Herbert Henry 'Dally' Messenger
Centre/Five-Eighth
Player Bio
- Inducted:
- 2010
- Date of Birth:
- 11 April 1883
- Birthplace:
- Balmain, NSW
- Nickname:
- The Master, Dally
- Debut Team:
- Eastern Suburbs
- Date:
- 20 June 1908
- Opposition:
- North Sydney
- Venue:
- Royal Agricultural Society Showground
- Representative:
- 6 Interstate Games for NSW, 2 Interstate Games as Captain of NSW, 8 Test Matches For Australia, 4 Test Matches as Captain of Australia
- Club:
- Eastern Suburbs (1908 - 1913)
Career
Milestones
- Most Points in an Interstate Match; 32 (1911)
- NSW Hall of Champions; 1900s (1979)
- Sport Australia Hall of Fame (1985)
- Sydney Roosters Team of The Century (2000)
- International Rugby League Hall of Fame (2003)
- Australian Rugby League Team of the Century (2008)
- NRL Hall of Fame (2008)
- NSW Team of the Century (2008)
- NSW Rugby League Hall of Fame (2017)
- Rugby League Immortal (2018)
Biography
Dally Messenger, Sydney Rooster #18, was Rugby League’s first ‘superstar player’ and seen by many as the catalyst for the establishment of the code in Australia, after converting from rugby union.
Between 1908 and 1913 he played 48 games for Easts and seven tests for Australia. He was a powerful runner of the ball, a solid defender and could kick goals from anywhere on the field.
Messenger was the catalyst for the Club's first three Premierships, won in 1911, 1912 and 1913. Such was his contribution, the Club presented him with the Agricultural Shield at the conclusion of the 1913 triumph.
Hall Of Fame | Dally Messenger
Appropriately, one of the best to lace on a boot was honoured in 1980 bearing the name of the Player of the Year - the Dally M Medal - and was made one of Rugby League's 'Immortals' in 2018.
Messenger was named in the Roosters All-Time Team from 1908-2007 - and was named in both the Australian Rugby League Team of the Century and the New South Wales Rugby League Team of the Century in 2008.
“Nobody but Dally ever knew what was going to happen when he got the ball. His teammates were often as mystified as the opposition.”
Dan Frawley Teammate
Hall of Fame Members
Sydney Roosters respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.
