Roy
Bull
Prop 1947-1959
Captain/Coach 1953
Manly's first International
A powerful tight head prop who
was Manly's first international, Roy Bull was a
member of Manly's winning 1946 President's Cup team.
The success of that team lead directly to Manly
gaining first grade status in 1947.
After making his first grade
debut for Manly as a 17 year old in 1947 Bull was a
key member of the great Manly sides of the fifties
and played in all three Manly Grandfinals in that
decade ('51, '57 and '59). He played 182 games for
Manly, then a record, and scored 25 tries.
Bull was there through all of
it under coaches Harold Johnson, Ray Stehr, Wally
O'Connell, Ray Norman's panel, Pat Devery and Ken
Arthurson. He was even captain-coach in 1953. He
formed a dominant front row with Fred Brown and Test
hooker Kevin Schubert. He was made a life member in
1962.
Bull played in more than 100
representative games, the centrepiece being his 22
Tests. He made two Kangaroo tours in 1952-53 and
1956-57, two tours of New Zealand and played in the
1954 World Cup. He was chosen as the Player of the
Year by Rugby League Yearbook editor E.E. Christensen
for the 1955 season. In all, he played 13 seasons
with the Sea Eagles.
Bull was also a champion surf
boat crew member. A junior with Freshwater
Lifesavers, Bull was a member of the club crew that
won the Australian surfboat title at Manly Beach in
1947.
After retiring in 1959, Roy
Bull continued his close association with the Sea
Eagles and served as Club President from 1978 to
1987.
Sources: Smith 1991, p 63; W&H,
p. 69.
