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Garry Jack

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

Nickname(s)
Jimmy
Born
Tuesday, 14th March, 1961
Current Age
65 years and 90 days
Place Of Birth
Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia

Known Family Links

Father
Keith Jack
Son
Rhys Jack

Competitions Won

The Ashes
1984, 1986, 1988
World Cup
1985/88
Test Series
1985 Australia vs New Zealand, 1986 Australia vs New Zealand
State of Origin
1985, 1986
NSW City vs Country Firsts
1984, 1985
Midweek Cup
1985, 1987
NSW Reserve Grade
1984

Honours & Awards

Dally M Fullback Of The Year
1985, 1986, 1988
Dally M Representative Player Of The Year
1985
Golden Boot Award
1986

Biography

The 'Golden Boot' awarded to Garry Jack as the finest league player in the world in 1987 is a good measure of the standing he attained during his career. The dashing, snowy-haired fullback trialled with Wests on the recommendation of his Wests Wollongong coach Paul Sait in 1981 and, after playing the latter part of the season in first grade, he was signed by Balmain secretary Keith Barnes. Aggressive, fast and safe under pressure Jack was seen at his best running the ball back strongly and breaking the first line of defence. He made his State of Origin debut in 1984 and was selected in the three Test series against Great Britain. For the next four years Jack was the No.1 fullback in the world, missing only the First Test on the tour of NZ in 1985. Jack played in all nine Tests in 1986 (NZ, Papua New Guinea, GB and France on the Kangaroo tour) and was the first Australian fullback to score three tries in a Test (against France in the Second Test at Carcassonne). He stayed on to play for Salford after the tour but although he represented NSW and Australia in 1987 he stood down from the State of Origin match in Los Angeles. After playing in Australia's World Cup victory in NZ the following year Jack’s Test career suddenly ended. An unhappy State of Origin match in 1989 saw him announce his retirement from rep football, leaving the way for Canberra’s Gary Belcher to assume the role. After the disappointment of grand final losses in 1988-89 with the Tigers, Jack tried to regain his place in the rep teams but found the door firmly closed. Signing with Salford he was still in great form when he quit the Tigers at the end of 1992 having surpassed Keith Barnes' record for first grade matches (since surpassed by Ben Elias and Paul Sironen). Accepting a manager-coach position with Salford Jack was relieved of the coaching duties before being sacked as manager of the club in early 1995. He returned to the Tigers that year to play the final season of his career but was back in the news in 1999 when he sued former Manly forward Ian Roberts for injuries suffered after an altercation in a match in 1991.
- 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 4ST 3PT 4PT T G   A GK % 1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Tests (Senior International Matches) - 21 - 21 -11--11 -     - - 44 - - - 18 3 - 85.71% List
Other International Matches - 1 - 1 ----- -     - - - - - - 1 - - 100.00% List
The Ashes 3 9 - 9 -4--4 -     - - 16 - - - 8 1 - 88.89% List
World Cup 1 8 - 8 -5--5 -     - - 20 - - - 6 2 - 75.00% List
Tour Matches AustraliaAUS - 30 3 33 -20--20 -     - - 80 - 2 - 30 3 - 90.91% List
Tour Matches Sheffield EaglesSHE - 1 - 1 -1--1 -     - - 4 - - - - 1 - 0.00% List
Test Series 5 15 - 15 -5--5 -     - - 20 - - - 13 2 - 86.67% List
Representative Career - Australia   Comp Wins Starts Int APP 3ST 4ST 3PT 4PT T G   A GK % 1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
State of Origin 2 17 - 17 -1--1 -     - - 4 - - - 7 10 - 41.18% List
NSW City vs Country Origin - 1 - 1 ----- -     - - - - - - - 1 - 0.00% List
NSW City vs Country Firsts 2 3 - 3 ----- -     - - - - - - 2 1 - 66.67% List
NSW City vs Country 2 4 - 4 ----- -     - - - - - - 2 2 - 50.00% List
Club Career - Australia   Comp Wins Starts Int APP 3ST 4ST 3PT 4PT T G   A GK % 1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
NSWRFL/NSWRL/ARL (NRL Premiership) - 244 4 248 853--61 1 / 2 50.00% 1 1 239 4 6 - 136 108 4 54.84% List
NRL Finals - 15 - 15 -2--2 -     - - 8 - - - 7 8 - 46.67% List
Preseason Cup - - 1 1 ----- -     - - - - - - - 1 - 0.00% List
Midweek Cup 2 19 1 20 ----- -     - - - 1 - - 16 4 - 80.00% List
Challenge Cup AU - 4 - 4 ----- -     - - - - - - 1 3 - 25.00% List
Club Career - UK   Comp Wins Starts Int APP 3ST 4ST 3PT 4PT T G   A GK % 1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
English Championship - 66 - 66 -17--17 1     - - 70 - - - 25 40 1 37.88% List
Challenge Cup - 4 - 4 -1--1 -     - - 4 - - - 2 2 - 50.00% List
Regal Trophy - 8 - 8 -1--1 -     - - 4 - - - 5 3 - 62.50% List
Yorkshire Cup - 4 - 4 -1--1 -     - - 4 - - - 3 1 - 75.00% List
UK Top Division - 66 - 66 -17--17 1     - - 70 - - - 25 40 1 37.88% List
Overall   Starts Int APP 3ST 4ST 3PT 4PT T G   A GK % 1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
First Class  397 9 406 895--103 2     1 1 409 5 8 - 226 175 5 55.67% List

