William Askew "Billy" Cann - South Sydney Player Report

Forward

FG Player - 14

Billy Cann was a South Sydney founding father and one of the original pioneers of rugby league in 1907. A three time South Sydney premiership winner in 1908, 1909 and 1914, who also played in two other premiership deciders in 1910 and 1916. He also played in the premiership winning 1905 South Sydney Rugby Union team. In the move to rugby league, he would go on and revolutionise how locks play. He briefly came out of retirement during the 1920 South Sydney western Tour matches, showing he still had the ability scoring two tries.

Player Relatives
Brother     - Cann, Sydney 

Representative Qualification
NSW City

Date of Birth
Sydney - 11th October 1882 (Died - 1958) 

Previous Clubs                             First Grade
                                       M  T  G  FG  Pt 
Cleveland RU             (1901-03)
South Sydney RU (2G)     (1904-05)
South Sydney RU          (1905-07)    20  5  -   -  15

Previous Rep Honours                   M  T   G FG  Pt
Combined 2G RU           (1905)

Playing Career at South Sydney (1908-16,20)

South Sydney First Grade Debut
1908 Rd02 RASG v Western Suburbs (25y 197d)

First Grade
                           Premiership :                        City Cup :                            Tour
         M   S   R   T   G/A   FG  Pts :   M   S   R   T   G/A   FG  Pts :   M   S   R   T   G/A   FG  Pts
1908     5   5   -   6   -      -   18 
1909     9   8  (1)  7   -      -   21 :                                 :   1   1   -   1   -      -    3
1910     9   9   -   5   3      -   21
1911    10  10   -   2   1      -    8 :                                 :   -   -   -   -   -      -    -
1912     9   9   -   3   -      -    9 :   -   -   -   -   -      -    -
1913    13  13   -   6   -      -   18 :   -   -   -   -   -      -    -
1914     9   9   -   2   -      -    6 :   2   2   -   1   -      -    3 :   -   -   -   -   -      -    -
1915     5   5   -   -   -      -    - :   -   -   -   -   -      -    -
1916     3   3   -   -   -      -    - :   1   1   -   -   -      -    - :   -   -   -   -   -      -    -
1920     -   -   -   -   -      -    - :   -   -   -   -   -      -    - :   2   2   -   2   -      -    6

TOTAL   72  71  (1) 31   4      -  101 :   3   3   -   1   -      -    3 :   3   3   -   3   -      -    9

SS FG   78  77  (1) 35   4      -  113 

Lower Grades
                         Second  Grade :           (2G)Sports Ground Cup :                     Third Grade : 
Year     M   S   R   T   G/A   FG  Pts :   M   S   R   T   G/A   FG  Pts :   M   S   R   T   G/A   FG  Pts : 
1908     -   -   -   -   -      -    - :                                 :   -   -   -   -   -      -    -
1909     -   -   -   -   -      -    - :                                 :   -   -   -   -   -      -    -
1910     -   -   -   -   -      -    - :                                 :   -   -   -   -   -      -    -
1911     -   -   -   -   -      -    - :                                 :   -   -   -   -   -      -    -
1912     -   -   -   -   -      -    - :   -   -   -   -   -      -    - :   -   -   -   -   -      -    -
1913     -   -   -   -   -      -    - :   -   -   -   -   -      -    - :   -   -   -   -   -      -    -
1914     -   -   -   -   -      -    - :   -   -   -   -   -      -    - :   -   -   -   -   -      -    -
1915     -   -   -   -   -      -    - :   -   -   -   -   -      -    - :   -   -   -   -   -      -    -
1916     -   -   -   -   -      -    - :   -   -   -   -   -      -    - :   -   -   -   -   -      -    -
1920     -   -   -   -   -      -    - :   -   -   -   -   -      -    - :   -   -   -   -   -      -    -

TOTAL    -   -   -   -   -      -    - :   -   -   -   -   -      -    - :   -   -   -   -   -      -    - 

South Sydney Senior(FG/RG/3G) Grade Career
                           Premiership :                     All Matches
         M   S   R   T   G/A   FG  Pts :   M   S   R   T   G/A   FG  Pts
CAREER  72  71  (1) 31   4      -  101 :  78  77  (1) 35   4      -  113

Short Form
                   Short-Game Knockout
         M   S   R   T   G/A   FG  Pts
1915     -   -   -   -   -      -    -

TOTAL    -   -   -   -   -      -    -

SS SF    -   -   -   -   -      -    -

Captaincy Record At South Sydney

South Sydney First Grade Captaincy Debut
1911 Rd01  v Norths

     First Grade
Year Premiership(  W- D-L      %)
1911          10(  7- 2-1    70%) :
1913           2(  1- 0-1    50%) :

TOTAL         12(  8- 2-2    67%)

