Ernie Hammerton

Ernest Alfred Hammerton OAM (1927–1991) was an Australian professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s. An Australian international and New South Wales interstate representative hooker, he played club football in the NSWRFL Premiership for South Sydney, appearing in seven consecutive grand finals for them. Hammerton later became a selector for both the New South Wales and Australian national teams.

Ernie Hammerton
Personal information
Full nameErnest Alfred Hammerton
Born(1927-05-15)15 May 1927
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Died4 July 1991(1991-07-04) (aged 64)
Kyeemagh, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
PositionHooker
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1947–58 South Sydney 157 10 1 0 32
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1951 City NSW 1 0 0 0 0
1951–56 New South Wales 6 0 0 0 0
1951 Australia 1 0 0 0 0
Source: [1]

Playing career

A South Sydney junior,[2] at the end of the 1949 NSWRFL season Hammerton played in his first grand final at hooker for South Sydney who lost to St. George. At the end of the 1950 season Hammerton played in the grand final at hooker for South Sydney who defeated Western Suburbs. In 1951 Hammerton played in the grand final at hooker for South Sydney, scoring a try in their victory over Manly-Warringah. In 1951 Hammerton was selected to represent Australia, becoming Kangaroo No. 288.[3] He played a sole test match, a 23–11 victory over the touring French team.

In the 1952 NSWRFL season Hammerton played in the grand final at hooker for South Sydney who lost to Western Suburbs. At the end of the 1953 NSWRFL season Hammerton played in the grand final at hooker for South Sydney, scoring a try in their victory over St. George. In season 1954 Hammerton played in the grand final at hooker for South Sydney who defeated Newtown. At the end of the 1955 NSWRFL season Hammerton played in the grand final at hooker for South Sydney who again defeated Newtown. South Sydney came within one match of the 1957 NSWRFL season's grand final, however Hammerton was dropped from the team for the qualifier in favour of 22-year-old Brian Murray.[4] Souths lost the match. The following season was Hammerton's last in first grade.[5]

Post-playing career

Hammerton was appointed a New South Wales selector in the 1970 pre-season.[6] In 1972 Hammerton, who was already a New South Wales selector, won a position on the Australian Rugby League selection committee.[7] A decade later he was still a national selector.[8] He was replaced as chairman of Australian selectors by Don Furner in the 1989 pre-season.[9]

In 1990 Hammerton was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to rugby league.[10]

References
  1. Rugby League Project
  2. rabbitohs.com.au. "Club Records". Tradition. South Sydney Rabbitohs. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  3. "Players Register". Kangaroos. Australian Rugby League. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  4. Goodman, Tom (11 September 1957). "Hammerton dropped from South R.L. Thirteen for Final". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  5. rabbitohs.com.au. "Ernie HAMMERTON". Season Archive. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  6. "Higher fees for League referees". The Sydney Morning Herald. 3 February 1970. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  7. "Hooker now a selector". The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 February 1972. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  8. Clarkson, Alan (9 February 1982). "Falla is new Aust League selector". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  9. Zorba & Hollywood (15 January 1989). "Giants for sale for a cool $1m". The Sun-Herald. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  10. "Ernest Alfred Hamerton". Australian Honours Search Facility, Dept of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
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