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Eddie Root

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
Edward Alexander Root
Born
Thursday, 26th June, 1902
Died
Wednesday, 7th May, 1986 (Aged 83 years and 315 days)
Place Of Birth
Alexandria, New South Wales, Australia

Known Family Links

Son
Stan Root

Competitions Won

Interstate Series
1927, 1929, 1930
NSW City vs Country Firsts
1929, 1932
NSWRFL Premiership (NRL)
1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1931, 1932
City Cup
1924, 1925

Biography

Eddie Root enlisted in World War I at age 16 before forging a brilliant career as a League forward. Root played in seven of South's premiership titles (1925-29 and 1930-31) but despite playing in 14 matches for NSW between 1927-32, did not play in a Test. A tough prop, he was sent off in the 1926 final against University but Souths held on, 11-5. Root achieved his highest rep honour when chosen to tour with the 1929-30 Kangaroos, playing in 15 matches. On his return he was forced to play for Newtown because the NSWRL changed the club boundaries while he was away (players had to play for a club according to the district in which they lived.) Root changed his address and continued his great association with the Rabbitohs before seeing out his career as St George captain-coach in 1936.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Additional Notes

Birth date has been confirm by various records to be 26 June 1902. Served in WWI - Service Number N76203 however Eddie enlisted on 31 March 1917, which means he was 14 years and 9 months old not 16. The South Sydney Sentinal reports on this fact (though incorrectly giving his birthdate as the 20th), and says he served "at the front." Several other sources call him a Digger. Eddie's service record shows he was discharged in April 1917 when it was discovered he was underage.

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%  
Tour Matches New South Wales FirstsNFI - 25 - 25 8-8 3 - - 30 - - - 16 8 1 64.00% List
Tour Matches AustraliaAUS - 15 - 15 3-3 - - - 9 - - - 9 5 1 60.00% List
Tour Matches MetropolisMTR - 1 - 1 --- - - - - - - - 1 - - 100.00% List
Interstate Series 3 14 - 14 3-3 - - - 9 - - - 9 5 - 64.29% List
Representative Career - Australia   Comp Wins Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
NSW City vs Country Firsts 2 4 - 4 3-3 - - - 9 - - - 2 2 - 50.00% List
NSW City vs Country 2 4 - 4 3-3 - - - 9 - - - 2 2 - 50.00% 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 - 4 - 4 1-1 - - - 3 - - - 3 1 - 75.00% List
NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) 7 135 1 136 44-44 2 - - 136 - - 4 98 37 1 72.06% List
NRL Finals - 12 - 12 4-4 - - - 12 - - 1 11 1 - 91.67% List
City Cup 2 12 3 15 6-6 - - - 18 - - - 11 2 2 73.33% List
Overall   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
First Class  187 4 191 62-62 5 - - 196 - - 4 132 54 5 69.11% List

Australia - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Metropolis 1923, 1926-27, 1930   3 1 4 5-5 1 - - 17 - - - 4 - - 100.00% List
NSW Firsts 1927-30, 1932   25 - 25 8-8 3 - - 30 - - - 16 8 1 64.00% List
NSW City Firsts 1928-30, 1932   4 - 4 3-3 - - - 9 - - - 2 2 - 50.00% List
NSW City Probables 1932   1 - 1 --- - - - - - - - 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%  
SouthsSouth Sydney 19231923 NSWRFL   5 - 52-2 - - - 6 - - - 5 - - 100.00% List
SouthsSouth Sydney 19241924 NSWRFL   7 - 71-1 - - - 3 - - - 5 2 - 71.43% List
SouthsSouth Sydney 19251925 NSWRFL   1 1 2--- - - - - - - - 2 - - 100.00% List
SouthsSouth Sydney 19261926 NSWRFL   18 - 1810-10 - - - 30 - - 2 16 2 - 88.89% List
SouthsSouth Sydney 19271927 NSWRFL   14 - 146-6 - - - 18 - - - 12 2 - 85.71% List
SouthsSouth Sydney 19281928 NSWRFL   15 - 156-6 - - - 18 - - - 10 5 - 66.67% List
SouthsSouth Sydney 19291929 NSWRFL   8 - 84-4 1 - - 14 - - - 8 - - 100.00% List
NewtownNewtown 19301930 NSWRFL   12 - 127-7 1 - - 23 - - - 5 6 1 41.67% List
SouthsSouth Sydney 19311931 NSWRFL   12 - 121-1 - - - 3 - - 1 9 3 - 75.00% List
SouthsSouth Sydney 19321932 NSWRFL   13 - 134-4 - - - 12 - - - 12 1 - 92.31% List
SouthsSouth Sydney 19331933 NSWRFL   6 - 6--- - - - - - - - 5 1 - 83.33% List
St GeorgeSt George 19351935 NSWRFL   15 - 153-3 - - - 9 - - 1 7 8 - 46.67% List
St GeorgeSt George 19361936 NSWRFL   9 - 9--- - - - - - - - 2 7 - 22.22% 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%  
South Sydney 1923-29, 1931-33   99 1 100 34-34 1 - - 104 - - 3 84 16 - 84.00% List
Newtown 1930   12 - 12 7-7 1 - - 23 - - - 5 6 1 41.67% List
St George 1935-36   24 - 24 3-3 - - - 9 - - 1 9 15 - 37.50% List

Your Say

  • Anonymous
    21 Jul 2021 3:17pm

    Born October 5, 1902. Not June 26.

  • Anonymous
    2 Mar 2023 2:19am

    Wrong birth date.

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Contributions: Greg Fiveash, Max Turner, Rugby League Tables, Andrew Ferguson, Tony McCarron, Shawn Dollin, Alan Katzmann, Paul Carter, Wests Archives, Bill Bates, Tim Costello

Sources: 2006 Official Rugby League Annual