Jim Hale

Jim Hale

Jim Hale, 1941
Personal information
Full name	James Alfred Hale
Born	(1916-07-10)10 July 1916 Kogarah, New South Wales, Australia
Died	28 December 1992(1992-12-28) (aged 76) Sylvania, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
Position	Second-row
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1940 South Sydney 3 1 0 0 3 1941–47 St. George 60 20 0 0 60 1948–49 Boorowa Rovers Total 63 21 0 0 63
Relatives	Bill Hale (brother)

Hale (middle row left) in St.George's 1946 side - minor premiers

James Alfred Hale (10 July 1916 - 28 December 1992) was an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s.

Career

Hale was graded with the South Sydney club in 1940 and switched mid-season to join St. George with whom he played seven seasons between 1941 and 1947.

He is remembered as the second-row forward in the St George side that was defeated in the 1946 Grand Final by Balmain. At the end of the game, Jim Hale and his ex team-mate Herb Gilbert, Jr. were involved in a brawl when a spectator jumped onto the Sydney Cricket Ground playing area and punched Hale. The incident almost caused a riot amongst rival players and fans and resulted in a number of arrests by police.

Hale, like his father Percy (1887-1953), was an amateur heavy-weight boxer, and the brawl between him and Gilbert was a huge talking point in the Sydney press for days afterward. A brother, Bill Hale also played for St. George[1]

After retiring from Sydney first grade football, Hale captain coached the Boorowa Rovers Rugby League Club in 1948–1949.[2]

Death

Hale died on 28 December 1992, aged 76.[3]

References

1. Alan Whiticker/Glen Hudson. The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players - 1995 (ISBN 1875169571)
2. The Burrowa News. "Jim Hale Appointed Playing Coach" 30/1/1948
3. Sydney Morning Herald - Death Notice 29/12/1992