Cliff Lyons facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Cliff Lyons

Lyons in 2008
Personal information
Full name	Clifford Raymond Lyons
Born	(1961-10-19) 19 October 1961 (age 63) Narrandera, New South Wales, Australia
Height	178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	89 kg (14 st 0 lb)
Playing information
Position	Five-eighth, Lock
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1985 North Sydney Bears 23 7 4 1 37 1985–86 Leeds 41 9 0 2 38 1986–87 Sheffield Eagles 6 3 3 0 18 1986–99 Manly Warringah 309 80 5 6 336 1988–89 Leeds 12 7 0 0 28 Total 391 106 12 9 457 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1987–91 New South Wales 6 1 0 0 4 1988–92 City Origin 3 0 0 0 0 1988 Rest of the World 1 0 0 0 0 1990–91 Australia 6 2 0 0 8
As of 8 June 2013

Cliff Lyons (born 19 October 1961) is a famous Indigenous Australian rugby league player from the 1980s and 1990s. He is known for his incredible skill and long career with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.

Lyons won some of rugby league's highest awards, including the Clive Churchill Medal for being the best player in a grand final and the Dally M Medal for being the best player of the year, which he won twice. He played 309 games for Manly and helped them win two championships in 1987 and 1996. He also played for his state, New South Wales, and his country, the Australia.

Known by the nicknames "Napper" or "Cliffy," Lyons was famous for his unique running style. He would run across the field, confusing defenders and creating openings for his teammates to score. This special talent made him one of the most exciting players to watch.

Early Life and Career

Clifford Raymond Lyons was born in Narrandera, New South Wales, on 19 October 1961. He started playing junior rugby league with the Gundagai Tigers. As a teenager, he moved to the Cronulla area and was first noticed by the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in 1981.

Before becoming a star in the big leagues, Lyons played for Gundagai in the Group 9 Rugby League competition. He was so good that he was chosen to play for the Riverina regional team against international teams from New Zealand in 1982 and Great Britain in 1984.

Professional Rugby League Career

Starting in the Big Leagues (1980s)

In 1985, Lyons joined the NSWRFL Premiership (now the NRL) with the North Sydney Bears. He quickly showed his talent, even kicking a field goal in his first game. Like many Australian players at the time, he also played in England during the off-season for teams like Leeds and Sheffield Eagles.

In 1986, he moved to the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, the club where he would become a legend. At first, he played as a lock forward, a defensive position. But his coach, Bob Fulton, soon realized Lyons's true talent was at five-eighth, a key playmaking role.

Becoming a Champion

The 1987 season was a huge year for Lyons. Playing alongside star halfback Des Hasler, he helped Manly win 12 games in a row. Their amazing season ended with a victory in the 1987 Grand Final against the Canberra Raiders. Lyons scored a try and was so brilliant in the game that he won the Clive Churchill Medal as the man of the match.

His great form also earned him a spot on the New South Wales team for the State of Origin series, one of the toughest competitions in rugby league. He even played in a special State of Origin game held in Los Angeles, USA.

International Star (1990s)

By 1990, Lyons was one of the best players in the world. He won the Dally M Medal as the player of the year. This led to his selection for the Australian national team for a tour of Great Britain and France.

In a famous moment during the second Test match against Great Britain, Lyons scored an amazing team try that helped Australia win the game and keep the series alive. Australia went on to win the series, and Lyons was a key player.

Lyons continued to be a star for Manly throughout the 1990s. He won his second Dally M Medal in 1994. He led the Sea Eagles to three straight grand finals from 1995 to 1997, winning his second championship in 1996.

Lyons in 2008

Later Career and Retirement

Lyons played for Manly until 1998. He briefly returned in 1999 because his team needed him, and he played his 300th game for the club. At 37, he was the oldest player in the league. When he retired, he held the record for the most games ever played for Manly (309 games).

Even after his top-level career ended, Lyons continued to play rugby league for local clubs well into his 40s, showing his love for the game.

Life After Playing

After retiring from professional football, Lyons stayed involved in the sport. He coached a junior team to two championships and later coached the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles reserve grade team in the NSW Cup.

In 2000, he was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his contribution to rugby league. In 2018, his amazing career was honored when he was inducted into the National Rugby League Hall of Fame.

Honors and Awards

• Dally M Medal (Player of the Year): 1990, 1994
• Dally M Five-eighth of the Year: 1990, 1994
• Rugby League Week Player of the Year: 1994
• Clive Churchill Medal (Grand Final Man of the Match): 1987
• Indigenous Team of the Century: Selected in 2008
• National Rugby League Hall of Fame: Inducted in 2018