Merv Lees

Mervyn John Lees (1932-2018) was an Australian professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s. He was a premiership-winning centre with the St George Dragons and a state representative.

Personal information
Full nameMervyn John Lees
Born(1932-11-01)1 November 1932
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
DiedMay 11, 2018(2018-05-11) (aged 85–86)
Caringbah, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
PositionCentre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1953–58 St George Dragons 56 35 0 0 105
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1954–55 New South Wales 5 3 0 0 9
1956 NSW City 1 2 0 0 6
Source: [1]

Career

Merv 'Smacka' Lees played five seasons at the St George Dragons between 1953-1958 and began his rugby league career at the Banksia Waratahs R.L.F.C. as a child. He went on to win a premiership with St George in 1956 under coach Norm Tipping, and also played in the 1953 grand final side that were runners up. Injuries curtailed his career, and he retired in 1959.

Lees was a prolific try scorer, his best performance was possibly was on 24 July 1954 in a club first grade game against the North Sydney Bears at the Sydney Cricket Ground when he scored 5 tries in the match.[2]

Lees represented New South Wales on four occasions between 1954-1955 which included the infamous 'Abandoned Game' against the touring English team on 10 July 1954 at the S.C.G.[3]

A newspaper article in the St. George and Sutherland Shire Leader in 2012 regarding Merv Lees' 80th birthday suggested he was still in good health and still had many great memories of his playing career for the St George Dragons and N.S.W.[4] Lees was an active member of the Men Of League Foundation during his final years.[5]

Death

Lees died on 11 May 2018 aged 85.[6][7]

References
  1. "Merv Lees - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". Rugbyleagueproject.org.
  2. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/168411523?searchTerm=merv%20lees%205%20tries%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20&searchLimits=l-state=New+South+Wales%7C%7C%7Cl-decade=195%7C%7C%7Cl-year=1954
  3. Alan Whitiker/Glen Hudson: Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players, 1995. (ISBN 1875169571).
  4. St. George Sutherland Shire Leader.(Article) by Brad Forest 14/11/2012 (http://www.theleader.com.au/story/955379/lees-recalls-ugly-farce-of-54/)
  5. https://menofleague.com/2016/06/27/a-visit-to-merv-lees/
  6. https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2018/05/12/vale-merv-lees/
  7. Death Notice. The Leader 16 Jun 2018. http://tributes.theleader.com.au/obituaries/theleader-au/obituary.aspx?n=mervyn-john-lees&pid=189005217
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