Jack Rayner
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Personal information
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| Full name | Rupert John Raynor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 11 April 1921 Coraki, New South Wales, Australia |
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| Died | 17 May 2008 (age 87) Randwick, New South Wales, Australia |
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Playing information
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| Position | Second-row | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Coaching information
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| Source: & NRL Stats Archive | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jack Rayner (1921 – 2008) was an Australian state and national representative rugby league player and NSWRFL coach. His club playing career was with the South Sydney Rabbitohs from 1946 to 1957 and he also represented New South Wales on eleven occasions and played in five Test matches for the Australian national side.
Rayner served with the AIF in World War II in Papua New Guinea. He played rugby league in some inter-regiment games and was spotted by former Kangaroo and South Sydney coach Eric Lewis, who suggested that Rayner try out for Souths once the war ended.
Jack Rayner was introduced to the club by South's stalwart, Eric Lewis. Rayner trialled with Souths in 1946 and was graded straight to first grade. The Rabbitohs had won only one match in 1945. Rayner broke his ankle early in the 1946 season and the club ended up winless that year.
In 1947 Rayner was selected as club captain due to his leadership skills and tough performances as a second rower and the club managed nine wins and began to moveup the premiership ladder. In 1949 he was appointed the coach of the club as well as captain and Souths finished as minor-premiers and managed a Grand final appearance going down to St George in 1949 season decider.
Souths were by now the main premiership force and under Rayner entered their most successful era. For six consecutive seasons from 1950 the Rabbitohs were Grand Finalists, winning premierships in 1950, 1951, NSWRL season 1953, 1954 and 1955. They were denied by Western Suburbs in controversial circumstances in season 1952.
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