Lionel Morgan (rugby league) facts for kids
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Personal information
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| Born | 12 August 1938 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 16 September 2023 (aged 85) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Playing information
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| Position | Wing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: RLP
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Lionel Morgan was a famous Indigenous Australian rugby league player. He was born on August 12, 1938, and passed away on September 16, 2023. Many people remember him as one of the best players of the 20th century.
Lionel made history as the first Indigenous Australian to play in a major international rugby league game. He usually played as a winger, which is a fast player on the side of the field. After his playing career, he also became a coach.
Contents
Lionel Morgan's Rugby League Journey
Lionel started playing rugby league as a schoolboy in New South Wales. Later, he moved from Tweed Heads to play for Wynnum-Manly in the top Brisbane Rugby League premiership.
Making History in International Games
In 1960, Lionel was chosen to play for Australia against the French team. In his very first international game, he scored two tries! Later that year, he also played for Australia in the 1960 World Cup. This game was against France in Wigan.
This was a huge moment for Australian sport. Lionel became the first Indigenous Australian to play for a national team in any major sport. In 1962, he was even named Queensland's Best Back.
Playing for Brisbane and Queensland
Lionel also played for the Brisbane team in the Bulimba Cup. He was a fantastic scorer, getting 24 tries and 147 points in just 18 games between 1959 and 1963. In one amazing game in 1962 against Ipswich, he scored 5 tries and 6 goals!
Overcoming Challenges
During his career, Lionel faced unfair treatment because he was Indigenous. He once shared a story about a game against Ipswich where he was tackled off the field. He ended up in the hospital after that incident. Another time, he was hurt by a person watching the game and had to go to the hospital. Despite these challenges, Lionel continued to play and excel.
Coaching After Playing
After he stopped playing, Lionel stayed involved with rugby league. He became a coach for the Queensland Rugby League's Indigenous Under-16 team, helping younger players.
About Lionel's Life
Lionel Morgan was born in Tweed Heads, New South Wales, on August 12, 1938. He had four sons, and they all played for the Wynnum-Manly team, just like their dad. Lionel passed away on September 16, 2023, when he was 85 years old.
Special Recognition
In August 2008, Lionel Morgan received a special honor. He was named on the wing in the Indigenous Team of the Century. This means he was recognized as one of the best Indigenous rugby league players of the last 100 years.
See also
In Spanish: Lionel Morgan para niños