SS FG         12(  8- 2-2    67%)

Suspension Record at South Sydney

Year       Grade v         Wk CHARGE
1910 Rd10  FG    Newtown    0 Excessive Roughness

Player Awards

Year  Award
1907 - Pioneers First Try Scorer Medal - Forwards
1908 - NSWRL Life Membership
1952 - Rugby League News Immortal
2007 - ARL 100 Greatest Players
2018 - NRL Hall of Fame
2021 - South Sydney Founding Father

Representative Honours at South Sydney

Domestic                                   CvC / Interstate :                       Tourists :                          Other
                              M   S   R   T   G/A   FG  Pts :  M   S   R   T   G/A   FG  Pts :  M   S   R   T   G/A   FG  Pts
New South Wales      1907-13  6   6   -   8   7      -   38 : 21  21   -   6   2      -   22 : 12  12   -  11   3      -   39
Kangaroos            1909,17                                :                                :  3   3   -   1   -      -    3
Sydney Metropolis    1912     1   1   -   1   -      -    3 :                                :

TOTAL                        43  43   -  27  12      -  105

International                                Internationals :                          Other
                              M   S   R   T   G/A   FG  Pts :  M   S   R   T   G/A   FG  Pts
Australia            1908-14  7   7   -   2   -      -    6 : 15  15   -   3   -      -    9
Australasia          1910-12  5   5   -   1   1      -    5 : 20  20   -  10   3      -   36

TOTAL                        47  47   -  16   4      -   56

ALL REPS                     90  90   -  43  16      -  161

Year Pos  Team                 Versus               Match         T  G/A  FG

1907 Fwd  NSW Pioneer          v New Zealand        1st Match     1  -     -
1907 Wing NSW Pioneer          v New Zealand        2nd Match     -  -     -
1907 Fwd  NSW Pioneer          v New Zealand        3rd Match     -  -     -

1908 Fwd  Australia            v New Zealand        3rd Test      -  -     -
1908 SRow New South Wales      v NZ Maoris          2nd Match     -  -     -
1908 SRow New South Wales      v Queensland         1st Match     1  -     -
1908 SRow Australia            v NZ Maoris          1st Match     -  -     -
1908 Res  Australia            v NZ Maoris          2nd Match                     (Match Cancelled)
1908      Australia            (Kangaroo Tour) 
1908 Lock Australia            v Rochdale           Tour Match    -  -     -
1908 Lock Australia            v Leigh              Tour Match    -  -     -
1909 Lock Australia            v Widnes             Tour Match    -  -     -
1909 SRow Australia            v Batley             Tour Match    -  -     -
1909 Prop Australia            v Ebbw Vale          Tour Match    -  -     -
1909 Cntr Australia            v Keighley           Tour Match    -  -     -
1909 SRow Australia            v St Helens          Tour Match    -  -     -
1909 SRow Australia            v Warrington         Tour Match2   -  -     -

1909 Fwd  Australia            v New South Wales    1st Match     -  -     -
1909 Fwd  Australia            v New South Wales    2nd Match     1  -     -
1909 Fwd  New South Wales      v New Zealand        1st Match     -  -     -
1909 Fwd  New South Wales      v New Zealand        2nd Match     1  -     -
1909 Fwd  Australia            v New Zealand        1st Test      -  -     -
1909 Fwd  New South Wales      v New Zealand        3rd Match                     (Withdrew due to injury)
1909 Fwd  Australia            v New Zealand        3rd Test      -  -     -
1909 Fwd  New South Wales      v NZ Maori           1st Match     1  -     -
1909 Fwd  Australia            v NZ Maori           1st Match     -  -     -
1909 Fwd  Australia            v NZ Maori           3rd Match     -  -     -
1909 Fwd  Australia            v NZ Maori           4th Match     -  -     -
1909 Fwd  Kangaroos            v Wallabies          1st Match     -  -     -
1909 Fwd  Kangaroos            v Wallabies          3rd Match     -  -     -

1910 Fwd  New South Wales      v England            1st Match     1  -     -
1910 Fwd  New South Wales      v England            2nd Match     -  -     -
1910 Res  Australia            v England            1st Test                      (Selected but DNP)
1910 Fwd  Australia            v England            2nd Test      2  -     -
1910 Fwd  Australasia          v England            1st Test      -  -     - 
1910 Fwd  Australasia          v England            2nd Test      -  -     - 
1910 Fwd  New South Wales      v Newcastle          1st Match     4  -     -
1910 Fwd  New South Wales      v Queensland         1st Match     1  4     -
1910 Fwd  New South Wales      v Queensland         2nd Match     1  1     -
1910 Fwd  New South Wales      v Queensland         3rd Match     -  2     -

