Tony Brown (rugby league)

Andrew John Brown (20 February 1936 – 15 April 2022)^[3] was an Australian professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s.^[4] An Australian international and New South Wales interstate representative five-eighth, and later lock forward, he played club football in Sydney's NSWRFL Premiership, captaining Newtown and later Penrith in their inaugural season.^[5]

Tony Brown

Personal information
Full name	Andrew John Brown
Born	(1936-02-20)20 February 1936 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Died	15 April 2022(2022-04-15) (aged 86)
Playing information
Height	5 ft 8 in (173 cm)[1]
Weight	12 st 0 lb (76 kg; 168 lb)[1]
Position	Five-eighth
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1956–64 Newtown 119 20 6 0 72 1967 Penrith 3 0 0 0 0 Total 122 20 6 0 72 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1958–62 NSW City 3 4 0 0 6 1958–62 New South Wales 9 2 0 0 6 1958–60 Australia 10 0 0 0 0
Source: [2]

Playing career

While playing in Sydney's NSWRFL Premiership for the Newtown club,^[6] Brown gained representative selection in the City, New South Wales and Australian teams.

In 1958, he was selected to make his debut for the Australian national team, becoming Kangaroo No. 335.^[7]

He was selected for the first two tests against Great Britain but missed the decider due to injury. The following year he played three tests against New Zealand and was selected for the Australian national team to go on the 1959–60 Kangaroo tour, playing at five-eighth in the first test against France.

Having been released by Newtown in 1964, Brown was signed by second division club Penrith, who later gained entry into the first division premiership for the 1967 NSWRFL season. He captained Penrith in the opening rounds of their inaugural season before a leg injury ended his season.

For the Newtown Jets' centenary celebrations the club named its "Team of the Century" (1908–2008) which included Brown as a five-eighth.^[8]

References

1. "1960 World Cup Match". i.ebayimg.com. ebay. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
2. "Tony Brown – Career Stats & Summary – Rugby League Project". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
3. Bailey, Scott (17 April 2022). "Penrith's first captain Tony Brown dies". The Sunday Times. Australian Associated Press. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
4. nrlstats.com. "Tony Brown". NRL Stats. Sports Data. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
5. yesterdayshero.com.au. "Player Profile - Tony Brown". Yesterday's Hero. SmartPack International. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
6. "Tony Brown". Rugby League Tables – Scorers. stats.rleague.com. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
7. Australian Rugby League. "Australian Players Register" (PDF). Australian Rugby League – Annual Report 2005. secure.ausport.gov.au. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 July 2009. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
8. "Team of the Century". Newtown Jets. Archived from the original on 19 July 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2012.