Graham Laird (1934 – 15 April 1958) was an Australian rugby league player.
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 1934 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 15 April 1958 (aged 24) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Five-eighth | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Raised in the Mackay Region, Laird was the elder brother of Queensland and Australia fullback Ray.[1]
Laird started out in North Queensland playing for the Magpies in the Mackay league and was the competition's "best and fairest" player in the 1954 season.[2] In 1955, Laird switched to Toowoomba and won selection as Queensland five-eighth for the interstate series against New South Wales. This was followed by a national call up for home Tests against France and he scored two tries on debut at the Gabba. He competed for the Parramatta Eels in the 1956 NSWRFL season, then had a season with Narromine, before returning to Queensland.[3][4]
In 1958, Laird was early into his first season as captain-coach of Mackay when he got crushed by an overturned tractor while farming near Ilbilbie, Queensland. Although rescued by a motorist, Laird had suffered fatal injuries, having been trapped until the tractor for several hours. He died on the way to the hospital.[5]
References
edit- ^ "League world mourns the loss of Ray Laird". The Toowoomba Chronicle. 6 February 2019.
- ^ "Graham Laird wins "best and fairest"". Daily Mercury. 22 September 1954. p. 15 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Parramatta Signs Test Five-eighth". The Sydney Morning Herald. 15 September 1955.
- ^ "Queenslanders rewriting history on those from up north who proudly wore sky blue before Origin". The Roar. 2 June 2024.
- ^ "Ex-League Star Killed". The Biz. 16 April 1958. p. 27 – via National Library of Australia.
External links
edit- Graham Laird at Rugby League Project