Brian Clay

Newtown junior, a centre in the club's grand final losses to Souths in 1954-55, later became an institution at St George as a rock-solid five-eighth. Following a season as captain-coach of Griffith in 1956, Clay moved to St George as a lock and gained selection in Australia’s World Cup squad. Dragons’ coach Ken Kearney moved Clay to five-eighth when pivot Peter Carroll withdrew from the 1958 grand final against Wests. ‘Poppa’ Clay (so-called because of his baldness) remained at five-eighth when budding champion lock John Raper joined the club the following year. Clay toured with the 1959-60 Kangaroos, playing in all five Tests, but it was for his role in St George's incredible premiership run that he will be best remembered. He played in eight first grade grand final wins for the club (1957-61 & 1964-66), missing 1962 because of injury, and also played in the club’s 1963 reserve grade win after coming back from a broken arm injury. The much-loved clubman retired after St George's defeat in the 1967 final (his 200th grade match for the club), which brought to an end the club’s eleven-year reign as premiers. A veteran of ten first grade grand finals (a record he shares with Norm Provan), Clay passed away in 1987 after a long battle with heart disease.