Throw Back Thursday – Polynesian Pioneer Helps Bluebags Beat the Bunnies

Each week, thanks to CRYO, we take a look back at a magical moment in our club’s history. Today, we remember a landmark signing for Newtown who orchestrated a big win over South Sydney in 1972.

POLYNESIAN PIONEER HELPS BLUEBAGS BEAT THE BUNNIES

While the name Oscar Danielson may not automatically ring a bell for many rugby league fans, in many ways the former Bluebags and Kiwi prop is a rugby league pioneer.

In the 1960s and 1970s, there was little to no participation from players of non-European backgrounds in the New South Wales Rugby League competition. However, in 1970, Newtown coach Harry Bath broke new ground by signing Danielson, a Samoan-born New Zealand international, from the Marist club in Auckland. Danielson is believed to be the first player of Samoan heritage to grace premiership rugby league in Australia.

“I think I was the pioneer,” Danielson told the New Zealand Herald in 2012.

“If it wasn’t for me, maybe they wouldn’t have all the Polynesians there today.”

Danielson went on to play three seasons for the Blues, with arguably his finest hour coming in 1972, when he played a leading role in Newtown’s 27-19 win over South Sydney at the SCG. This match turned out to be the last fixture between the two foundation clubs to be held at Headquarters.

Coming into this Round 20 match, Newtown needed a win to keep their hopes of forcing a play-off for the last spot in a four-team finals series alive. Things started badly for the Bluebags as Souths dominated the first half to lead 14-5 at the break. Enter Danielson.

The Kiwi was unstoppable during the second half, controlling the rucks, making excellent metres up the middle and offloading the ball at will. Souths led 19-10 after 52 minutes, but by the 72nd minute the Danielson-inspired Bluebags were ahead 22-19 courtesy of a controversial try to skipper Lionel Williamson. When the full-time whistle had blown, the Bluebags had triumphed 27-19 and Danielson was the talk of King Street.

Unfortunately, for Newtown they were unable to force a finals play-off in 1972, eventually finishing equal fifth with Canterbury. Danielson left the club at the end of the year to captain-coach the Corrimal Cougars, however, his legacy on the game remains large not just for his feats on the SCG in 1972, but for the number of Pacific Islander players who take the field in NRL matches each weekend.  

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