Ricky Walford

Ricky Walford

Personal information
Born	(1963-12-08) 8 December 1963 (age 53) Walgett, New South Wales,  Australia
Playing information
Position	Wing
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1982–83 Eastern Suburbs 13 4 6 0 24 1984 North Sydney 11 8 21 0 74 1985–96 St. George 206 104 229 0 874 Total 230 116 256 0 972 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1989–90 Country Origin 2 2 5 0 18 1990 New South Wales 1 0 0 0 0
Source: NRL Stats RLP

Ricky Walford (born 8 December 1963) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. He played for the Sydney Roosters, North Sydney Bears and the St. George Dragons. He was a classy goal-kicking winger.

Walford was selected from Walgett, New South Wales as an Australian schoolboy representative and toured New Zealand in 1981.

In 1983 Walford joined the Eastern Suburbs Roosters and made13 appearances for the tri-colours in 1982 and 1983. He made his first grade debut in Round 2 of the 1982 season and kicked two goals coming from the bench, going on to score three tries and kicking four goals in seven appearances. Walford played in only six games in 1983 for the Roosters, scoring no tries or goals. He then moved north of Sydney Harbour in 1984 and played 11 games for the North Sydney Bears, scoring eight tries and kicking 21 goals.

Ricky Walford was one of a dying breed of goal kickers in top-line rugby league. He was an old style direct 'toe poker' of the ball rather than using an 'around-the-corner' style that gives the kicker greater accuracy, and has proved popular since Englishman John Gray introduced the style to Australia when he joined The Bears in 1975.

Walford joined the St. George Dragons in 1985 but only played two games for the season and missed out on the Dragon's heartbreaking 6-7 loss to Canterbury-Bankstown in the Grand Final at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He cemented his place on the wing for the Dragons in the 1986 season and scored nine tries in 17 games to be the club's leading try scorer.