Johnny King

Johnny Cecil King (born 2 July 1942, in Gilgandra, New South Wales) is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He was a winger with the St. George Dragons for the last seven years of their eleven consecutive premiership-winning run from 1956 to 1966. He was a representative in the Australian national team from 1966–1970, earning 15 Test caps. He has been named among the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century.

King's early life alternated between Sydney and north western New South Wales. His father, Cec King, was a motor mechanic who had stints working at Gulgong, Gilgandra and Gulargambone. Cec King, had played 19 matches for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in reserves and first grade in 1943 and 1944. Johnny King was an apprentice jeweller at aged 16 in Gilgandra before moving to Sydney to continue his trade. In 1958 he joined the Arncliffe Scots D grade junior rugby league side as a fullback and the following year played in the St George Dragons' Presidents Cup side. He trialled with the South Sydney Rabbitohs in 1959 but was turned down by coach Bernie Purcell.

He was graded in 1960 to the St. George Dragons third grade side and towards of the end of the 1960 season played five games on the wing in first grade including the 1960 Grand Final victory over the Eastern Suburbs Roosters in which he scored two tries.