Herbert Leslie Brackenreg (1876–1939) was a pioneer Australian

rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 112 ...

footballer who played in the 1900s and 1910s.

Playing career

In 1907 he played for

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

in the very first rugby match run by the newly created ' New South Wales Rugby Football League' which had just split away from the established New South Wales Rugby Football Union. He also played for Sydney's Eastern suburbs club in the

New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership The New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the first rugby league football club competition established in Australia and contributor to today's National Rugby League. Run by the New South Wales Rugby League (initially named the New Sout ...

's inaugural season –

1908 Events January * January 1 – The British ''Nimrod'' Expedition led by Ernest Shackleton sets sail from New Zealand on the ''Nimrod'' for Antarctica. * January 3 – A total solar eclipse is visible in the Pacific Ocean, and is the 46 ...

. A goal-kicking front row forward, Brackenreg, played rugby league for the

Eastern Suburbs Eastern Suburbs may refer to: Places *Eastern Suburbs (Mumbai), India *Eastern Suburbs (Sydney), Australia **Eastern Suburbs railway line, Sydney, Australia Sports clubs ;Association football *Eastern Suburbs AFC, Auckland, New Zealand * Eastern ...

club. An Eastern Suburbs

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...

player, Brackenreg had been a member of the rebel New South Wales sides that played against the rebel New Zealand 'All Blacks' in the 1907 series that helped to establish rugby league in Australia. He played in 8 NSWRFL Premiership matches for Easts including that club's

first match ''First Match'' is a 2018 American drama film written and directed by Olivia Newman, based on her 2010 short film of the same name. The film stars Elvire Emanuelle, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Colman Domingo, Jharrel Jerome, and Jared Kemp. The film pr ...

and was a member of the NSWRL's first premiership decider played against local rival, South Sydney. In that first season Brackenreg was selected to represent his state,

, in 2 matches. The following season Brackenreg moved to

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

, where he played for the South Brisbane club and representing his new state in 5 matches and playing in 3 tests for Australia, he also represented

Australasia Australasia is a region that comprises Australia, New Zealand and some neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term is used in a number of different contexts, including geopolitically, physiogeographically, philologically, and ecologica ...

. Herb Brackenreg is listed on the ''Australian Players Register'' as Kangaroo No. 55. He was awarded Life Membership of the New South Wales Rugby League in 1914. Brackenreg once defeated Dally Messenger in an exhibition goal kicking competition. He is remembered as the Sydney Roosters' 2nd ever player. He died on 17 August 1939 and was buried at the South Brisbane Cemetery.

References

Queensland representatives at qrl.com.au
* Alan Whiticker & Glen Hudson, The Encyclopedia Of Rugby League Players 1876 births 1939 deaths Australasia rugby league team players Australia national rugby league team players Burials in South Brisbane Cemetery People from Upper Hunter Shire Council Norths Devils players Queensland rugby league team players New South Wales rugby league team players Rugby league players from Scone, New South Wales Souths Logan Magpies players Sydney Roosters players {{Australia-rugbyleague-bio-1870s-stub