Brian Carlson

Brian Carlson

Personal information
Born	(1933-02-12)12 February 1933 Wyoming, New South Wales, Australia
Died	14 April 1987(1987-04-14) (aged 54)
Playing information
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight	13 st 9 lb (87 kg; 191 lb)
Position	Fullback, Centre, Wing
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1951–54 Norths (Newcastle) 1956–57 Souths (Newcastle) 1957 Blackall 1957–62 North Sydney 74 31 211 0 515 Total 74 31 211 0 515 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1951 Newcastle 1 1 0 0 3 1952–59 New South Wales 10 8 13 50 1957 Queensland 4 2 1 0 8 1952–61 Australia 17 10 5 0 40
Coaching information
Representative Years Team Gms W D L W% 1961 Australia 2 1 0 1 50 1967–68 Country Firsts 2 1 0 1 50
Source: Rugby League Project and Yesterday's Hero

Brian Carlson (12 February 1933 – 14 April 1987) was an Australian professional rugby league footballer of the 1950s and 1960s. He was a centre & utility back for the Australia national team. He played in 17 Tests and 6 World Cup games between 1952 and 1961, as captain on 2 occasions. He is considered one of the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century.

Carlson was a naturally gifted athlete raised in Newcastle, New South Wales. He represented at district junior cricket, played 1st Grade cricket with the Wickham club in Newcastle, and was also a surf lifesaving competitor. After playing rugby league at school he was graded by the Newcastle Rugby League's Norths club in 1951.

When the 1951 French rugby league tour of Australia and New Zealand saw the powerful France national team come through Newcastle, 18-year-old Carlson was selected to play for the Newcastle team against them.

In 1952 he scored two tries on representative debut for Country Firsts. He 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.

He was selected in the 1952–53 Kangaroo tour as a winger. He played in two Tests against England, one against France and in sixteen minor tour games. He was highest try-scorer on the tour returning with a tally of twenty-nine.