Rayner is a 5 time South Sydney premiership winning captain-coach in 1950, 1951, 1953, 1954 and 1955. He also captained South Sydney to premiership decider in 1949 and captained-coach again in 1952. A total of 7 premiership deciders in a row. He won the Australian Club Championship with South Sydney in 1952. Rayner was a member of the 1948-49 Kangaroo Tour of England and France, and the 1949 Kangaroo Tour of New Zealand.
Rayner was born in Coraki and played schoolboy rugby league up in Lismore as a centre three quarter and was a 440 yard running champion. He moved to Sydney and played hockey and cricket, before enlisting. He was stationed in New Guinea and Bouganville during World War II. Rayner played football and ran athletics when his unit had time off. Rayner was his units 440 yard running champion. After playing front row, former South Sydney player Eric Lewis saw him in action, impressed with his build, and upon learning of his running skills moved him to lock during the Army inter-camp between New South Wales and Queensland. Lewis told Rayner to go to South Sydney after war, and Rayner promised that he would. In 1946 Rayner, a Policeman, after the war, turned up true to his word, trialed at South Sydney and was graded. He initially qualified under the service mans rule to play with South Sydney. He made his senior grade and first grade club and premiership debut in the 1946 Round 1 clash against Newtown at Pratten Park.
Rayner explained how he found his way to South Sydney. "When I was in the Army in New Guinea we used to play Rugby League against different regiments and battalions and brigades, "We played a game in Port Moresby and Eric Lewis from Souths was in it. He asked if we come out of this alright if I consider playing football with Souths. I said 'we'll see if I'm good enough to play'. I went in the trial match and as a result I was graded in the first-grade side. So I went to the Rabbitohs and never regretted it. I played all my football with Souths."
Rayner was a imposing figure on the field. He was rugged, with corregated iron features at 6 foot 2 frame, commanded respect. He was known as the "Iron Man" or the "Human Robot" due to his perpetual motion ability on the field during the full 80 minutes. He was known for his feirce tackling and being a great blind side cover defender. As captain he was a brillian tactician, and inspirational leader.
Rayner played 12 seasons with South Sydney from 1946 to 1957. He played his entire South Sydney career in first grade. He played 212 first grade club games, which included 194 premiership games and 1 cup game for South Sydney.
Rayner scored 227 first grade club points for South Sydney which included 190 first grade premiership points from 58 tries and 8 goals.
Rayner would captain South Sydney on 200 occasions in first grade, which included 182 first grade premiership games. In 1947 Rayner made his first grade captaincy debut in the 1947 Round 8 clash against Eastern Suburbs at the Sports Ground. His success rate of 70% as captain is one of the best in the league. In 1950 he took over as captain-coach of South Sydney and would do until his retirement.
At representative level, Rayner made his representative debut in 1946 Sydney Seconds clash at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He missed out on playing against England that year after inuring his ankle. In 1947 he stepped up to play for Sdyeny City and made his New South Wales debut against Queensland in the 1947 1st Interstate clash at the Sydney Cricket Ground. In 1948 he made his international debut for Australia in the 1948 1st Test against New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Overall he played 64 represntative games while at South Sydney. He played 32 games for Australia, which included 6 internationals. He played 19 games for New South Wales, which included 12 interstate fixtures. In 1951 Rayner captained New South Wales against France. Rayner played his final representative game for New South Wales in the 1954 3rd match against the touring Great Britain team at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Rayner one of the greats in the 1950's South Sydney era, won the 1953 E.E.Christensens NSWRL Player of the Year award. The Sunday Telegraph name him as Captain of the Year in 1953 and 1955. He was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal for his performance in the 1955 Grand Final victory. In 1968 was awarad South Sydney DRLFC Life Membership and in 2004 he was named in the South Sydney Dream Team as coach. 2002 the Jack Rayner South Sydney Players Player annual award was named in his honour.
Rayner played his final first grade game in the 1957 Round 17 clash against Canterbury-Bankstown at Belmore Oval. He retired as South Sydney's oldest player to play first grade at 36 years and 128 days, a record he would hold until 2021.
Rayner is one of greatest ever players to play with South Sydney.
