The NSWRL extends its condolences to the family and friends of Tim Pickup, who has passed away, aged 72, after a long battle with illness.
A talented Enfield Federals junior, Pickup’s family relocated to Manly when he was a teenager but he switched to rugby union after being denied a clearance to play with the Sea Eagles by Western Suburbs.
He quickly made his way into the first grade ranks as a five eighth at the tender age of 17 at Manly but after three years in the amateur code he took a working holiday to Great Britain.
Whilst there he trialled with St Helens, who loaned him to struggling Blackpool Borough. Pickup was a star at fullback and won the club’s Player of the Year prompting many Sydney clubs to pursue him when he returned home.
He signed with North Sydney and represented NSW and Australia in his first season at the Bears, making his debut against the touring Kiwis.
Pickup went on to be a member of the successful 1973 Kangaroos and played 11 Tests all up for Australia, with his last one being a World Series match against England in 1975 where he suffered a knee injury which ultimately ended his career.
His partnership in the halves with the late Tommy Raudonikis was a major part of Australia’s success in the years 1972-75.
Although he made several attempts at a comeback, his knee was never the same and he finally hung up the boots in 1979 following a stint with Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
After retirement Pickup served as a director of the Bulldogs Leagues Club and Football Club and was also involved in boxing as the manager of Jeff Harding when he won the world light-heavyweight title in 1989.
Vale Tim Pickup.
