Roy Bull

Playing Career

Vital Statistics

Born
Wednesday, 12th June, 1929
Died
Wednesday, 30th June, 2004 (Aged 75 years and 18 days)
Place Of Birth
Orange, New South Wales, Australia

Awards & Accolades

National Rugby League Hall Of Fame
2008

Known Family Links

Son
Martin Bull

Biography

Powerful, tight-head prop was a non-stop worker for Manly and NSW before becoming the club's first international player. After making his first grade debut as a 17-year-old in 1947, Bull stood down from the 1948 season in order to mature physically. One-paced but an experienced scrummager, Bull’s Test career commenced with his selection on the Australian tour of NZ in 1949. A dual Kangaroo (1952-53 and 1956-57), he also played against NZ in 1953 and was a member of Australia's 1954 World Cup side. A keen surfer Bull was also a member of the Freshwater Surf Life Saving Club and was captain of the club’s boat crew. The raw-boned, bald-headed prop proved to be a key member of the great Manly sides of the 1950s but had the misfortune to play in three losing grand final sides (1951, 1957 & 1959) during his career. Captain-coach of Manly in 1953, he was judged to be NSW Player of the Year in 1955. On his retirement as a player after the then record number of matches for the club, he served as Manly club president (1978-87).
- 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 177 25 -   - 75 89 82 6 50.28% List
Interstate Matches 18 - -   - - 13 5 0 72.22% List
Tour Matches Australia 58 7 -   - 21 44 14 0 75.86% List
Test Series 22 1 -   - - 13 9 0 59.09% List
City vs Country Firsts 6 1 -   - 3 5 1 0 83.33% List
Tour Matches New South Wales Firsts 9 2 -   - 6 7 2 0 77.78% List
NRL Finals 10 4 -   - 12 5 5 0 50.00% List
Country Carnival 5 1 -   - 3 5 0 0 100.00% List
The Ashes 6 1 -   - 6 3 3 0 50.00% List
Tour Matches Sydney Firsts 3 1 -   - 3 3 0 0 100.00% List
World Cup 3 1 -   - 3 1 2 0 33.33% List
City Cup 1 - -   - - 0 1 0 0.00% List


International

Test Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australia 1949, 1952-57 25 2 -   - 6 14 11 0 56.00% List

International Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australia 1949, 1954 3 - -   - - 3 0 0 100.00% List

World Cup Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australia 1949-1954 3 1 -   - 3 1 2 0 33.33% List


Representative

Australia - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
NSW City Seconds 1949, 1951 2 - -   - - 2 0 0 100.00% List
NSW Firsts 1949-50, 1952-56 28 2 -   - 6 21 7 0 75.00% List
NSW City Firsts 1950, 1952-56 6 1 -   - 3 5 1 0 83.33% List
Sydney Firsts 1952-55 5 1 -   - 3 5 0 0 100.00% List
Possibles (AU) 1952 1 - -   - - 1 0 0 100.00% List
Metropolis 1957 1 - -   - - 1 0 0 100.00% List
Overall1949-1957 43 4 0   0 12 35 8 0 81.40% List


Club Career

NRL/NSWRL - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Manly NSWRFL 1947 5 - -   - - 0 5 0 0.00% List
Manly NSWRFL 1949 16 3 -   - 9 6 10 0 37.50% List
Manly NSWRFL 1950 17 2 -   - 6 5 12 0 29.41% List
Manly NSWRFL 1951 21 3 -   - 9 13 8 0 61.90% List
Manly NSWRFL 1952 10 3 -   - 9 9 1 0 90.00% List
Manly NSWRFL 1953 13 - -   - - 5 8 0 38.46% List
Manly NSWRFL 1954 7 4 -   - 12 3 4 0 42.86% List
Manly NSWRFL 1955 16 2 -   - 6 9 6 1 56.25% List
Manly NSWRFL 1956 15 1 -   - 3 6 6 3 40.00% List
Manly NSWRFL 1957 21 4 -   - 12 12 8 1 57.14% List
Manly NSWRFL 1958 16 - -   - - 9 6 1 56.25% List
Manly NSWRFL 1959 20 3 -   - 9 12 8 0 60.00% List

NRL/NSWRL - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Manly 1947, 1949-59 177 25 -   - 75 89 82 6 50.28% List

Your Say

  • Gordon Bull
    02/04/2015

    I remember a game at Jubillee Oval 1957 Manly played St. George(they won)
    I was playing in St .George JRLFC at the time, he saw me after the match and gave me some coaching about my game , he was my cousin but we lived oppasite sides of the harbour and didnt catch up much but I always remember desert head as was affectionly called, he was a gentleman and the best sportsman I ever new always had time for my mates, even though we were Dragons RIP Gordon Bull

  • Anonymous
    22/07/2020

    And he had the biggest dick we had ever seen as a man

  • Anonymous
    18/06/2021

    remember bully he played some reserve trial matches st.george in 57 scored 3 tries in a game somewhere might have been at old Henson park think he retired playing A grade .

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Contributions: Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson, Greg Fiveash, Paul Carter, Gary Neale, Rugby League Tables, Alan Katzmann, Max Turner, Tim Costello, AJ Lucantonio, Bill Bates