Bob Batty

Robert W. "Bob" Batty (18 January 1939 – 9 June 2004) was an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. A prolific goal kicking Fullback (though he started his career on the Wing), Batty played his entire career with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership.

Bob Batty
Personal information
Full nameRobert W. Batty
Born(1939-01-18)18 January 1939
Murwillumbah, New South Wales, Australia
Died9 June 2004(2004-06-09) (aged 65)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
PositionFullback, Wing
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1959–71 Manly-Warringah 205 40 501 18 1154

Career

A product of Murwillumbah in far north-eastern New South Wales, Batty came to the Sea Eagles in 1958 and made his first grade debut for the club on 3 May 1959 against Newtown at Brookvale Oval. He kicked two goals on the day, though Manly were beaten 15-11.[1]

Playing behind representative fullback and club captain Ron Willey, Batty played mostly in Reserve Grade for Manly, winning the Reserves premiership in 1960 before getting his chance when Willey moved to Parramatta in 1963.

With Willey's departure, Batty moved permanently into the fullback role and also took on the goal kicking duties for the first grade side. He would be a fixture in the Manly side until his retirement after a trial game before the 1972 season, making way for 18 year old goal kicking fullback Graham Eadie to take over the role. Ironically, after making his debut against Newtown at Brookvale in 1959, Batty's last regular premiership game for the Sea Eagles was also against the Bluebags at Brookvale Oval in the final round of the 1971 season. As he did on debut, he kicked two goals on the day though this time around Manly would win the game 25-5.[2] He would then appear in two Finals games, the last being a 15-12 loss to St George in the 1971 Preliminary Final at the Sydney Cricket Ground.[3]

A reliable last line of defence for the Sea Eagles, Batty played in the club's losing Grand Final to powerhouse club South Sydney in 1968.[4][5] The Sea Eagles would again face Souths in 1970, with again the Rabbitohs emerging victorious.[6]

Bob Batty became the first Manly-Warringah player to play over 200 games and score over 1,000 points for the club. He finished his career with a then club record 205 games and 1,154 points (40 tries, 501 goals and 18 field goals). As of the end of 2015, Batty's point scoring tally for Manly still sees him sitting third on the club's all-time list behind Graham Eadie (1,917) and current club captain Jamie Lyon (1,294).

Bob Batty also played 52 Reserve Grade games for Manly, scoring 23 tries and 45 goals. He was the 127th player to play first grade for the Sea Eagles and was made a life member of the club in 1973.[7]

Death

Bob Batty died on 9 June 2004 at the age of 65 after collapsing while working at Bunnings Warehouse in the Sydney suburb of Terrey Hills.[8]

In his honor, the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles NSW Cup (Reserve Grade) Best and Fairest award is named the "NSW Cup Bob Batty Best and Fairest".

References
  1. Rugby League Tables - Rd.7, 1959
  2. Rugby League Tables - Rd.22, 1971
  3. 1971 NSWRFL Prelim Final at Rugby League Project
  4. 1968 NSWRFL Grand Final at Rugby League Project
  5. 1968 NSWRL Grand Final highlights
  6. 1970 NSWRFL Grand Final at Rugby League Project
  7. Manly-Warringah Rugby Football League Club Annual Report 2014
  8. League Unlimited - RIP Bob Batty
Books
  • Smith, Robert (1991). The Sea Eagle Has Landed. Gary Lester for Sea Eagles Marketing. pp. 79–103. ISBN 0-949853-46-1.
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