Playing - Height / Weight
6ft 2in / 14st 7lb
Representative Qualification
NSW Country
Date of Birth
Coraki, NSW - 11th April 1921 (Died - 2008)
Previous Clubs First Grade
M T G FG Pt
Lismore (Schoolboys)
Paddington (Hockey) (1942)
Paddington (Cricket) (1945-47) (Fast-Medium RH Bowler)
Military Service (1941-45) Army Private 61st Australia Infrantry Battalion (Served in New Guinea & Bouganville)
Previous Rep Honours M T G FG Pt
Army (NSW based players)
Playing Career at South Sydney (1946-57)
South Sydney First Grade Debut
1946 Apr 13 Rd01 Prat v Newtown (25y 2d)
First Grade
Premiership : Australian Championship : 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
1946 5 5 - - - - - : : - - - - - - -
1947 16 16 - 10 - - 30 : : - - - - - - -
1948 9 9 - 3 - - 9 : : - - - - - - -
1949 20 20 - 5 - - 15 : : - - - - - - -
1950 18 18 - 5 - - 15 : : 2 2 - 1 - - 3
1951 19 19 - 5 3 - 21 : 1 1 - - 1 - 2 : 3 3 - 3 2 - 13
1952 21 21 - 5 1 - 17 : : 4 4 - 1 - - 3
1953 19 19 - 5 4 - 23 : : 1 1 - - 2 - 4
1954 18 18 - 6 - - 18 : : 2 2 - 2 - - 6
1955 18 18 - 4 - - 12 : : 3 3 - 2 - - 6
1956 19 19 - 10 - - 30 : : 1 1 - - - - -
1957 12 12 - - - - - : : 1 1 - - - - -
TOTAL 194 194 - 58 8 - 190 : 1 1 - - 1 - 2 : 17 17 - 9 4 - 35
SS Cup 1 1 - - 1 - 2
SS FG 212 212 - 67 13 - 227
Lower Grades
Reserve Grade : Third Grade
Year M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts
1946 - - - - - - - : - - - - - - -
1947 - - - - - - - : - - - - - - -
1948 - - - - - - - : - - - - - - -
1949 - - - - - - - : - - - - - - -
1950 - - - - - - - : - - - - - - -
1951 - - - - - - - : - - - - - - -
1952 - - - - - - - : - - - - - - -
1953 - - - - - - - : - - - - - - -
1954 - - - - - - - : - - - - - - -
1955 - - - - - - - : - - - - - - -
1956 - - - - - - - : - - - - - - -
1957 - - - - - - - : - - - - - - -
TOTAL - - - - - - - : - - - - - - -
South Sydney Senior(FG/RG/3G) Grade Career
Premiership : Cup : All Matches
M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts
CAREER 194 194 - 58 8 - 190 : 1 1 - - 1 - 2 : 212 212 - 67 13 - 227
Short Form
Short-Game Matches
M S R T G/A FG Pts
1946 - - - - - - -
TOTAL - - - - - - -
SS SF - - - - - - -
Captaincy Record at South Sydney
South Sydney First Grade Captaincy Debut
1947 Rd08 SSG v Eastern Suburbs
First Grade
Year Premiership( W- D-L %) : Other( W- D-L %)
1947 9( 4- 0-5 44%) :
1948 8( 3- 1-4 38%) :
1949 20( 13- 1-6 65%) :
1950 18( 15- 0-3 83%) : 2( 2- 0-0 100%)
1951 19( 16- 1-2 84%) : 4( 3- 0-1 75%)
1952 21( 14- 0-7 67%) : 4( 4- 0-0 100%)
1953 19( 13- 1-5 68%) : 1( 0- 0-1 0%)
1954 19( 15- 1-3 79%) : 2( 2- 0-0 100%)
1955 18( 13- 0-5 72%) : 3( 3- 0-0 100%)
1956 19( 12- 1-6 63%) : 1( 1- 0-0 100%)
1957 12( 7- 0-5 58%) : 1( 1- 0-0 100%)
TOTAL 182(125- 6-51 69%) : 18( 16- 0-2 89%)
SS FG 200(140- 6-54 70%)
Suspension Record at South Sydney
Year Grade v Wk CHARGE never
Player Awards
Year Award 1953 - E.E.Christensen Player of the Year 1953 - Sunday Telegraph Star of the Year 1953 - Sunday Telegraph Captain of the Year 1955 - Sunday Telegraph Captain of the Year 1955 - Clive Churchill Medal (Grand Final Man of the Match) 1968 - South Sydney DRLFC Life Membership 1992 - Rugby League Week Top 100 (#71) 2002 - Jack Rayner Medal (South Sydney FG players player of the year) 2004 - South Sydney Dream Team (Coach) 2011 - Rayner-Farrell Cup (South Sydney v Newtown perpertual trophy)
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
Sydney City II 1946 : : 1 1 - - - - -
Probables 1946 : : 1 1 - - - - -
NSW Police 1946 : : 1 1 - - - - -
Sydney City 1947-54 6 6 - 5 - - 15 : 2 2 - 2 - - 6 :
New South Wales 1947-54 12 12 - 3 - - 9 : 6 6 - 2 - - 6 : 1 1 - 3 - - 9
Possibles 1951 : : 1 1 - - - - -
TOTAL 31 31 - 15 - - 45
International Internationals : Other
M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts
Australia 1948-49 6 6 - 1 - - 3 : 26 26 - 7 1 - 23
Australia XIII 1951 : 1 1 - - - - -
TOTAL 33 33 - 8 1 - 26
ALL REPS 64 64 - 23 1 - 71
Captaincy CvC/Interstate/Internationals : Tourists : Other