Test Matches - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP 3ST 4ST 3PT 4PT T G   A GK % 1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Australia 1984-88   21 - 21 -11--11 -     - - 44 - - - 18 3 - 85.71% List

International Matches - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP 3ST 4ST 3PT 4PT T G   A GK % 1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Australia 1984-1988   1 - 1 ----- -     - - - - - - 1 - - 100.00% List

World Cup Matches - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP 3ST 4ST 3PT 4PT T G   A GK % 1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Australia 1984-1988   8 - 8 -5--5 -     - - 20 - - - 6 2 - 75.00% List

Australia - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP 3ST 4ST 3PT 4PT T G   A GK % 1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
NSW 1984-89   17 - 17 -1--1 -     - - 4 - - - 7 10 - 41.18% List
NSW City Firsts 1984-85   2 - 2 ----- -     - - - - - - 2 - - 100.00% List
NSW Country Firsts 1986   1 - 1 ----- -     - - - - - - - 1 - 0.00% List
NSW Country 1987   1 - 1 ----- -     - - - - - - - 1 - 0.00% List

NSWRFL/NSWRL/ARL (NRL Premiership) - By Year

Team Season   Starts Int APP 3ST 4ST 3PT 4PT T G   A GK % 1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Western SuburbsWestern Suburbs 19811981 NSWRFL   4 1 51---1 -     - - 3 - - - 2 3 - 40.00% List
BalmainBalmain 19821982 NSWRFL Winfield Cup   21 - 217---7 -     - - 21 - - - 10 11 - 47.62% List
BalmainBalmain 19831983 NSWRFL Winfield Cup   25 - 25-7--7 -     1 1 29 - 2 - 15 10 - 60.00% List
BalmainBalmain 19841984 NSWRL Winfield Cup   19 1 20-8--8 -     - - 32 - - - 10 10 - 50.00% List
BalmainBalmain 19851985 NSWRL Winfield Cup   18 - 18-8--8 -     - - 32 - 1 - 11 7 - 61.11% List
BalmainBalmain 19861986 NSWRL Winfield Cup   24 - 24-10--10 -     - - 40 1 - - 14 10 - 58.33% List
BalmainBalmain 19871987 NSWRL Winfield Cup   20 - 20-3--3 -     - - 12 - - - 12 7 1 60.00% List
BalmainBalmain 19881988 NSWRL Winfield Cup   23 - 23-4--4 -     - - 16 3 - - 16 7 - 69.57% List
BalmainBalmain 19891989 NSWRL Winfield Cup   17 - 17-2--2 -     - - 8 - - - 11 5 1 64.71% List
BalmainBalmain 19901990 NSWRL Winfield Cup   17 2 19-4--4 1 / 1 100.00% - - 18 - - - 13 6 - 68.42% List
BalmainBalmain 19911991 NSWRL Winfield Cup   21 - 21-2--2 0 / 1 0.00% - - 8 - 3 - 8 12 1 38.10% List
BalmainBalmain 19921992 NSWRL Winfield Cup   22 - 22-3--3 -     - - 12 - - - 10 11 1 45.45% List
Sydney TigersSydney Tigers 19951995 ARL Winfield Cup   13 - 13-2--2 -     - - 8 - - - 4 9 - 30.77% List

NSWRFL/NSWRL/ARL (NRL Premiership) - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP 3ST 4ST 3PT 4PT T G   A GK % 1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Western Suburbs 1981   4 1 5 1---1 -     - - 3 - - - 2 3 - 40.00% List
Balmain 1982-92, 1995   240 3 243 753--60 1 / 2 50.00% 1 1 236 4 6 - 134 105 4 55.14% List

