Playing Career
Vital Statistics
- Full Name
- Ronald James Lisle
- Born
- Saturday, 9th September, 1939
- Died
- Friday, 28th February, 2003 (Aged 63 years and 172 days)
- Place Of Birth
- Grafton, New South Wales, Australia
Biography
Jimmy Lisle's rise to Australian Test status was the quickest by any player in the history of the game. A product of Grafton High School where he was a champion athlete, Lisle joined Drummoyne RU Club in 1959, forming a great partnership with halfback Ken Catchpole at state level the following year. Lisle made his Australian debut against Fiji in 1961 before touring South Africa. After four Test appearances as a centre or five-eighth, he joined Souths in 1962. Lisle had damaged his hamstring on tour in South Africa and although his professional debut was delayed some months, he played in just one match for his new club before he was selected for NSW, City and then Australia in consecutive weeks. Lisle made his Test debut at five-eighth in the Third Test against Great Britain and although his League career was plagued by injury, he toured with the 1963-64 Kangaroos (13 matches, no Tests) and played in series against France (1964) and NZ (1965). Lisle had the misfortune to drop the ball over the tryline as he attempted to improve his position for the conversion in Australia’s 7-5 loss to NZ in the Second Test of the tour. A brilliant cover defender he captained Souths in the historic grand final against St George in 1965 but was replaced by John Sattler in 1967. Souths won the premiership that year and with the newly signed Denis Pittard being the preferred pivot during 1968, Lisle retired the following year after a recurrence of a leg injury.
- 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 | 100 | 7 | - | - | 21 | 56 | 43 | 1 | 56.00% | List | ||||
Interstate Matches | 9 | 1 | - | - | 3 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 88.89% | List | ||||
Tour Matches | Sydney Firsts | 2 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50.00% | List | |||
Tour Matches | New South Wales Firsts | 2 | 1 | - | - | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50.00% | List | |||
Tour Matches | Australia | 10 | 5 | - | - | 15 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 90.00% | List | |||
Test Series | 6 | - | - | - | - | 5 | 1 | 0 | 83.33% | List | ||||
The Ashes | 1 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | List | ||||
Craven Mild Cup | 23 | 2 | - | - | 6 | 13 | 8 | 2 | 56.52% | List | ||||
City vs Country Firsts | 2 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | List | ||||
NRL Finals | 6 | 1 | - | - | 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 66.67% | List | ||||
| ||||||||||||||
Test Matches - By Team | ||||||||||||||
Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
Australia | 1962, 1964-65 | 6 | - | - | - | - | 5 | 1 | 0 | 83.33% | List | |||
| ||||||||||||||
Australia - By Team | ||||||||||||||
Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
Sydney Firsts | 1962-64 | 3 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 1 | 0 | 66.67% | List | |||
NSW City Seconds | 1962 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | List | |||
NSW Firsts | 1962-65 | 11 | 2 | - | - | 6 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 81.82% | List | |||
NSW City Firsts | 1964-65 | 2 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | List | |||
Overall | 1962-1965 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 82.35% | List | |||
| ||||||||||||||
NRL/NSWRL - By Year | ||||||||||||||
Team | Season | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
Souths | NSWRFL 1962 | 11 | 1 | - | - | 3 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 18.18% | List | |||
Souths | NSWRFL 1963 | 7 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 5 | 0 | 28.57% | List | |||
Souths | NSWRFL 1964 | 14 | - | - | - | - | 8 | 6 | 0 | 57.14% | List | |||
Souths | NSWRFL 1965 | 14 | 2 | - | - | 6 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 57.14% | List | |||
Souths | NSWRFL 1966 | 11 | - | - | - | - | 5 | 6 | 0 | 45.45% | List | |||
Souths | NSWRFL 1967 | 22 | 3 | - | - | 9 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 72.73% | List | |||
Souths | NSWRFL 1968 | 21 | 1 | - | - | 3 | 15 | 6 | 0 | 71.43% | List | |||
NRL/NSWRL - By Team | ||||||||||||||
Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
Souths | 1962-68 | 100 | 7 | - | - | 21 | 56 | 43 | 1 | 56.00% | List |
Contributions:
Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson, Greg Fiveash, Rugby League Tables, Michael Borg, Alan Katzmann, Paul Carter, Bill Bates
Your Say
13/07/2011
Jimmy and I were school mates at Grafton High School in the 1950s, We were both in the same year at school, and played school boy football, together in the School 1st thirteen, we also played for the local Grafton All Black Junior team which won premerships in 1956 & 57. If my memory serves me correct we both also played first grade for the All Blacks whilst we were still at School. I lost contact with him after we left school, and only caught up with him at South Sydney Leagues Club in 1968 when he rertired.I had also retired than,after playing for Ryde Eastwood.
12/04/2012
I too am proud to have known Jim while doing the Physical Education Diploma Course at Sydney Teachers' College (where students were "expected" to play Rugby Union instead of League)
An immensely likeable character, the only social difficulties he had were how to keep the girls at bay and how to better hold his beer but on the football field I've never seen better!
I'll never forget the day at Drummoyne Oval circa 1959/60 when, as 5/8 in the 1st Grade side, he caught a ball in his own touch-in-goal and then, demonstrating his marvellous stepping and acceleration, proceeded to slip through and around the entire opposing team to score under the dot.
Furthermore, I believe he has been known to do this on more than one occasion.
21/07/2015
I wish to say a few words about a true champion of a man Mr Jim Lisle I met Jim at the age of 13 where he was the PE teacher at Bass Hill High he just was a great man he would go out of his way to help and guide you through difficult times he took a group of students to redfern oval and when the game finished took us into the dressing rooms where he introduced us to the greats of rugby league I still think of that day 47yrs latter jim inspired me to go on and play league .You will never be forgotten Mr Lisle
12/07/2017
Hi I was my PE teacher att Bass High School. Wonderful teacher and the reason I started plying rugby league.
I can see he was a larikan and a gentleman also.
He would come to school on Mondays after the game and would have so much bark off him and always limping.
I guess no ice bThs back then. Thank you Jimi Lilse
15/12/2018
thought it was against the french in the third test than jim dropped the ball almost on full time.ist test aust 56-6 , 8-8 tie in the second and france 7-5 in the third. very disappointing as i thought aust was the better team in the series. jim was crucified in the press because of his french name and some said he dropped the ball on purpose. some negatve people out there. toowomba had beaten the french touring team that year i believe. jim was a solid back and but for injury and a surge in ausralian rl talent he would have done better. lot of good halves in those years. jimmy was a good one though. cannot deny his achievements of two codes. very young international . len price formerly ipswich /png now canada.
03/12/2019
I taught with Jim at Randwick BHS in the early 1970’s. A champion bloke and a champion bloke.
Another Rabbitoh and Kangaroo Darrell Chapman als o taught PE there in the 1970’s.
13/05/2020
Also provided special comments on Television for the ABC in 1974.
Want to have your say about this player? Add a comment.