21 Facts About Brian Carlson

Brian Patrick Carlson was an Australian professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s.

Brian Carlson played in 17 Tests and 6 World Cup games between 1952 and 1961, as captain on 2 occasions.

Brian Carlson is considered one of the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century.

Brian Carlson represented at district junior cricket, played 1st Grade cricket with the Wickham club in Newcastle, and was a surf lifesaving competitor.

Brian Carlson represented for New South Wales that same season against Queensland in the 2nd game of the interstate series, and then against the touring New Zealanders.

Brian Carlson played in two Tests against England, one against France and in sixteen minor tour games.

Brian Carlson was highest try-scorer on the tour returning with a tally of twenty-nine.

Brian Carlson was close to death but recovered and sat out the 1955 season to recuperate.

Brian Carlson returned to the field in 1956 and 1957 accepting positions as player-coach firstly with Souths Newcastle then with Blackall, Queensland.

Brian Carlson was selected in the 1957 World Cup squad despite not being contracted to a club, having left Blackall in dispute over a release.

Brian Carlson played in three matches of the tournament, was top scorer with 28 points and named "Player of the 1957 World Cup".

Brian Carlson played in all three Tests in 1957 against the visiting Great Britain side.

Brian Carlson signed a contract with the North Sydney Bears where he would stay for six years.

In 1959 Brian Carlson played in the New South Wales loss to Queensland that attracted 35,261 spectators, smashing Brisbane's previous record for an interstate match of 22,817.

Brian Carlson was then named Australian captain in the first Test of 1959 against New Zealand.

Brian Carlson was the leading point scorer for Australia in the 1960 World Cup.

Brian Carlson returned to Newcastle's Souths club in 1963 as captain-coach for three seasons.

In 2005 Brian Carlson was inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame.

In 2007 Brian Carlson was selected by a panel of experts as a winger in an Australian 'Team of the 50s'.

In February 2008, Brian Carlson was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players which was commissioned by the NRL and ARL to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia.

In 2010 Brian Carlson was named in a South Newcastle team of the century.