Gordon 'Punchy' Clifford

  • Playing Career

Playing Career

Vital Statistics

Full Name
Gordon Lionel Clifford
Nickname(s)
Punchy
Born
Wednesday, 4th April, 1928
Died
Saturday, 22nd November, 2008 (Aged 80 years and 232 days)
Place Of Birth
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Biography

Goal-kicking fullback had a long career with the Newtown club, including two grand final losses to Souths in 1954-55, before breaking into Test football in 1956. Clifford was a popular choice on the 1956-57 Kangaroo tour after playing against NZ that year and appeared in 14 matches on tour, top-scoring with 94pts (2t, 44g). When Clive Churchill was injured in the First Test against Great Britain, Clifford was selected in the remaining Tests against Great Britain and France. He appeared in only one match for NSW, in 1957, and played final Test series the following year against Great Britain.
- 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 120 7 461   4 951 66 49 5 55.00% List
Country Carnival 3 - 13   - 26 3 0 0 100.00% List
NRL Finals 5 - 21   3 48 2 3 0 40.00% List
Tour Matches Australia 16 2 57   - 120 11 5 0 68.75% List
Test Series 8 - 24   - 14 5 3 0 62.50% List
Tour Matches Sydney Firsts 2 - 11   - 22 1 1 0 50.00% List
The Ashes 5 - 17   - 68 2 3 0 40.00% List
Interstate Matches 1 - 9   - 18 1 0 0 100.00% List
Tour Matches New South Wales Firsts 1 - 5   - 10 0 1 0 0.00% List


International

Test Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australia 1956-58 8 - 24   - 48 5 3 0 62.50% List


Representative

Australia - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
NSW City Seconds 1954, 1956 2 - 10   - 20 1 1 0 50.00% List
Probables (AU) 1955 1 - 3   - 6 0 1 0 0.00% List
Sydney Firsts 1956, 1958 2 - 11   - 22 1 1 0 50.00% List
NSW Firsts 1957-58 2 - 14   - 28 1 1 0 50.00% List
Overall1954-1958 7 0 38   0 76 3 4 0 42.86% List


Club Career

NRL/NSWRL - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Newtown NSWRFL 1951 16 2 40   - 86 5 11 0 31.25% List
Newtown NSWRFL 1952 17 - 53   - 106 6 11 0 35.29% List
Newtown NSWRFL 1953 12 - 44   - 88 7 3 2 58.33% List
Newtown NSWRFL 1954 16 1 77   3 163 12 2 2 75.00% List
Newtown NSWRFL 1955 19 - 91   1 184 14 4 1 73.68% List
Newtown NSWRFL 1956 10 3 45   - 99 7 3 0 70.00% List
Newtown NSWRFL 1957 10 1 32   - 67 4 6 0 40.00% List
Newtown NSWRFL 1958 14 - 62   - 124 9 5 0 64.29% List
Eastern Suburbs NSWRFL 1960 6 - 17   - 34 2 4 0 33.33% List

NRL/NSWRL - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Newtown 1951-58 114 7 444   4 917 64 45 5 56.14% List
Eastern Suburbs 1960 6 - 17   - 34 2 4 0 33.33% List
Overall1951-1960 120 7 461   4 951 66 49 5 55.00% List

Your Say

  • Richard Cornford
    16/04/2017

    Gordon was a brilliant fullback for Newtown.He would have played many more games for NSW and Australia had he not been competing against the great Clive Churchill.I can remember my school days walking past the service station on Canterbury Road Marrickville that was owned by Dick Poole and Gordon Clifford.I would always be looking for a chance to have a chat to one of them.Great memories.

  • brian cuke
    18/05/2018

    Gordon also played in the waterside workers rugby league tour of nz
    in 1951 as did my uncle herb Cuke who was the hooker

  • Anonymous
    26/05/2020

    Gordon Clifford was a hard but fair man and also one of the nicest people you could meet but most of all he was my Dad and my wall and there’s no one quite like him
    He was nature’s gentleman
    He loved me and I miss him ????

  • Ken Abrahams
    17/10/2020

    Gordon also played A Grade cricket in the CYMCA
    competition held at Wentworth Park in 1960s.
    A competent left hand batsman (if my memory serves me correctly)

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