Recording and preserving the history of rugby league has come ahead in leaps and bounds over the past couple of decades. Contrary to a long held view, there is indeed a ready and willing readership out there for well researched and well presented volumes on ‘the greatest game of all’, its history, players, personalities, records and place in the overall scheme of the sports scene. Thankfully there has always been a handful of diehards who have beavered away in the background preserving precious records, documents and paraphernalia which constitute the history of the code.
Dr Greg Mallory, academic and historian, is one such diehard. His book Voices from Brisbane Rugby League: Oral Histories from the 50s to the 70s (Boolarong Press, 2010) is an excellent example of his passion to record the essence of the game. In recent times, Greg’s article on famous coach Bob Bax has been published in the Australian Dictionary of Biography. Aficionados of the code will appreciate the thorough, candid and significant contribution of this addition to the history of the game.
Greg has also brought to our attention a book set to be released at about Easter time next year about Roy Francis, rugby league’s first really significant player and coach of colour in England. In the later stages of his coaching career, Roy even had a stint with the North Sydney Bears! Never heard of him? Follow this link for an appetiser. The book by Tony Collins is Roy Francis: rugby’s forgotten black leader (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2025). Keep an eye out for it.
Readers are encouraged to provide us with information about any other contributions, in whatever form, to the library of rugby league resources.
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Greg Mallory’s writing about Bob Bax is first class! Readers would do well to follow the link and enjoy this insight into a true legend of the game.
Roy Francis’ was famous for his trademark back to the drawing board” after yet another North Sydney loss.