Jim Leis (born October 10, 1959) is an Australian former professional

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 11 ...

footballer who played in the 1980s.

Playing career

A New South Wales representative forward, he played in the

New South Wales Rugby League The New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) is the governing body of rugby league in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory and is a member of the Australian Rugby League Commission. It was formed in Sydney on 8 August 1907 and was ...

(NSWRL) competition for Western Suburbs for three seasons between 1980 and 1982,

Canterbury-Bankstown Canterbury-Bankstown is a customary region of Sydney, Australia, in the south-western suburbs. The area is located around the Bankstown railway line, to the west of the St George region and to the south of the Inner West region. The suburbs ...

for three seasons between 1983–1985 and the

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are an Australian professional rugby league club based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales. They compete in the National Rugby League (NRL), Australasia's premier rugby leag ...

for two seasons between 1986 and 1987. In his debut first-grade season, Leis was selected to represent

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 2nd state of residence game, and kept his place at for the inaugural

State of Origin A State of Origin competition is a type of sporting event between players representing their state or territory. State of Origin began in Australian rules football on 8 October 1977 between Western Australia (WA) and Victoria, at Subiaco Ov ...

game in 1980. In the same year he was selected to tour New Zealand with the Australian national team although he did not play in a test, and earned two

Dally M The Dally M Awards are the official annual player awards for the National Rugby League competition. As well as honouring the player of the year, who received the Dally M Medal, awards are also given to the premier player in each position, the b ...

awards in 1980 for lock-forward of the year and rookie of the year. He retired after the 1987 season after eight seasons in first grade. Leis was named at lock in the

Western Suburbs Magpies The Western Suburbs Magpies (legal name: Western Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club Ltd) are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly r ...

Team of the Eighties. Starting his career in the country, Leis is a supporter promoting rugby league in country regions.

References

1959 births Living people Australia national rugby league team players Australian rugby league players New South Wales Rugby League State of Origin players Country New South Wales rugby league team players Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs players Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks players Rugby league players from New South Wales Rugby league locks Western Suburbs Magpies players {{Australia-rugbyleague-bio-1950s-stub