Ernest William Newman

Ernest (‘Larry’) Newman was a graduate of Newington College, which has been a fine nursery of the game. When the 1922 New Zealand Maori team came to Australia a Newman from Manly played in the NSW Second XV against them, losing 18 to 27. Presumably this was “Larry’ Newman. Next visitor was the New Zealand All Blacks. Though their record was not very good, they had some outstanding players, such as Jack Steel, ‘Moke ‘Bellis, “Snowy’ Swenson, Harold Masters, who would coach in Australia and became an Australian selector, and the formidable Maurice Brownlie.

Newman was in New Zealand’s first match, against NSW, playing on the wing, ‘Bot’ Stanley and Larry Wogan in the centres, ‘Pup’ Raymond on the other wing, Otto Nothling at fullback, and Billy Sheehan and Arthur Walker in the inside positions. It was an excellent backline, but it was a 19 to 26 loss. Larry Newman scored the home team’s first try. He was then picked for the Metropolitan Union team, the second match of the All Black tour, this time in his customary position as a centre.

Though the home backs looked superior in the first half, they were starved of possession in the second period. A sound club player, he seemingly could not make the jump to the next level of rugby. He played just the one match for NSW in his career, but in 1986 it was declared a Test as no rugby was being played in Queensland at the time.