Bobby Banks: Footy legend dead aged 94 as tributes pour in for one of the all-time greats of the game
- Bobby Banks has died at the age of 94
- Football legend seen as a great of the game
- He represented Australia 15 times
The football world is in mourning after the death of Bobby Marjoribanks, one of the greatest footballers of all time.
Marjoribanks, nicknamed Bobby Banks by commentators and fans, died on Wednesday night at the age of 94, the Newcastle Herald reported.
The boy from Central Newcastle was the oldest living Kangaroos player until his death.
Marjoribanks, a former five-eighth and centre, played for the Butcher Boys in his younger years, where he developed his famous evasive skills by dodging telegraph poles on his way home from training at Learmonth Park in Hamilton.
As a teenager he helped Central win the Newcastle Rugby League competition in 1949 and the following year played for Eastern Suburbs in Sydney, scoring five goals in 18 games.
His career took off the following season after he moved to Queensland club Charters Towers, wearing the burgundy shirt an impressive 31 times between 1952 and 1962.
Although they failed to defeat the all-powerful NSW, Marjoribanks made a huge impression and was awarded his first Kangaroos cap in 1953.
He subsequently played for Australia at the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1954, held in France, and toured France and England in 1956–57, appearing in all six Test matches.
Bobby Marjoribanks has died at the age of 94, it has been confirmed
The football legend, better known as Bobby Banks, played 15 tests for Australia
Marjoribanks played his 15th and final Test match against Great Britain in 1962, representing his country at the age of 32.
When his active career came to an end, he returned to his home town and became captain-coach of Waratah-Mayfield.
In 2008 he was named in the Newcastle Rugby League Team of the Century, ranked fifth and eighth alongside Immortal Andrew Johns.
Marjoribanks was a multi-talented athlete, boxed professionally and was a good cricketer, knocking out Richie Benaud in a junior representative match. He also won frames against snooker champion Eddie Charlton on one occasion.
He is survived by his son John, daughter Karen, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. His funeral will take place at Pettigrew’s, Mayfield, on Thursday 18th July.
Attendees were asked to wear their favorite football colors.