| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | John Leo Fitzgerald | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 4 January 1925 Lismore, New South Wales, Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 19 March 1965(1965-03-19) (aged 40) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Wing | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Coaching information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Jack Fitzgerald (1925-1965) was an Australian professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s, and coached in the 1960s. He played for Western Suburbs as a winger and later coached the club from 1961 to 1964.
Playing career
Fitzgerald began his career with Western Suburbs in 1949. In 1952, Fitzgerald was a member of the Western Suburbs side which claimed their fourth and final premiership defeating South Sydney in the grand final, with Fitzgerald scoring a try. Fitzgerald played for three more seasons before retiring as a player.
Coaching career
Fitzgerald began his coaching career in the lower grades at Western Suburbs until taking over as first grade coach in 1961. In his first year as coach, Fitzgerald won the minor premiership with Wests as they made the grand final against the all conquering St George side. Wests lost the match 22–0 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Fitzgerald then coached the club as they reached the 1962 and 1963 grand finals against St George losing on both occasions. This would be the last time that Western Suburbs would make a grand final as a stand-alone club. Fitzgerald coached for one last season in 1964 before stepping down. He died in 1965 aged 40.
References
- "Jack Fitzgerald - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". Rugbyleagueproject.org.
- "From the Vault: Magpies' last Grand Final victory". 28 March 2012.
- "Western Suburbs Magpies First Grade Players". Wests Magpies.
- Masters, Roy (28 August 2012). "With its future secure, league banks on its past for the stuff that legends are made of". The Sydney Morning Herald.
| Sporting positions | ||
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| Preceded byDudley Beger 1960 |
Coach Western Suburbs 1961–1964 |
Succeeded byKen Kearney 1965 |
| Western Suburbs squad - 1952 NSWRFL premiers (4th title) | |
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