Eddie Root

Playing Career

Vital Statistics

Full Name
Edward Alexander Root
Born
Thursday, 26th June, 1902
Died
Wednesday, 7th May, 1986 (Aged 83 years and 315 days)
Place Of Birth
Alexandria, New South Wales, Australia

Honours & Awards

Based only on data available in the RLP database. This information should be used as a guide only.

Interstate Series
1927, 1929, 1930
NSWRFL Premiership (NRL)
1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1931, 1932
City Cup
1924, 1925

Known Family Links

Son
Stan Root

Biography

Eddie Root enlisted in World War I at age 16 before forging a brilliant career as a League forward. Root played in seven of South's premiership titles (1925-29 and 1930-31) but despite playing in 14 matches for NSW between 1927-32, did not play in a Test. A tough prop, he was sent off in the 1926 final against University but Souths held on, 11-5. Root achieved his highest rep honour when chosen to tour with the 1929-30 Kangaroos, playing in 15 matches. On his return he was forced to play for Newtown because the NSWRL changed the club boundaries while he was away (players had to play for a club according to the district in which they lived.) Root changed his address and continued his great association with the Rabbitohs before seeing out his career as St George captain-coach in 1936.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Additional Notes

Birth date has been confirm by various records to be 26 June 1902.

Served in WWI - Service Number N76203 however Eddie enlisted on 31 March 1917, which means he was 14 years and 9 months old not 16. The South Sydney Sentinal reports on this fact (though incorrectly giving his birthdate as the 20th), and says he served "at the front." Several other sources call him a Digger. Eddie's service record shows he was discharged in April 1917 when it was discovered he was underage.

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   Comp Wins App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Tour Matches New South Wales Firsts - 25 8 3   - 30 16 8 1 64.00% List
Tour Matches Australia - 15 3 -   - 9 9 5 1 60.00% List
Tour Matches Metropolis - 1 - -   - - 1 0 0 100.00% List
Interstate Series 3 14 3 -   - 9 9 5 0 64.29% List
City vs Country Firsts - 4 3 -   - 9 2 2 0 50.00% List
Country Carnival - 4 1 -   - 3 3 1 0 75.00% List
NSWRFL Premiership (NRL) 7 136 44 2   - 136 98 37 1 72.06% List
NSWRFL Finals - 12 4 -   - 12 11 1 0 91.67% List
City Cup 2 15 6 -   - 18 11 2 2 73.33% List


Representative

Australia - By Team

Team Years   App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Metropolis 1923, 1926-27, 1930   4 5 1   - 17 4 0 0 100.00% List
NSW Firsts 1927-30, 1932   25 8 3   - 30 16 8 1 64.00% List
NSW City Firsts 1928-30, 1932   4 3 -   - 9 2 2 0 50.00% List
NSW City Probables 1932   1 - -   - - 1 0 0 100.00% List
Overall1923-1932   34 16 4   0 56 23 10 1 67.65% List


Club Career

NSWRFL Premiership (NRL) - By Year

Team Season   App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
South Sydney NSWRFL 1923   5 2 -   - 6 5 0 0 100.00% List
South Sydney NSWRFL 1924   7 1 -   - 3 5 2 0 71.43% List
South Sydney NSWRFL 1925   2 - -   - - 2 0 0 100.00% List
South Sydney NSWRFL 1926   18 10 -   - 30 16 2 0 88.89% List
South Sydney NSWRFL 1927   14 6 -   - 18 12 2 0 85.71% List
South Sydney NSWRFL 1928   15 6 -   - 18 10 5 0 66.67% List
South Sydney NSWRFL 1929   8 4 1   - 14 8 0 0 100.00% List
Newtown NSWRFL 1930   12 7 1   - 23 5 6 1 41.67% List
South Sydney NSWRFL 1931   12 1 -   - 3 9 3 0 75.00% List
South Sydney NSWRFL 1932   13 4 -   - 12 12 1 0 92.31% List
South Sydney NSWRFL 1933   6 - -   - - 5 1 0 83.33% List
St George NSWRFL 1935   15 3 -   - 9 7 8 0 46.67% List
St George NSWRFL 1936   9 - -   - - 2 7 0 22.22% List

NSWRFL Premiership (NRL) - By Team

Team Years   App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
South Sydney 1923-29, 1931-33   100 34 1   - 104 84 16 0 84.00% List
Newtown 1930   12 7 1   - 23 5 6 1 41.67% List
St George 1935-36   24 3 -   - 9 9 15 0 37.50% List
Overall1923-1936   136 44 2   0 136 98 37 1 72.06% List

Your Say

  • Anonymous
    21/07/2021

    Born October 5, 1902. Not June 26.

  • Anonymous
    02/03/2023

    Wrong birth date.

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

Sources: 2006 Official Rugby League Annual