John Raper
Year inducted: 2017
True Blue number: 516
Born: April 12, 1939, Sydney, NSW
Clubs: Newtown Bluebags, St George Dragons
Position: Lock
Premiership career: (1957-69) 215 games, 57 tries, 4 goals, 179 points; (Newtown 1957-58, 35g, 10t, 30p; St George 1959-69, 180g, 47t, 4g, 149p)
First Grade debut: Newtown Bluebags vs Manly Warringah Sea Eagles at Henson Park, Marrickville on 6 April, 1957
Representative honours: Australia 39 Tests (1959-68); NSW 24 Interstate Matches (1959-70)
Other honours: Rugby League Immortal 1981, NRL Hall of Fame 2008, ARL Team of the Century 2008, NSW Team of the Century 2008, NSWRL Player of the Year 1961. 1965
Like many champions John Raper wasn’t the biggest, strongest or fastest player in his teams but he had a motor like no other and an innate football genius. Many still laud his performance in Australia’s triumph in the Second Test at Swinton on the 1963 Kangaroo tour as the greatest individual game ever played. But whether for Newtown, St George, NSW or Australia, Raper always gave his all.
New South Wales Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.
