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Les Mara

  • 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.

Competitions Won

Interstate Series
1975, 1976
NSW City vs Country Firsts
1976
Preseason Cup
1976
Midweek Cup
1976

Biography

Nuggetty Balmain junior won a Frank Hyde 2SM award in 1973 for the Under 23s’ player voted ‘most likely’ to benefit from a playing stint in England. Mara guested with St Helens but played with Thirroul on his return and represented I’warra against Great Britain. A robust five-eighth who later shifted to halfback, Mara returned to Balmain in 1975 and represented NSW in consecutive years (1975-76). After touring NZ with a Combined Sydney team in 1976, he joined Souths but the move was not a success and he returned to the Tigers for two more seasons. Mara attempted a brief comeback with Newtown in 1982.
- 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 FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Tour Matches Illawarra FirstsILL - 1 - 1 --- - - - - - - - - 1 - 0.00% List
Tour Matches St HelensSTH - 1 - 1 --- - - - - - - - - 1 - 0.00% List
Representative Career - Australia   Comp Wins Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Tour Matches Combined SydneyCOM - 4 - 4 --- - - - - - - - 2 2 - 50.00% List
Interstate Series 2 2 - 2 --- - - - - - - - 2 - - 100.00% List
NSW City vs Country Firsts 1 1 - 1 --- - - - - - - - 1 - - 100.00% List
NSW City vs Country 1 1 - 1 --- - - - - - - - 1 - - 100.00% List
Club Career - Australia   Comp Wins Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) - 76 5 81 23-23 - 3 3 72 - - - 38 40 3 46.91% List
Preseason Cup 1 8 1 9 --- - 1 1 1 - - - 7 2 - 77.78% List
Midweek Cup 1 10 2 12 1-1 - 1 1 4 - - - 9 3 - 75.00% List
Challenge Cup AU - - 2 2 --- - - - - - - - 1 1 - 50.00% List
Overall   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
First Class  103 8 111 24-24 - 5 5 77 - - - 59 49 3 53.15% List

Australia - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Illawarra Firsts 1974   2 - 2 --- - - - - - - - - 2 - 0.00% List
NSW Firsts 1975-76   2 - 2 --- - - - - - - - 2 - - 100.00% List
Combined Sydney 1976   4 - 4 --- - - - - - - - 2 2 - 50.00% List
NSW City Firsts 1976   1 - 1 --- - - - - - - - 1 - - 100.00% List

NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) - By Year

Team Season   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
BalmainBalmain 19751975 NSWRFL   12 - 123-3 - - - 9 - - - 6 5 1 50.00% List
BalmainBalmain 19761976 NSWRFL   17 - 176-6 - 1 1 19 - - - 11 6 - 64.71% List
SouthsSouth Sydney 19771977 NSWRFL   18 - 184-4 - 1 1 13 - - - 2 16 - 11.11% List
BalmainBalmain 19781978 NSWRFL   9 1 102-2 - 1 1 7 - - - 5 5 - 50.00% List
BalmainBalmain 19791979 NSWRFL   17 - 177-7 - - - 21 - - - 11 5 1 64.71% List
NewtownNewtown 19821982 NSWRFL Winfield Cup   3 4 71-1 - - - 3 - - - 3 3 1 42.86% List

NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Balmain 1975-76, 1978-79   55 1 56 18-18 - 2 2 56 - - - 33 21 2 58.93% List
South Sydney 1977   18 - 18 4-4 - 1 1 13 - - - 2 16 - 11.11% List
Newtown 1982   3 4 7 1-1 - - - 3 - - - 3 3 1 42.86% List

Your Say

  • Anonymous
    4 Jan 2012 7:46am

    Les Mara kicked a winning field goal (8-7) for Newtown v Balmain at old Henson Park, probably 1982, I am certain of this.

  • Anonymous
    7 Sep 2014 11:35am

    One of the best players & a good bloke as well

  • Anonymous
    17 May 2017 12:06pm

    I met les recently at Cessnock correctional centre centre where he works for corrective service industries in the furniture division
    We had a long talk over a number of days and a nicer person u would not meet
    Very articulate and knowledgable
    He has served his time and should be granted early release
    U see some of the lenient sentences today
    He does not deserve to be stuck there for another 2 years
    He could do a lot of good talking to people about what happened to him

  • Anonymous
    16 Feb 2019 3:51pm

    I met Les at silver water jail very nice bloke to talk to,his done a mistake and his done his time and he should be released now.!!!

  • PetervRoe
    4 Dec 2019 9:14am

    I was a mate of Les when he played at St Helens in England (I played for Bradford Northern).. grand lad ...made a mistake..i work currently in the British criminal justice system...his talents could be used in a positive way. Yes he has to be punished but everyone has his/her strong points.

    Good luck Les when you are released

    Peter Roe

  • Les
    10 Jun 2020 6:24pm

    I new Les when he played for Balmain & he was always courteous & friendly towards me, I was surprised when I found out what paths he followed after Rugby League. I vividly remember that he was an accomplished boxer & help train fighters in Jeff Fenecks gym. I would definitely say hello to him if I met him in the street but would doubt if he remembers me regards Les

  • Robert Young
    13 Jan 2021 10:41am

    Les Mara is one of my best friends and a real down to earth bloke Les was a great rugby league player fantastic 5/8 defence and great attacking skills Les played for South Sydney Newtown Jets and his beloved Balmain tigers

  • Ed
    29 Oct 2021 8:17pm

    Had brief stints with Kurri Kurri and Umina in the early 80’s.

  • Anonymous
    23 Feb 2023 9:23am

    I saw Les play many times and he was pretty good. I was disappointed to learn of the path he took after footy but hopefully he'll use his time on the outside to speak to young people who are on the wrong path.

  • John Gardiner
    25 Jun 2025 9:58pm

    Les Mara is my cousin he was my hero growing up

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