English Career - By Year

Team Season   Starts Int APP 3ST 4ST 3PT 4PT T G   A GK % 1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
SalfordSalford 1987/88   16 - 16-3--3 -     - - 12 - - - 7 9 - 43.75% List
SheffieldSheffield 1992/93   32 - 32-7--7 1     - - 30 - - - 14 17 1 43.75% List
SalfordSalford 1993/94   34 - 34-10--10 -     - - 40 - - - 14 20 - 41.18% List

English Career - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP 3ST 4ST 3PT 4PT T G   A GK % 1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Salford 1987, 1993   50 - 50 -13--13 -     - - 52 - - - 21 29 - 42.00% List
Sheffield 1992   32 - 32 -7--7 1     - - 30 - - - 14 17 1 43.75% List

Your Say

  • scott
    22 Sep 2012 4:46pm

    garry was the best fullback in rugby league in the b
    80's and it was a great pleasure watching garry play the great sport

  • Anonymous
    6 Apr 2014 10:17pm

    The man now has two AFL stars who graduated to the Swans from Cherrybrook

  • john m
    5 Apr 2016 2:49pm

    wonderful fullback,for balmaim nsw Australia courages defender,strong elusive ball runner,,80 minute player,one of the greastist fullbacks ever,,,,

  • Anonymous
    10 Sep 2016 4:37pm

    Great fullback,, best defence fullback ever you tough courageous.

  • Anonymous
    4 Apr 2017 8:52am

    Garry jack,, was a wonderful defence fullback,, who was strong, wholehearted, and put his body on the line everytime,, great fullback, from John m

  • John m
    23 Aug 2019 7:42am

    Garry (Jimmy) jack was one of the greatest fullback ever for balmain NSW & Australia,, tough explosive, fearless,, wonderful player,,My favourite player of all time,,,

  • Brad
    28 Jun 2021 5:20am

    Exciting, aggressive, fast and what a side step. Great anticipation. Could run down and tackle some of the fastest wingers in the world.

  • John Martin
    31 Oct 2022 9:55pm

    Garry jack ( Jimmy) was without doubt the greatest fullback in the 1980s, he set the standard for being explosive from return kicks at fullback,and he is without doubt probably the most brilliant defensive fullback of all time,, courageous & fearless, Wether it was for balmain NSW or Australia, I will never forget that brilliant tackle he made on Alan mc indoe in game two of the 1988 state of origin series, jack came across from a roaring mc indoe running up the sideline from he's own try line, looked destined to score, and Jimmy came from nowhere put he's body on the line, and smashed him around the legs over the sideline, surely one the greatest tackles ever, thankyou so much for the wonderful memories,????????

  • Tiger Cub
    24 Feb 2023 11:10pm

    Jimm was the first of the Running Fullbacks terrific to watch TIGERS FAN SINCE 1966

  • Robbie
    30 Jun 2023 9:34am

    Garry Jack doesn't BBQ.

  • Stoney
    3 Jul 2023 2:20pm

    Garry Jack, top bloke, some player, a favorite to talk about round the BBQ.

  • Anonymous
    13 Aug 2023 10:08pm

    Great work, but do you have mid week games before 1986?
    I did play in one at Wests in 1981, and a few at Balmain from 1982-85.
    Do you have these stats?
    Thanks
    Garry Jack.

  • Roger
    26 Jan 2024 1:37pm

    A good bloke but was so tight he squeeked when he walked

  • 2bFywFFM
    4 Dec 2024 9:27pm

    555

  • Tom
    27 May 2025 1:35am

    Garry jack was the best ever fullback never to win a premiership

  • Gerard Vaughan
    28 Oct 2025 3:07pm

    Today I met a legend in the great Garry Jimmy Jack what a player he was and a nice bloke to go with it so humble it was good talking to this rugby league great about the old day's you made my day Garry pitty you didn't play for the Roosters's mate

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Contributions: Rugby League Tables, Greg Fiveash, Shawn Dollin, Paul Carter, Andrew Ferguson, AJ Lucantonio, Alan Katzmann, Steven Russo, Tony McCarron, Max Turner, Jason Ganter, Derek Farrar, Bill Bates

Sources: David Middleton's Rugby League Yearbook (1987-88 to present), Match Video, RFL Player Registers, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook (1981-82 to 1999), Irvin Saxton's Record Keepers' Club