Cliff Johnson (rugby league)

Cliff Johnson
Personal information
Full name	Clifford Raymond Johnson
Playing information
Position	Prop, Second-row
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
19??	Richmond
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
19??	Auckland
1950–1960	New Zealand	34	4	0	0	12
Source: RLP

Clifford Raymond Johnson^[1] was a New Zealand rugby league footballer who has been named one of the finest the country produced during the 20th century.^[2] An international representative, he played mainly as a prop forward.

Playing career

Johnson played for the Richmond Bulldogs in the Auckland Rugby League competition.^[3] From here he represented Auckland and New Zealand. Between 1950 and 1960 he played a total of 34 tests for his country, a new record at the time of his retirement. He also played in three World Cup tournaments. Including minor tour matches, Johnson played a total of 70 matches for New Zealand.

During the 1951 French rugby league tour of Australia and New Zealand, Johnson was selected to play for both Auckland and New Zealand.

He retired following the 1960 World Cup.^[4]

Legacy

After retirement he was the foundation chairman of the Howick Rugby League Football Club.^[5]

Johnson was inducted as one of the New Zealand Rugby League's inaugural "Legends of League" in 1995.^[6]

After his death he was named as captain of the New Zealand national rugby league team of the century in 2007.

References

↑ JOHNSON, Clifford Raymond 1950 - 60 - Kiwi #325 nzleague.co.nz
↑ "Graham top choice for the century". nzherald.co.nz (New Zealand: APN Holdings NZ Limited). 2007-12-02. Retrieved 2009-12-04.
↑ New Zealand Kiwis Richmond Rovers RLC
↑ Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4. p.183.
↑ Club History Howick Hornets
↑ "New Zealand Rugby League Annual Report 2008" (pdf). NZRL. 2008. Retrieved 2009-07-21.

The New Zealand Rugby League Team of the Century (1907–2006)

1. Des White 2. Tom Hadfield 3. Tommy Baxter 4. Roger Bailey 5. Phillip Orchard 6. George Menzies 7. Stacey Jones 8. Cliff Johnson (c) 9. Jock Butterfield 10. Ruben Wiki 11. Mark Graham 12. Ron Ackland 13. Mel Cooke

New Zealand squad – 1954 Rugby League World Cup

Cyril Eastlake (c) Alister Atkinson (vc) Doug Anderson Jimmy Edwards Neville Denton Jim Austin Ron McKay Bill Sorensen George Menzies Len Eriksen Lory Blanchard John Bond Cliff Johnson Bill McLennan Jock Butterfield George McDonald John Yates Ian Grey Coach: Jim Amos

New Zealand squad – 1957 Rugby League World Cup

Cliff Johnson (c) George Menzies (vc) Pat Creedy Vern Bakalich Neville Denton Tom Hadfield Ron Ackland Bill Sorensen George P. Turner Sel Belsham Jock Butterfield Bill McLennan Henry Maxwell Kevin Pearce Jim Riddell John Yates Rex Percy Keith Bell Coach: Bill Telford

New Zealand squad – 1960 Rugby League World Cup

Ron Ackland Jock Butterfield Mel Cooke Reg Cooke Neville Denton Cyril Eastlake Reese Griffiths Tom Hadfield Cliff Johnson (c) Trevor Kilkelly Henry Maxwell George Menzies Laurie Olliff Gary Phillips Tom Reid Keith Roberts Bill Sorensen George Turner Coach: Travers Hardwick

The Richmond Team of the Century (1913–2013)

1. Bert Cooke 2. Nigel Vagana 3. Tom Baxter 4. Maurie Robertson 5. Vern Bakalich 6. Fred Ah Kuoi 7. Shane Varley 8. Joe Vagana 9. John Lasher 10. Cliff Johnson (c) 11. Jim Riddell 12. Se'e Solomona 13. Raymond Williams

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