Mervyn John Lees (1932-2018) was an Australian professional
rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s. He was a premiership-winning centre with the
St George Dragons and a
state representative
A state legislature is a legislative branch or body of a political subdivision in a federal system.
Two federations literally use the term "state legislature":
* The legislative branches of each of the fifty state governments of the United Sta ...
.
Career
Merv 'Smacka' Lees played five seasons at the
St George Dragons between 1953-1958 and began his rugby league career at the
Banksia Waratahs R.L.F.C. as a child. He went on to win a premiership with
St George
Saint George (Greek language, Greek: Γεώργιος (Geórgios), Latin language, Latin: Georgius, Arabic language, Arabic: القديس جرجس; died 23 April 303), also George of Lydda, was a Christians, Christian who is venerated as a sa ...
in
1956
Events
January
* January 1 – The Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, Anglo-Egyptian Condominium ends in Sudan.
* January 8 – Operation Auca: Five U.S. evangelical Christian Missionary, missionaries, Nate Saint, Roger Youderian, Ed McCully, Jim ...
under coach
Norm Tipping
Norman Herbert Tipping (1913–2002) was an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s and 1940s. He later became a premiership winning first grade coach for the St George Dragons.
Playing career
Born in Hurstville, New So ...
, and also played in the
1953
Events
January
* January 6 – The Asian Socialist Conference opens in Rangoon, Burma.
* January 12 – Estonian émigrés found a Estonian government-in-exile, government-in-exile in Oslo.
* January 14
** Marshal Josip Broz Tito i ...
grand final side that were runners up. Injuries curtailed his career, and he retired in 1959.
Lees was a prolific tryscorer. His best performance was possibly on 24 July 1954 in a club first grade game against the North Sydney Bears at the Sydney Cricket Ground when he scored five tries.
Lees represented
New South Wales on four occasions between 1954-1955 which included the infamous 'Abandoned Game' against the touring English team on 10 July 1954 at the S.C.G.
A newspaper article in the St. George and Sutherland Shire Leader in 2012 regarding Merv Lees' 80th birthday suggested he was still in good health and still had many great memories of his playing career for the
St George Dragons and N.S.W. Lees was an active member of the Men Of League Foundation during his final years.
Death
Lees died on 11 May 2018 aged 85.
[Death Notice. The Leader 16 Jun 2018. http://tributes.theleader.com.au/obituaries/theleader-au/obituary.aspx?n=mervyn-john-lees&pid=189005217]
References
St. George Dragons players
New South Wales rugby league team players
City New South Wales rugby league team players
2018 deaths
Australian rugby league players
1932 births
Rugby league centres
Rugby league players from Sydney
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