Douglas Allan McRitchie was an Australian rugby league player who played in the 1940s and 1950s.
14 Facts About Doug McRitchie
1.
2.
Doug McRitchie had a long career with the club playing eight seasons in first grade between 1942 and 1950.
3.
Doug McRitchie was part of two sides who lost deciders - 1942 and 1946 and saw success with the 1949 premiership team.
4.
Doug McRitchie's career was disrupted during by WWII, he enlisted in the AIF and he saw service in New Guinea with the 129 Australian Brigade.
5.
Doug McRitchie represented New South Wales on six occasions between 1948 and 1950.
6.
Doug McRitchie is listed on the Australian Players Register as Kangaroo No 261.
7.
Doug McRitchie played a further two tests in 1950 against Great Britain, the last being of major significance.
8.
Doug McRitchie made the initial opening and overlap that gave Ron Roberts the try in the Sydney Cricket Ground mud heap on the 22 Jul 1950 Third Test.
9.
Doug McRitchie had hit the English Captain Ernest Ward so hard that the visiting star developed an aversion to tackling that resulted in a split-second hesitancy that gave Doug McRitchie the opening that proved so vital.
10.
Doug McRitchie was signed to captain-coach Queanbeyan, New South Wales in 1951.
11.
Doug's brother Bill McRitchie played for St George from 1942 to 1945.
12.
Doug McRitchie was awarded Life Membership of St George Dragons in 1997.
13.
Doug McRitchie died at Milton, New South Wales on 30 July 1998 on the eve of his 75th birthday.
14.
On 20 July 2022, Doug McRitchie was named in the St George Dragons District Rugby League Clubs team of the century.