John McDonald

Playing Career

Vital Statistics

Nickname(s)
Cracker
Born
Monday, 24th April, 1944
Died
Wednesday, 13th September, 2023 (Aged 79 years and 141 days)
Place Of Birth
Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia

Biography

Toowoomba three-quarter, the son of Queensland RU Test winger John 'Cracker' McDonald, partnered Graeme Langlands in the centres against Great Britain in the First Test in 1966. A professional runner, McDonald's immediate career was threatened by an ankle injury suffered in that match but he returned to play in two Tests against NZ the following year. After scoring 18pts (2t, 6g) in the Second Test of 1967’s Trans Tasman series McDonald's value on the 1967-68 Kangaroo tour was measured by his five Tests appearances and his position as second highest scorer on tour. McDonald came to Manly in 1969 and, after playing for his adopted state, toured NZ as Australian vice-captain. The towering centre/winger played in all three Tests against Great Britain in 1970 and went on to captain Manly from the flank in the club's grand final loss to Souths that year. He returned to Queensland after three seasons with the Sea Eagles to captain-coach Toowoomba and was elected president of the club after his retirement. McDonald coached the Queensland State team in the late 1970s and was coach of the Maroons’ first State of Origin team in 1980. By the end of the decade he had progressed to the position of President of the QRL and in 1998, joined the NRL Executive Committee and was named Chairman of the QRL and ARL Board of Directors.
- 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 %  
Interstate Matches 12 3 1   - 11 5 7 0 41.67% List
Tour Matches Australia 16 7 9   - 39 8 8 0 50.00% List
Test Series 13 5 9   - 28 6 7 0 46.15% List
The Ashes 7 1 1   - 10 3 4 0 42.86% List
Tour Matches Toowoomba 1 - 8   - 16 0 1 0 0.00% List
Tour Matches Queensland Firsts 1 - 3   - 6 0 1 0 0.00% List
Craven Mild Cup 13 6 0   - 18 7 5 1 53.85% List
NRL 62 30 3   1 98 41 20 1 66.13% List
City vs Country Firsts 2 - -   - - 2 0 0 100.00% List
NRL Finals 6 1 -   - 3 1 5 0 16.67% List
Tour Matches New South Wales Firsts 1 - -   - - 0 0 1 0.00% List


International

Test Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australia 1966-70 13 5 9   - 33 6 7 0 46.15% List


Representative

Australia - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
QLD Firsts 1965-68 10 3 3   - 15 2 8 0 20.00% List
Toowoomba 1967 1 - 3   - 6 0 1 0 0.00% List
NSW Firsts 1969-70 4 - 1   - 2 3 0 1 75.00% List
NSW City Firsts 1969-70 2 - -   - - 2 0 0 100.00% List
NSW City Seconds 1971 1 - -   - - 1 0 0 100.00% List
Overall1965-1971 18 3 7   0 23 8 9 1 44.44% List


Club Career

NRL/NSWRL - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Manly NSWRFL 1969 19 10 -   - 30 11 8 0 57.89% List
Manly NSWRFL 1970 22 11 3   1 41 14 7 1 63.64% List
Manly NSWRFL 1971 21 9 -   - 27 16 5 0 76.19% List

NRL/NSWRL - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Manly 1969-71 62 30 3   1 98 41 20 1 66.13% List

Your Say

  • Stephen Lucas
    28/02/2011

    John McDonald played 66 games for Manly from 1969-1971 - not sure how many each year - but I don't think he missed many games if any in that three year period.

    Also he only kicked TWO goals for Manly and had a total points tally of 96 points from the three years - hope this helps!
    Cheers

  • barry poulter
    10/07/2012

    no mention of john was a famous professional runner

    held world record for 400 metres bendigo 47 sec

    from scratch mark had to go around all runners not run in lanes ran all distance from 75 yards to 880 yards

  • Ken RUMMANS
    14/09/2023

    I believe I played against John McDonald as a school boy. NSW v QLD in 1956. We played 3 TESTS. I remember 1 TEST at DAVIES PARK.
    John ran through me and ran 60 mtrs to score.
    He made me look silly and I copped it from our coach. I never forgot JOHN McDONALD. I am very sorry to hear of his passing.
    I am a passionate MANLY supporter as my nephew GEOFF TOOVEY is also one of MANLY’S
    greats.
    Thank you.
    Ken RUMMANS.

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