Robert Laurie (rugby league) facts for kids
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Personal information
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| Born | 1956 Wauchope, New South Wales, Australia |
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| Died | June 2022 (aged 66) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Playing information
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| Position | Five-eighth | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Robert "Rocky" Laurie (1956 – June 2022) was an Australian rugby league footballer. He was known for his amazing skills on the field. Rocky played for two big teams: the Eastern Suburbs Roosters and the South Sydney Rabbitohs. He was a key player in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership.
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Rocky's Rugby League Journey
Robert Laurie, often called "Rocky," grew up in Wauchope, New South Wales. He moved to Sydney to play rugby league. In 1975, he joined the Roosters team. He made his first-grade debut in the 1976 season.
Early Days with the Roosters
During the 1976 season, Rocky played as a forward. He helped the Eastern Suburbs team win an important game. They played against the British champions, St. Helens, in Sydney. This was part of the unofficial 1976 World Club Challenge.
Shining Bright at South Sydney
Rocky's career really took off when he moved to the South Sydney Rabbitohs in 1978. He became a star player in the five-eighth position. He was known for his exciting plays and setting up tries for his teammates. One famous player he helped was the speedy winger Terry Fahey.
A Big Award: The Dally M Medal
In 1980, Rocky Laurie achieved something very special. He won the Dally M Medal. This award goes to the best player in the rugby league season. He is the only South Sydney player to have ever won this prestigious award. After his time at Souths, Laurie returned to play for Easts. He helped them win the 1981 Craven Mild Cup final.
Playing for His State and Country
Rocky also played in important representative matches. In 1981, he played for the City NSW team and the main New South Wales team. In 1983, he went back to his hometown of Wauchope. There, he captained a NSW Country team. In that game, he scored three tries against New Zealand's South Island team. Later, in 1988, he led a Northern Division team to victory against the touring Great Britain Lions.
Family in Football
Rugby league was a family affair for the Lauries. Rocky's younger brother, Mark Laurie, was also a very successful player. Mark won three premierships with the Parramatta club.
