Throw Back Thursday – The Legend of Troy

Each week, thanks to Cryo, we look back at a significant moment in our rich history. Today we remember a legend of the club who played for both Newtown and Wentworthville.

THE LEGEND OF TROY

In one respect it’s pretty fitting that Jack Troy played for the Newtown Jets (then Bluebags) and Wentworthville Magpies, because when he got his speed up, the former Test winger really flew.

Born in 1928, John “Jack Troy” was an aspiring sprinter, who almost gave up football to qualify for the 1948 London Olympics as a sprinter. After controversially being omitted from the Australian Olympic team, Troy turned his full attention to football, scoring nine tries in his first 10 top grade appearances for Newtown in 1949.

He bettered that strike rate the next year, crossing 10 times in the opening eight games of the season and was rewarded with selections in the City, NSW and Australian sides. Selected in the Australian squad which faced Great Britain on home soil, Troy played in the first and third Tests and laid the foundation for the Ron Roberts try that ultimately sealed Australia’s 2-1 series victory and its first Ashes win in 30 years.

1950 also saw Troy set a Newtown club record for the most tries scored in an individual match, when he scored six times in the Bluebags’ 38-8 win over Eastern Suburbs at the Sydney Sports Ground. Only twice in the history of the premiership has a player crossed the line more times in a match. Remarkably, there is nobody since Jack Troy in 1950 who has managed to score six tries or more in a first-grade game.

Dogged by leg injuries during the latter stages of his career, Troy retired from grade in his mid-twenties, but continued to play an active role in rugby league administration. Rising to the role of Chairman of Selectors at the St George club in 1976, he was also a member of the first NSWRL Coaching panel and was very supportive of the Metropolitan Cup, the competition which facilitated Newtown’s return to big time footy in 1991.

Troy sadly passed away in 1995 aged 66, but his legacy continues to live on amongst the Henson Park and Ringrose Park faithful. So revered is he at Wentworthville that his portrait hangs in the sports bar of Wenty Leagues Club.

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