The Newtown club farewells one of its greatest-ever players

The Newtown RLFC regrets to announce the passing overnight of the former player, team captain and leading first grade points-scorer Ken Wilson.

Ken was a product of the Marrickville De La Salle College and the Addison Royals junior rugby league club.

He played with the Newtown RLFC from 1970 to 1974; had one season at Port Kembla in 1975; three at Penrith from 1976 to 1978; and then returned to Newtown for five eventful seasons from 1979 to 1983.

He is best remembered by the wider rugby league community for kicking the field goal in Newtown’s 1-0 victory over St George at the SCG in 1973. He captained Newtown in the 0-0 draw with Canterbury-Bankstown at Henson Park in 1982.

Ken might not have gained any representative selection honours, but he is most certainly one of the most significant players in the Newtown club’s 115-year history.

He was a masterful kicker of the football, a skilled ball-player and a shrewd on-field tactician. He had played at fullback and on the wing in his early seasons, but his best football and most distinguished on-field performances were as a five-eighth and halfback in his latter seasons at Henson Park.

The master coach Warren Ryan in recent years described Ken Wilson as being “the smartest rugby league footballer I ever coached”.

Ken was 71 years old. The Newtown RLFC extends sincere condolences to his wife Christine, his children and grandchildren and other family members.