | Pts | Bin5 | Bin | Off | W | L | D | Win% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country Carnival | - | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | - | 3 | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | 100.00% | List | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) | 6 | 58 | 3 | 61 | 22 | - | 22 | - | - | - | 66 | - | - | - | 51 | 9 | 1 | 83.61% | List | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NRL Finals | - | 3 | - | 3 | 2 | - | 2 | - | - | - | 6 | - | - | - | 3 | - | - | 100.00% | List | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preseason Cup | 2 | 10 | 1 | 11 | 2 | - | 2 | - | - | - | 6 | - | - | - | 8 | 1 | 2 | 72.73% | List | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overall | Starts | Int | APP | 3ST | 3PT | T | G | 2FG | FG | Pts | Bin5 | Bin | Off | W | L | D | Win% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First Class | 85 | 4 | 89 | 27 | - | 27 | - | - | - | 81 | - | - | - | 70 | 16 | 3 | 78.65% | List | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Test Matches - By Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | Years | Starts | Int | APP | 3ST | 3PT | T | G | 2FG | FG | Pts | Bin5 | Bin | Off | W | L | D | Win% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Australia | 1959-60 | 2 | - | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | - | - | 100.00% | List | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Australia - By Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | Years | Starts | Int | APP | 3ST | 3PT | T | G | 2FG | FG | Pts | Bin5 | Bin | Off | W | L | D | Win% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Probables (AU) | 1959 | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | - | 3 | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | 100.00% | List | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NSW Firsts | 1959 | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | 0.00% | List | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NSW City Firsts | 1959 | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | - | 3 | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | 100.00% | List | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) - By Year | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | Season | Starts | Int | APP | 3ST | 3PT | T | G | 2FG | FG | Pts | Bin5 | Bin | Off | W | L | D | Win% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| St GeorgeSt George | 19591959 NSWRFL | 13 | - | 13 | 10 | - | 10 | - | - | - | 30 | - | - | - | 13 | - | - | 100.00% | List | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| St GeorgeSt George | 19601960 NSWRFL | 10 | - | 10 | 3 | - | 3 | - | - | - | 9 | - | - | - | 6 | 4 | - | 60.00% | List | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| St GeorgeSt George | 19611961 NSWRFL | 16 | - | 16 | 4 | - | 4 | - | - | - | 12 | - | - | - | 13 | 3 | - | 81.25% | List | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| St GeorgeSt George | 19621962 NSWRFL | 10 | 3 | 13 | 2 | - | 2 | - | - | - | 6 | - | - | - | 10 | 2 | 1 | 76.92% | List | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| St GeorgeSt George | 19631963 NSWRFL | 2 | - | 2 | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | - | 3 | - | - | - | 2 | - | - | 100.00% | List | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| St GeorgeSt George | 19641964 NSWRFL | 7 | - | 7 | 2 | - | 2 | - | - | - | 6 | - | - | - | 7 | - | - | 100.00% | List | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) - By Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | Years | Starts | Int | APP | 3ST | 3PT | T | G | 2FG | FG | Pts | Bin5 | Bin | Off | W | L | D | Win% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| St George | 1959-64 | 58 | 3 | 61 | 22 | - | 22 | - | - | - | 66 | - | - | - | 51 | 9 | 1 | 83.61% | List | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Contributions:
Shawn Dollin, Greg Fiveash, Rugby League Tables, Andrew Ferguson, Paul Carter, Alan Katzmann, Tony McCarron, Max Turner, Bill Bates, Tim Costello
Your Say
22 May 2012 3:20pm
Riley's RL top-grade career came to an abrupt halt at 25 in 1964 when he took an executive position in Melbourne, then still very much a League no-go city.
28 Jan 2016 2:36pm
I was privileged to see John Riley play alongside Reg Gasnier many times for St.George Rugby League club. They complemented each other perfectly and it was easy to see the great mutual respect that existed between them. The best centre pairing that has ever been. Reg Gasnier was a scoring machine and John Riley was a great tackler and always there in support. These are memories that will last until I die. Both were wonderful one club players....
29 Jun 2017 9:55am
I played with Moorabbin the first year Johnny came to Victoria. I can recall him coaching the side but not as a playing coach. The side that year was the first civilian side to win the Vic RL premiership. The comp was made up of teams from each of the RAAF bases in victoria.
14 Apr 2020 2:21pm
In my memory Riley had a meteoric rise from Reserves to Kangaroo in that 59 season. Dont know if thats ever been done before or since.
9 May 2020 8:35pm
John &Gwen had two sons Andrew and Mark.
Is Mark Rielly the son of John & Gwen ?
11 Aug 2020 8:24pm
I also played under John Riley at Moorabbin in about 1966. My name is Terry Kelly, related to Frank Kirkwood, and Barry Briggs, both also Moorrabbin players. Just wondering who you are?
21 Sep 2020 10:29am
I was in Year 6 with John at Kogarah P.S. He was proficient at football, cricket and athletics. It was competing in athletics where the friendly rivalry between John and Gas began. John played with Ramsgate United (Reg was with Renown United but showed his talent by playing with St George from the age of 15. Three grades, no age restrictions brought him up against many tough players until he made first grade in 1959. He was a supreme tackler.
20 Mar 2023 12:06pm
I saw Johnny play live from 1959 many times for the fabulous Dragons of those years. He was wonderful in the centres with the incomparable Reg Gasnier
8 Oct 2024 7:57pm
John and I played together for Kogarah Primary School football team. We both went with John’s father to try out for the Sydney team to play Newcastle. I was a “hooker “ and John was a winger.,John was accepted, he was fleet of foot , and I did not gain acceptance. The very only time my father smacked my bottom was when John and I were playing Superman and Captain Marvel in Beach St Kogarah where John lived , and I returned home in the dark, late for dinner. Delighted to hear John is still living and is 85 like me. Keep going John. ????????
28 Feb 2026 12:50pm
I also played with Johnny Riley at Moorabbin in 1965 when we won the comp against five RAF teams and two other civilian teams. Loved the duty free beer at the RAF bases when we played away games. RAF clubs were well known to hold "on base training " and "import" players from NSW bases on game days.
Nev Wilson
Want to have your say? Add a comment.