Ken Wilson (24 November 1951 – 22 December 2022), nicknamed ''Squeaker'', was an 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 1970s and 1980s.

Career

Wilson was a skillful halfback or five-eighth, despite lacking pace, but is best remembered as one of rugby league's greatest goal kickers. Wilson came from an Australian Rules background to be graded by the Newtown club in 1970, and played four seasons with Newtown between

1970 Events January * January 1 – Unix time epoch reached at 00:00:00 UTC. * January 5 – The 7.1 Tonghai earthquake shakes Tonghai County, Yunnan province, China, with a maximum Mercalli intensity scale, Mercalli intensity of X (''Extrem ...

and

1974 Major events in 1974 include the aftermath of the 1973 oil crisis and the resignation of United States President Richard Nixon following the Watergate scandal. In the Middle East, the aftermath of the 1973 Yom Kippur War determined politics; f ...

. Ken was a product of the Marrickville De La Salle College and the Addison Royals (Marrickville) junior rugby league club. Wilson only gradually established in first grade – in a famous match he was the point-scorer with a field goal for the only 1–0 scoreline (against

St. George Saint George (Greek: Γεώργιος (Geórgios), Latin: Georgius, Arabic: القديس جرجس; died 23 April 303), also George of Lydda, was a Christian who is venerated as a saint in Christianity. According to tradition he was a soldier ...

in 1973) – thirteen seconds after coming onto the field. In 1976 Wilson moved to the

Penrith Panthers The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith that competes in the NRL. The team is based west of the centre of Sydney, at the foot of the Blue Mountains. Penrith ...

for three seasons. He returned to Newtown in 1979 and stayed with them until the club folded at the end of 1983, being their captain during the final two seasons. Wilson played in Newtown's final ever game in the top grade which was against the

Canberra Raiders The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby ...

which Newtown won 9–6 at

Campbelltown Stadium Campbelltown Stadium, formerly Orana Park and Campbelltown Sports Ground, is a multi-use stadium in Leumeah, New South Wales, Australia, owned by Campbelltown City Council. It is the home ground of the Western Suburbs Magpies and the Wests Ti ...

. Wilson missed three kicks at goal during the game but kicked a field goal. Wilson set many point scoring records with both Newtown and Penrith. He ranks first among Newtown's all-time point scorers, with 1001 points. Wilson came on as a replacement in the 1981 Grand Final, and later coached reserve grade at

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 o ...

and the Ryde-Eastwood club. With 150 appearances, he is ranked fifth on Newtown's list of most appearances behind Frank Farrell (204), Brian Moore (173),

Bobby Whitton Bobby Whitton (1932-2008) was an Australian rugby league player who played in the 1950s. Playing career Whitton was born James Albert Whitton, was a favourite son of Newtown rugby league club over many years. Whitton played ten straight sea ...

(171), and Bobby Keyes (163). Alan Whiticker/Glen Hudson: The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players. 1995. ()

References

External links

Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilson, Ken 1952 births 2022 deaths Australian rugby league players Newtown Jets players Penrith Panthers players Penrith Panthers captains Rugby league five-eighths Rugby league halfbacks Rugby league players from Sydney