Bilbija, who has Yugoslav(Serbian) heritage, took up Rugby League late in junior career at age 18, after playing soccer for 6 years. He also represented Balmain first grade in Water Polo. He came to South Sydney late in his career, after progressing through the Balmain ranks rapidly, before having stints with Parramatta, Lithgow, Merrylands(A Grade) and Western Suburbs. He made his first grade premiership debut for South Sydney in the 1988 Round 2 clash against Eastern Suburbs at the Sydney Football Stadium.
Bilbija was a strong forward and rugged defender, who always gave his full commitment.
Bilbija would play one one season with South Sydney. He played 5 first grade games for South Sydney, which included 4 premiership and 1 cup game. For South Sydney he would play 18 senior career grade games, which included 17 premiership career grade games.
Bilbija played his final first grade premiership game in the 1988 Round 12 clash against Western Suburbs at the Sydney Football Stadium, before playing out the rest of career in reserve grade.
Representative Qualification
Yugoslavia
NSW City
Date of Birth
1958 - (Died 2024)
Previous Clubs First Grade : Lower Grades : Juniors
M T G FG Pt : M T G FG Pt : M T G FG Pt
Balmain (Water Polo) :
Balmain (Juniors) (1978) :
Balmain (1979-81) 4 1 - - 3 :
Parramatta (1982) 1 - - - - :
Lithgow Workers (1983) :
Merrylands (1984-85) : (A Grade)
Western Suburbs (1986-87) 40 1 - - 4 :
Previous Rep Honours M T G FG Pt
Western Division (1983) 1 - - - -
Playing Career at South Sydney (1988)
South Sydney First Grade Debut
1988 Rd02 SFS v Eastern Suburbs (29y)
First Grade
Premiership : Midweek Cup
M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts
1988 4 - (4) - - - - : 1 - (1) - - - -
TOTAL 4 - (4) - - - - : 1 - (1) - - - -
SS Cup 1 - (1) - - - -
SS FG 5 - (5) - - - -
Lower Grades
(RG) Premiership
Year M S I T G/A FG Pts
1988 13 13 - - - - -
TOTAL 13 13 - - - - -
South Sydney Senior(FG/RG/3G) Grade Career
Premiership : Cup : All Matches
M S I T G/A FG Pts : M S I T G/A FG Pts : M S I T G/A FG Pts
CAREER 17 13 (4) - - - - : 1 - (1) - - - - : 18 13 (5) - - - -
Short Form
7s
M S R T G/A FG Pts
1988 - - - - - - -
TOTAL - - - - - - -
SS SF - - - - - - -
After Leaving South Sydney
Subsequent Clubs First Grade
M T G FG Pt
Western Suburbs (1991-92) (Coach - Metro Cup)
Ref - SSFC / DMA-24 p20 / RLR n172 p32 / Wiki / RLP
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