Lionel Cooper

  • Playing Career

Playing Career

Vital Statistics

Full Name
Lionel William Cooper
Born
Saturday, 18th February, 1922
Died
Tuesday, 26th May, 1987 (Aged 65 years and 97 days)
Place Of Birth
West Wyalong, New South Wales, Australia

Known Family Links

Brother
Reg Cooper
Noel Cooper
Cec Cooper
Col Cooper

Biography

The discovery by Easts’ captain Ray Stehr of rookie Lionel Cooper playing Australian Rules in Darwin during World War II launched a remarkable rugby league career. After six games for Easts in 1945, Cooper was selected for NSW before playing in the Easts' team that defeated Balmain in the final. In 1946 the huge winger was selected in the Test series against Great Britain and was a try-scorer in the First Test draw. Cooper was named NSW ‘Player of the Year’ in 1946 but joined a growing band of Australian players who moved to English club football at the end of the season. At Huddersfield his deeds became almost legendary over a nine-year career - 432 tries including 71 for the 1951-52 season and 10 in one match (a record), a Challenge Cup final (1953) and a Championship Final victory (1949). Cooper's inspirational captaincy of Other Nationalities and British Empire sides gave an indication of what could have been had he remained in Australia.
- 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 %  
NRL 27 14 -   - 42 19 8 0 70.37% List
Interstate Matches 4 6 -   - 18 4 0 0 100.00% List
NRL Finals 2 2 -   - 6 2 0 0 100.00% List
City vs Country Firsts 1 - -   - - 1 0 0 100.00% List
Tour Matches New South Wales Firsts 2 2 -   - 6 0 2 0 0.00% List
Tour Matches Australia 3 2 -   - 6 0 2 1 0.00% List
Test Series 3 2 -   - - 0 2 1 0.00% List
The Ashes 3 2 -   - 12 0 2 1 0.00% List
European Championship 14 13 -   - 39 10 4 0 71.43% List


International

Test Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australia 1946 3 2 -   - 6 0 2 1 0.00% List
Other 1949-53 14 13 -   - 39 10 4 0 71.43% List
Overall1946-1953 17 15 0   0 45 10 6 1 58.82% List

International Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australasia 1951 1 1 -   - 3 1 0 0 100.00% List


Representative

Australia - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Sydney Firsts 1945 1 2 -   - 6 0 1 0 0.00% List
NSW Firsts 1945-46 7 12 -   - 36 5 2 0 71.43% List
NSW City Firsts 1946 1 - -   - - 1 0 0 100.00% List
Overall1945-1946 9 14 0   0 42 6 3 0 66.67% List


Club Career

NRL/NSWRL - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Eastern Suburbs NSWRFL 1945 16 9 -   - 27 13 3 0 81.25% List
Eastern Suburbs NSWRFL 1946 11 5 -   - 15 6 5 0 54.55% List

NRL/NSWRL - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Eastern Suburbs 1945-46 27 14 -   - 42 19 8 0 70.37% List

Your Say

  • E Curb Nottus
    23/05/2012

    EE Christensen's Official NSW Rugby League Year Book Player of the Year 1947.

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Contributions: Shawn Dollin, Alan Katzmann, Andrew Ferguson, Rugby League Tables, Greg Fiveash, Paul Carter