M( W- D-L %) : M( W- D-L %) : M( W- D-L %)
New South Wales 1951 : 1( 1- 0-0 0%) :
Sydney City 1953 : : 1( 1- 0-0 0%)
ALL REPS 2( 2- 0-0 0%)
Year Pos Team Versus Match T G/A FG
1946 SRow Sydney City II v NSW Country II - - -
1946 SRow Probables v Possibles - - - (injured his ankle)
1946 SRow NSW Police v Sydney - - -
1947 SRow Sydney City v NSW Country 1 - -
1947 SRow New South Wales v Queensland 1st Match - - -
1947 SRow New South Wales v Queensland 2nd Match - - -
1947 SRow New South Wales v The Rest 3 - -
1948 SRow Sydney City v NSW Country 1st Match - - -
1948 SRow New South Wales v Queensland 1st Match - - -
1948 SRow New South Wales v Queensland 2nd Match 1 - -
1948 SRow New South Wales v New Zealand Tour Match - - -
1948 SRow Australia v New Zealand 1st Test 1 - -
1948 Res Australia v New Zealand 2nd Test (Selected but DNP)
1948 SRow New South Wales v Queensland 3rd Match - - -
1948 SRow New South Wales v Queensland 4th Match - - -
1948 SRow Australia v South Australia Tour Match 1 - -
1948 SRow Australia v Belle Vue Tour Match - - -
1948 SRow Australia v Hull Tour Match - - -
1948 SRow Australia v Leigh Tour Match - - -
1948 SRow Australia v Salford Tour Match 1 - -
1948 SRow Australia v Great Britain 1st Test - - -
1948 SRow Australia v Cumberland Tour Match - - -
1948 SRow Australia v St Helens Tour Match - - -
1948 SRow Australia v Drewsbury Tour Match - - -
1948 SRow Australia v Hull KR Tour Match - - -
1948 SRow Australia v Wigan Tour Match - - -
1948 SRow Australia v Leeds Tour Match - - -
1948 SRow Australia v Warrington Tour Match - - -
1948 SRow Australia v Great Britain 2nd Test - - -
1948 SRow Australia v Bradford Nthrn Tour Match - - -
1948 SRow Australia v Swinton Tour Match 1 - -
1948 SRow Australia v Wales Test - - -
1948 SRow Australia v Yorkshire Tour Match - - -
1948 SRow Australia v Lancashire Tour Match - - -
1948 SRow Australia v Catalan Tour Match - - -
1949 SRow Australia v Languedoc Tour Match - - -
1949 SRow Australia v Cannes Tour Match - 1 -
1949 SRow Australia v French XIII Tour Match 3 - -
1949 SRow Australia v Cavaillon Tour Match - - -
1949 SRow Sydney City v NSW Country - - -
1949 SRow New South Wales v Queensland 1st Match - - -
1949 SRow New South Wales v Queensland 2nd Match 2 - -
1949 New South Wales v Queensland Tour Squad (Selected but withdrew due to work)
1949 SRow Australia v South Auckland Tour Match - - -
1949 SRow Australia v New Zealand 1st Test - - -
1949 SRow Australia v NZ West Coast Tour Match - - -
1949 SRow Australia v NZ South Island Tour Match - - -
1949 SRow Australia v NZ Maori Tour Match 1 - -
1949 SRow Australia v New Zealand 2nd Test - - -
1949 SRow Australia v Auckland Colts Tour Match - - -
1950 SRow Sydney City v NSW Country 1 - -
1950 SRow New South Wales v Queensland 1st Match - - -
1950 SRow New South Wales v Great Britain 1st Match - - -
1951 SRow Sydney City v NSW Country 1 - -
1951 SRow Possibles v Probables - - -
1951 SRow New South Wales v France 2nd Match - - - (c) W
1951 SRow Australia XIII v France - - -
1953 SRow Sydney City v Brisbane 2 - - (c) W
1954 SRow Sydney City v NSW Country 2 - -
1954 SRow New South Wales v Queensland 1st Match - - -
1954 SRow Sydney City v Great Britain - - -
1954 SRow New South Wales v Great Britain 1st Match - - -
1954 SRow New South Wales v Queensland 3rd Match - - -
1954 SRow New South Wales v Queensland 4th Match - - -
1954 SRow New South Wales v Great Britain 2nd Match - - - (Match abandoned)
1954 SRow New South Wales v Great Britain 3rd Match 2 - -
After Leaving South Sydney
Subsequent Clubs First Grade
M T G FG Pt
Parramatta (1958-60) (Coach)
First Class Playing Career (1946-57)
M T G FG Pts
Total FG Premiership 194 58 8 - 190
Total FG Cup 1 - 1 - 2
Total FG Club Tour 17 9 4 - 35
Total Internationals 6 1 - - 3
Total State 18 5 - - 15
Total Other Representative 40 7 11 - 53
TOTAL FIRST CLASS 276 80 24 - 278
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