Graham Eadie
Fullback
Player Bio
- Inducted:
- 2008
- Date of Birth:
- 25 November 1953
- Birthplace:
- Lidcombe, NSW
- Nickname:
- Wombat
- Debut Team:
- Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
- Date:
- 27 February 1971
- Opposition:
- South Sydney Rabbitohs
- Venue:
- Redfern Oval, Sydney
- Representative:
- City, New South Wales, Australia
- Clubs:
- Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, Halifax
Career
Milestones
- Premierships: 1972-73, 1976, 1978
- Grand Final man of the match*: 1976, 1978
- Kangaroo Tours: 1973, 1978
- Challenge Cup: 1987
- Lance Todd Trophy: 1987
- Rothmans Medal: 1974
- Dally M Fullback of the Year: 1983
- Rated No. 36 in Rugby League Week’s Top 100 players: 1992
Playing
- First Class Games
- 424
- Points
- 2569
- Tries
- 144
Biography
Graham Eadie, Australia's Test fullback after Graeme Langlands, played 237 first-grade games for Manly, and 12 Tests and eight World Series matches for Australia. He played his first Test on his first Kangaroo tour, in the second Test of 1973, when captain-coach Langlands was out injured, performing superbly and kicking five goals to help Australia to a 14–6 win that squared the series. He was again the fullback for the third Test at Warrington, which the Kangaroos won 15–5.
Eadie played one Test against Great Britain at home in 1974, the same year he won the Rothmans Medal, and when the great Langlands retired from representative football the following year, the Sea Eagles fullback was a natural to take over. He remained first choice until 1979, starring in Australia's Ashes victories in 1978 and 1979.
Eadie was a massive contributor to Manly's impressive performances during the 1970s, being the leading scorer in the premiership in 1974, 1975 and 1976. He won four premierships between 1972 and 1978, appeared in the inaugural State of Origin match in 1980, and retired from Sydney football in 1983.
Still to come, though, was a remarkable comeback when he successfully linked up with Halifax in the English League. In 1987, he became the second Australian (after Brett Kenny) to win the Lance Todd Trophy as man of the match in the Challenge Cup final.
“The greenhorn kid who came down to join Manly from Woy Woy in 1971 and stayed 13 seasons and imprinted his name among the ‘greats’."
Ian Heads Rugby League Week
77. Graeme Eadie - Hall of Fame
Career Stats
Club Career
Team Name | Competition | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | Premierships | 1971 | 1983 | 237 | 71 | 847 | 3 | 1,917 |
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | Official Pre-Season | 1971 | 1983 | 39 | 8 | 95 | - | 214 |
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | Mid-Week Premierships | 1974 | 1983 | 15 | 5 | 36 | - | 89 |
Halifax | England First Class Games | 1986 | 1989 | 74 | 29 | 24 | - | 164 |
Representative Career
City - Country
Team Name | Opponent | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
City Firsts | Country Firsts |
1974
1976
1979
1983 |
1974
1977
1980
1983 |
6 | 9 | 11 | - | 49 |
State
Team Name | Competition | Opponent | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New South Wales | State of Origin | Queensland | 1980 | 1980 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
New South Wales | Interstate Series | Queensland | 1974 | 1980 | 13 | 3 | 13 | - | 35 |
New South Wales | Touring Teams | 1977 | 1977 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
International
Team Name | Competition | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australia | Tests and World Cup |
1973
1977 |
1975
1979 |
20 | 7 | 12 | - | 45 |
Australia | Tour Matches |
1973
1975
1978 |
1973
1975
1978 |
16 | 11 | 4 | - | 41 |
Other Representative
Team Name | Opponent | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NSW Colts | Queensland | 1972 | 1972 | 1 | 1 | 2 | - | 7 |
Kangaroos | The Rest | 1974 | 1974 | 1 | - | 4 | - | 8 |
Latest
Hall of Fame Members
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