Playing Career
Vital Statistics
- Born
- Thursday, 28th August, 1930
- Current Age
- 93 years and 241 days
Biography
Wollongong prop played for NSW in nine matches between 1958-62 but could not break into the Australian Test side. Olive, who paved the way for Country’s upset wins over City in 1961-62, later played with Newtown in the mid-1960s.
- ALAN WHITICKER
Playing 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 | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tour Matches | Southern Division | 2 | 1 | - | - | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50.00% | List | |||
| Interstate Matches | 8 | 2 | - | - | 6 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 62.50% | List | ||||
| Tour Matches | New South Wales Firsts | 2 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.00% | List | |||
| City vs Country Firsts | 4 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 2 | 0 | 50.00% | List | ||||
| Craven Mild Cup | 16 | - | - | - | - | 6 | 9 | 1 | 37.50% | List | ||||
| NSWRFL Premiership (NRL) | 69 | 1 | - | - | 3 | 32 | 32 | 5 | 46.38% | List | ||||
| ||||||||||||||
Australia - By Team | ||||||||||||||
| Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
| Southern Division | 1958-60 | 3 | 1 | - | - | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 33.33% | List | |||
| NSW Country Seconds | 1958 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | List | |||
| NSW Firsts | 1958-59, 1961-62 | 10 | 2 | - | - | 6 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 50.00% | List | |||
| NSW Country Firsts | 1959-62 | 6 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 4 | 0 | 33.33% | List | |||
| Overall | 1958-1962 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 8 | 12 | 0 | 40.00% | List | |||
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NSWRFL Premiership (NRL) - By Year | ||||||||||||||
| Team | Season | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
| Newtown | NSWRFL 1964 | 17 | 1 | - | - | 3 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 52.94% | List | |||
| Newtown | NSWRFL 1965 | 17 | - | - | - | - | 8 | 6 | 3 | 47.06% | List | |||
| Newtown | NSWRFL 1966 | 16 | - | - | - | - | 9 | 7 | 0 | 56.25% | List | |||
| Newtown | NSWRFL 1967 | 19 | - | - | - | - | 6 | 11 | 2 | 31.58% | List | |||
NSWRFL Premiership (NRL) - By Team | ||||||||||||||
| Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
| Newtown | 1964-67 | 69 | 1 | - | - | 3 | 32 | 32 | 5 | 46.38% | List | |||
Contributions:
Paul Carter, Greg Fiveash, Rugby League Tables, Andrew Ferguson, Max Turner, Shawn Dollin, Alan Katzmann
Your Say
31/03/2015
Should of played for Australia but never got the opportunity when came to the selectors! Bias I say! Even when the England side toured Australia Grand dad played for NSW with all his might left a dent in the English side, even they said he was one of the hardest forwards they played against...It is what it is but needless to say leave the past in the past...That is all, as you were! Be blessed...
14/03/2018
Bruce is one of the best person you could ever meet a true gentleman and it’s been a highlight of my life knowing him.
03/04/2018
I had the privilege to meet Bruce Olive. He is an outstanding and great human being. It was an absolute pleasure to meet this man.
25/06/2018
Watched him play at Wollongong for Wests when I was about 10 years old. A great game, he was a tough no nonsense player, we could use more like him today.
10/05/2019
I am the youngest boy of Bruce Olive
The stories he has shared with me about his rugby League career at the highest level have been life inspiring and life changing.
Courage, Respect for others, Understanding, Humility, Self Respect, Empathy are just a few examples of the influence my father has had on my life.
Thanks Dad
14/04/2020
A living aboriginal treasure. Played for the Casino all blacks
15/05/2020
I can remember Bruce playing for the Red Devils in the Illawarra comp. He was an excellent player and did not take a backward step to anyone. Although I was a Port Kembla fan at that time I always remember thinking when the indigenous team played Wests that Bruce would go on to play for Australia. Unfortunately it was a time when indigenous players did not get the accolades that they deserved. Good to see that others appreciate the effort that Bruce put in.
06/08/2020
Saw Bruce play for the casino all blacks when I was a kid.Wonderful family of footballers and great people. Racism kept him out of the Australian side. Trailblazer for the indigenous people. Should be interviewed for historys sake
16/06/2021
Another product of Casino. Was part of the Casino All Blacks side that was undefeated for many years, prior to heading to Sydney.
28/08/2021
Underrated. Big time.
01/02/2024
Bruce was and I imagine still is a great ambassador for our indigenous people.
Played against Bruce (West W v Collegians) in 1961
Tough forward, huge hands but more importantly, great attitude and sportsman.
Good memories.....hope he's keeping well
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