Eric Simms

Superlative goal-kicker set many records during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Simms grew up in Raymond Terrace but was a Souths President's Cup player in 1965 when he was called up into the club's top grade. Playing in the centres in the grand final against St George, Simms kicked two goals in the 12-8 loss … and then played for La Perouse in his district competition a week later! Simms went on to play in five consecutive grand finals from 1967-71 … his boot guided the club to victory with a late goal in the 1967 grand final over C’bury, against Manly in 1968 (5g) and in 1970, again against Manly, when he scored 14pts (4g, 3fg) in Souths’ 23-12 win. Simms provided another piece of rugby league history when his field goal against St George in the 1971 grand final resulted in a 1-0 half-time score. (His field goal ability indirectly resulted in the League reducing it to just one point in 1971.) In 1969 Simms kicked 19fg compared with one - in the grand final - in 1971). He was the season's leading point-scorer from 1967 to 1970, breaking Dave Brown's long-standing season total with 265pts (1t, 112g, 19fg) in 1969. In a match against Penrith that year, Simms potted 6g and a record 5fg! Simms was a member of Australia's victorious World Cup teams in 1968 (scoring a record 50pts in the competition) and again in 1970 (a late call up when Graeme Langlands withdrew with a broken hand). In the 1970 World Cup final at Leeds, he was punched in the face as he attempted to shake hands with Great Britain winger John Atkinson after the match. Although his point-scoring record was ultimately beaten by P’matta’s Mick Cronin in 1978, Simms’ 11 goals in a match (twice) is still a club record. The greatest point-scorer in the history of Souths, he left the club at the end of 1975 to take on a captain-coach role with Crookwell.

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 icon.

International
Test Matches - By Team
Team	Years	App	T	G			GK %	FG	Pts	W	L	D	Win %
Australia	1968, 1970	9	1	39				5	91	7	2	0	77.78%
Overall	1968-1970	9	1	39				5	91	7	2	0	77.78%
World Cup Matches - By Team
Team	Years	App	T	G			GK %	FG	Pts	W	L	D	Win %
Australia	1968, 1970	8	1	37				5	87	6	2	0	75.00%
Overall	1968-1970	8	1	37				5	87	6	2	0	75.00%
Representative
Australia - By Team
Team	Years	App	T	G			GK %	FG	Pts	W	L	D	Win %
NSW Firsts	1968	1	-	6				1	14	1	0	0	100.00%
NSW City Firsts	1969	1	-	4				1	10	1	0	0	100.00%
Overall	1968-1969	2	0	10				2	24	2	0	0	100.00%
Club Career
Australian League Matches - By Year
Team	Years	App	T	G			GK %	FG	Pts	W	L	D	Win %
South Sydney	NSWRFL 1965	?	-	14				-	28
South Sydney	NSWRFL 1966	?	2	39				-	84
South Sydney	NSWRFL 1967	?	3	100				12	233
South Sydney	NSWRFL 1968	?	-	77				29	212
South Sydney	NSWRFL 1969	?	1	112				19	265
South Sydney	NSWRFL 1970	?	3	96				20	241
South Sydney	NSWRFL 1971	?	3	88				1	186
South Sydney	NSWRFL 1972	?	2	81				2	170
South Sydney	NSWRFL 1973	?	2	62				1	131
South Sydney	NSWRFL 1974	?	2	66				-	138
South Sydney	NSWRFL 1975	21	5	68				2	153	6	15	0	28.57%
Overall	1965-1975	?	23	803				86	1,841	?	?	?	?
Australian League Matches - By Team
Team	Years	App	T	G			GK %	FG	Pts	W	L	D	Win %
South Sydney	1965-75	?	23	803				86	1841	?	?	?	?
South Sydney	1975	21	5	68				2	153	6	15	0	28.57%
Overall	1965-1975	?	23	803				86	1,841	?	?	?	?
All Australian Club Matches - By Team
Team	Years	App	T	G			GK %	FG	Pts	W	L	D	Win %
South Sydney	1965, 1967-72, 1974-75	?	24	814				86	1866	?	?	?	?
South Sydney	1975	36	5	68				2	153	16	20	0	44.44%
Overall	1965-1975	?	24	814				86	1,866	?	?	?	?

Last modified: Mon, 19 Apr 2021 00:16:22 +1000 (Sydney time)