Bill Hamilton 1965 to 1974

Friday, 10 February 2006 05:00

A huge man from the Hunter Valley town of Kurri Kurri, Bill Hamilton was the epitome of the old fashioned front row forward that dominated rugby league in the 1960s and 1970s.

He earned the nickname Hermanâ€ Hamilton, more than likely after Herman Munster from the popular TV sitcom of the 1960s - The Munstersâ€. Bill bore a striking resemblance to Herman Munster due to his size and hair cut.

A tough prop forward he knew only one way to go on the football field and that was straight forward in first gear. Bill
A huge man from the Hunter Valley town of Kurri Kurri, Bill Hamilton was the epitome of the old fashioned front row forward that dominated rugby league in the 1960s and 1970s.

He earned the nickname Hermanâ€ Hamilton, more than likely after Herman Munster from the popular TV sitcom of the 1960s - The Munstersâ€. Bill bore a striking resemblance to Herman Munster due to his size and hair cut.

A tough prop forward he knew only one way to go on the football field and that was straight forward in first gear. Bill didnt possess much pace or a side step but his size and ability to pop a pass saw him being a regular in the Sea Eagles front row that was building towards premiership success in the late 1960s.

A no nonsense police officer during the week, Bill never took a backward step in the toughest football competition in the world. When he was joined by John ONeill, Terry Randall and Malcolm Reilly in the Sea Eagles pack, he was part of one of the most fearsome forward units ever to grace a football field in an Australian Rugby League competition.

After nearly 3 decades of trying, these players took Manly to their first premiership success in the memorable 1972 season. However they followed up with further premiership success in 1973 when they defended their premiership title.

Hamilton was an integral part of the Sea Eagles side that stood tall against the Cronulla cheap shots and dirty tactics in the 1973 decider. Along ONeill and Manly captain Fred Jones, his front row colleagues, Bill took everything the Sharks could throw at him, and then gave it back in spades. His bravery that day, in the face of the Cronulla intimidation, was the foundation of the victory in a Grand Final that is long remembered as the toughest ever played.

He was rewarded with a spot on the 1973 Kangaroo tour to Great Britain but never played in a test. He managed to represent NSW 4 times during his career but his 187 games in the Maroon & White during one of their golden periods showed what a great player he was. Surprisingly he also scored 19 tries for the Sea Eagles in his 10 seasons at the club a try was a rare feat for a prop forward of his type in those days.

At the end of 1974, with Manly rebuilding, he left the club and played 3 seasons with the North Sydney Bears, captain coaching them in his final year.

Bill Hermanâ€ Hamilton a monster front row forward.

Comments

Add New