Ron Saddler

Playing Career

Vital Statistics

Full Name
Ronald William Saddler
Born
Saturday, 14th March, 1942
Died
Thursday, 12th May, 2016 (Aged 74 years and 59 days)
Place Of Birth
Lake Cargelligo, New South Wales, Australia

Biography

Murwillumbah centre represented Country as a winger in 1962 before coming to Easts. Saddler captained NSW Colts against France in 1964 and captain-coached NSW in one of his three appearances for the state in 1967 (he also represented NSW against the visiting Kiwis that year). A solid defender, he toured with the 1967-68 Kangaroos and played in 12 minor matches in England and France. His last rep game was as a late call-up to the NSW side in 1968.
- 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 %  
Craven Mild Cup 28 3 8   - 25 7 21 0 25.00% List
NRL 118 22 13   - 92 46 68 4 38.98% List
Tour Matches NSW Colts 1 1 6   - 15 1 0 0 100.00% List
Interstate Matches 6 2 5   - 16 4 1 1 66.67% List
Tour Matches New South Wales Firsts 1 - -   - - 0 1 0 0.00% List
NRL Finals 2 - -   - - 0 2 0 0.00% List
City vs Country Firsts 1 - -   - - 1 0 0 100.00% List


Representative

Australia - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
NSW Country Seconds 1962 1 - -   - - 0 1 0 0.00% List
Sydney Colts 1964 1 - -   - - 1 0 0 100.00% List
NSW Colts 1964 1 1 6   - 15 1 0 0 100.00% List
NSW City Seconds 1967-70 4 2 2   - 10 2 2 0 50.00% List
NSW Firsts 1967-68 7 2 5   - 16 4 2 1 57.14% List
NSW City Firsts 1969 1 - -   - - 1 0 0 100.00% List
Overall1962-1970 15 5 13   0 41 9 5 1 60.00% List


Club Career

NRL/NSWRL - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Eastern Suburbs NSWRFL 1963 14 2 -   - 6 3 11 0 21.43% List
Eastern Suburbs NSWRFL 1964 18 4 5   - 22 2 16 0 11.11% List
Eastern Suburbs NSWRFL 1966 14 3 3   - 15 0 14 0 0.00% List
Eastern Suburbs NSWRFL 1967 22 4 -   - 12 12 8 2 54.55% List
Eastern Suburbs NSWRFL 1968 18 5 -   - 15 12 5 1 66.67% List
Eastern Suburbs NSWRFL 1969 16 3 5   - 19 7 8 1 43.75% List
Eastern Suburbs NSWRFL 1970 13 1 -   - 3 8 5 0 61.54% List
Eastern Suburbs NSWRFL 1971 3 - -   - - 2 1 0 66.67% List

NRL/NSWRL - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Eastern Suburbs 1963-64, 1966-71 118 22 13   - 92 46 68 4 38.98% List

Your Say

  • roy horrigan
    29/08/2011

    wonderful defensive centre, what he lacked in pace
    he made up for with tackling. of aboriginal heritage
    i believe he came from the country town of Euabolong. extremely long place kicker although not always accurate,i seen him kick a goal from 65
    mtrs once out at the old sports ground and won $10
    from the bloke next to me on the hill.

  • chris saddler
    23/11/2011

    Ron Saddler is my first cousin and I remember my father Henry Saddler taking me to a footy match in Sydney to watch him. As I am the youngest in my family I was to young to appreciate what a great example he was for all of us.Sent with love Chris Saddler

  • Greg Graiger
    30/01/2012

    i Played with Ron when he was captain/coach of Murwillumbah Bros in 1975 hardest hitter that I ever played with a real gentleman and friend for life

  • john rea
    19/04/2015

    ron was an inspiration to me as a boy,i use to watch him tackle, he was one of the best ! thank you Ronnie.

  • Peter Farrugia
    14/05/2015

    Ron Saddler will always be my favourite rugby league player/person associated with Eastern Suburbs. When he visited me as an 11 year old in Prince of Wales hospital I was in awe of him as a player and a man. What a positive impact that had on me at the time and the respect a guy like Ron had amongst my family & friends. He always played the game in the true spirit and ranks as one of the great cover defenders to ever play rugby league.

  • Paul
    12/05/2016

    RIP Ron Saddler.

  • Col pittman
    15/05/2016

    Old drinking buddy from sydney county council r i p.

  • dick jackson
    16/05/2016

    Ron was the best exponent of the flying tackle i have ever seen. He would run across the field and catch the fastest wingers forcing them into touch, His arms forward and his body parallel to the ground was a sight to be seen and feared Todays footballers would do well to learn this art,
    Maybe the coaches of today do not include this in their coaching instructions

  • John Crowley
    15/09/2016

    Murwillumbah Old Boys 1974 also Wamoon in late fifties at school. Wonderful man and friend. I am sure Ronnie captained NSW in a couple of Interstate Games and he definitely toured with the 67 Kangaroos also captaining Australia in some second tier tour matches. I just wish this could be placed on his CV. Sadly he passed away early in 2016. Rest In Peace

  • Warren Ross
    22/04/2017

    My favourite easts or roosters player. In the difficult years such as 1966, Ron was a devastating defender. And there was much to defend. My clearest memory is of him dashing across the field in cover defence to save his team. Loved him.

  • Pat Twohill
    10/03/2019

    Ronny was my schoolboy hero when he played for Murwillumbah Brothers when they won the premiership in 1961-62. I then watched him play for Eastern Suburbs when I lived in Sydney from 1968-71. I remember seeing him the day he captain-coached NSW against France at the SCG.
    In 1975 I had the privilege of playing with him when he returned as captain-coach of Murwillumbah Brothers. He was a wonderful footballer but above all a true gentleman.

  • Anonymous
    03/06/2019

    Champion Centre for Eastern Suburbs ,a great defensive centre Reg Gasnier said the hardest centre he played against , a true gentleman that played the game fair
    but his jolting tackles put the wind up a lot of opposition players , his great mate Kev Junee and Ron carried the Roosters for quite a few years.

  • Roy Horrigan
    27/03/2023

    Seen Rons name in the newspaper somewhere the other day, brought back wonderful memories for me as a young fellow watching Ron playing for Eastern Suburbs. What a devastating defender , hardly missed one, played for the love of the game, he was my favourite player back then along with Kevin Junee. A true gentleman, but more a true blue Aussie, greatly missed, wonderful memories he left us all..Still my favourite player..????

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