1911 Fwd  New South Wales      v Queensland         1st Match     2  -     -
1911 Fwd  New South Wales      v New Zealand        1st Match     1  -     -
1911 Fwd  New South Wales      v New Zealand        3rd Match     -  -     -
1911      Australasia          (Kangaroo Tour)    
1911 Prop Australasia          v Yorkshire          Tour Match    2  3     -
1911 SRow Australasia          v Widnes             Tour Match    -  -     -
1911 Lock Australasia          v English League     Tour Match    -  -     -
1911 Lock Australasia          v Wigan              Tour Match    -  -     -
1911 Lock Australasia          v Swinton            Tour Match    -  -     -
1911 Lock Australasia          v Hull               Tour Match    1  -     -
1911 Lock Australasia          v England            1st Test      1  1     -
1911 Lock Australasia          v Oldham             Tour Match    -  -     -
1911 Prop Australasia          v Wakefield Trinity  Tour Match    2  -     -
1911 SRow Australasia          v Barrow             Tour Match1   1  -     -
1911 SRow Australasia          v Runcorn            Tour Match1   -  -     -
1911 SRow Australasia          v Huddersfield       Tour Match    -  -     -
1911 SRow Australasia          v England XIII       Tour Match2   -  -     -
1911 SRow Australasia          v England            2nd Test      -  -     -
1911 SRow Australasia          v Wales/West England Tour Match    -  -     -
1911 Prop Australasia          v Warrington         Tour Match    2  -     -
1912 Prop Australasia          v England            3rd Test      -  -     -
1912 Prop Australasia          v Leeds              Tour Match    -  -     -
1912 Prop Australasia          v Barrow             Tour Match2   -  -     -
1912 Prop Australasia          v Batley             Tour Match    1  -     -
1912 5/8  Australasia          v Northern League    Tour Match    -  -     -
1912 Lock Australasia          v Runcorn            Tour Match2   -  -     -

1912 Fwd  Australasia          v Metropolitan                     1  -     -
1912 Fwd  New South Wales      v Queensland         1st Match     3  -     -
1912 Fwd  Sydney Metropolis    v NSW Country        1st Match     1  -     -
1912 Fwd  New South Wales      v New Zealand        1st Match     -  -     -
1912 Fwd  New South Wales      v New Zealand        2nd Match     -  -     -
1912 Fwd  Australia            v New Zealand        1st Match     -  -     -
1912 Fwd  New South Wales      v New Zealand        3rd Match     -  -     -
1912      New South Wales      (New Zealand Tour Squad)
1912 Fwd  New South Wales      v Taranki            Tour Match    -  -     -
1912 Fwd  New South Wales      v Rotorua            Tour Match    1  -     -
1912 Fwd  New South Wales      v New Zealand        4th Match     -  -     -
1912 Fwd  New South Wales      v Hawke's Bay        Tour Match    1  -     -
1912 Fwd  New South Wales      v NZ Canterbury      Tour Match    2  -     -
1912 Fwd  New South Wales      v Wangunui           Tour Match    1  -     -
1912 Fwd  New South Wales      v Auckland           Tour Match2   -  -     -

1913 Fwd  New South Wales      v New Zealand        1st Match     -  -     -
1913 Fwd  New South Wales      v New Zealand        2nd Match     -  -     -
1913 Fwd  New South Wales      v New Zealand        3rd Match     -  -     -
1913 Fwd  New South Wales      v New Zealand        4th Match     -  -     -
1913      New South Wales      (New Zealand Tour Squad)
1913 Fwd  New South Wales      v Canterbury (NZ)    Tour Match    -  2     -
1913 Fwd  New South Wales      v Auckland           Tour Match    1  -     -
1913 Fwd  New South Wales      v Waikato            Tour Match    1  -     - 
1913 Fwd  New South Wales      v New Zealand        5th Match     1  1     -
1913 Fwd  New South Wales      v Wellington         Tour Match    -  -     -
1913 Fwd  New South Wales      v New Zealand        6th Match     -  1     -
1913 Fwd  New South Wales      v Nelson             Tour Match    -  1     -

1914 Res  Sydney Metropolis    v England            Tour Match                    (Selected but DNP)
1914 Res  New South Wales      v England            1st Match                     (Selected but DNP)
1914 Res  Australia            v England            1st Test                      (Selected but DNP)
1914 Fwd  Australia            v England            2nd Test      -  -     -
1914 Fwd  Australia            v England            3rd Test      -  -     -

1917 Fwd  Kangaroos            v New South Wales                  1  -     -

Ref - SSFC / HoS p25 / SSLC-S v4n24 p3 / RLH p6 / GGRL p154 / NRL / Wiki / RLP / ANC / FN-46


© 2023 SSR Almanac / HOME / ABBREVIATIONS / RETURN