Sign in | Register

Cliff Watson

  • Playing Career

Playing Career

All information provided below is based only on data available in the RLP database and should be used as a guide only.

Vital Statistics

Full Name
Clifford Hubert Watson
Born
Friday, 26th April, 1940
Died
Wednesday, 2nd May, 2018 (Aged 78 years and 6 days)

Competitions Won

The Ashes
1970
Test Series
1966 New Zealand vs Great Britain, 1970 New Zealand vs Great Britain
European Championship
1969/70
Endeavour Cup
1971

Biography

St Helens prop struck fear into the hearts of opponents with his rugged displays for Great Britain on the 1966 and 1970 Lions tours. Watson, who also played against the touring Kangaroos in 1963 and 1967 and again in the 1970 World Cup, joined Great Britain team-mate Tommy Bishop at Cronulla in 1971. Watson’s leadership of a talented but inexperienced pack of Shark forwards was a telling factor in the club's success in 1973. He was absolutely fearless in the grand final that year - taking on the Manly forwards almost single-handedly but ultimately, Cronulla lost the fight and the match. At the start of the 1974 season Watson and Bishop could not come to terms with the financially embattled club and Watson saw out his career with Souths Wollongong.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Playing Career Statistics

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.
Representative Career - International   Comp Wins Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G1FG 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Tests (Senior International Matches) - 32 2 34 7-7 - - - - 21 - - 2 19 14 1 55.88% List
The Ashes 1 11 - 11 2-2 - - - - 6 - - 2 5 6 - 45.45% List
World Cup - 6 1 7 1-1 - - - - 3 - - - 4 3 - 57.14% List
Tour Matches St HelensSTH - 3 - 3 --- - - - - - - - - 2 1 - 66.67% List
Tour Matches Great BritainGBR - 39 4 43 7-7 - - - - 21 - - 2 30 12 1 69.77% List
Tour Matches Illawarra FirstsILL - 1 - 1 --- - - - - - - - - - 1 - 0.00% List
Test Series 3 16 - 16 4-4 - - - - 12 - - 2 10 6 - 62.50% List
European Championship 1 2 1 3 1-1 - - - - 3 - - - 2 - 1 66.67% List
Club Career - Australia   Comp Wins Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G1FG 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) - 38 - 38 9-9 - - - - 27 - - - 23 15 - 60.53% List
NRL Finals - 3 - 3 --- - - - - - - - - 1 2 - 33.33% List
Preseason Cup - 6 1 7 --- - - - - - - - 1 - 7 - 0.00% List
Endeavour Cup 1 3 - 3 3-3 - - - - 9 - - - 3 - - 100.00% List
Overall   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G1FG 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
First Class  98 6 104 18-18 - - - - 54 - - 3 61 41 2 58.65% List

Test Matches - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G1FG 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Great Britain 1963, 1966-71   29 1 30 5-5 - - - - 15 - - 2 17 13 - 56.67% List
England 1968-70   3 1 4 2-2 - - - - 6 - - - 2 1 1 50.00% List

World Cup Matches - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G1FG 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Great Britain 1963-1970   6 1 7 1-1 - - - - 3 - - - 4 3 - 57.14% List

Australia - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G1FG 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Illawarra Firsts 1974   1 - 1 --- - - - - - - - - - 1 - 0.00% List

NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) - By Year

Team Season   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G1FG 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
CronullaCronulla 19711971 NSWRFL   8 - 8--- - - - - - - - - 5 3 - 62.50% List
CronullaCronulla 19721972 NSWRFL   10 - 104-4 - - - - 12 - - - 5 5 - 50.00% List
CronullaCronulla 19731973 NSWRFL   20 - 205-5 - - - - 15 - - - 13 7 - 65.00% List

NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G1FG 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Cronulla 1971-73   38 - 38 9-9 - - - - 27 - - - 23 15 - 60.53% List

Your Say

Want to have your say? Add a comment.

Contributions: Greg Fiveash, Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson, Rugby League Tables, Paul Carter, Tony McCarron, Max Turner, Alan Katzmann, Wests Archives, Stephen Bell, Bill Bates