The Illawarra Team of the Century was announced in Wollongong on Wednesday 20 July. Around 800 people packed into the WIN Entertainment centre for a dinner to celebrate 100 years of Illawarra Rugby League and the team was one of the night's many highlights.
The first official Rugby League competition began in the Wollongong area began in 1911, after several Rugby Union clubs decided to play the new code. Every player in the starting XIII has played Test football, while three of the four reserves have also done this. Former Newtown and Illawarra Wests prop, Bruce Olive, is the only man in the 17 players named, who did not reach the Test arena, but he played nine matches for NSW from 1958 to 1962. There are 248 Tests caps in the starting XIII and another 13 on the reserves bench.
The Illawarra Team of the Century with their number of Tests played and their span of Test football is as follows:
Graeme Langlands 45 Tests from 1963 to 1975, Ian Moir 12, 1954-1959, Paul McGregor 4, 1994-1997, Harry Wells 29, 1952-1960, Rod Wishart 17, 1991-1996, Bob Fulton 35, 1968-1978, Trent Barrett 15, 2000-2005, Noel Mulligan 10, 1946-1951, Ron Costello 4, 1969-1971, Craig Fitzgibbon, 18, 2002-2008, Steve Roach 20, 1985-1991, Kevin Schubert 19, 1948-1952, Craig Young 20, 1978-1984.
The reserves are John Dorahy 2, 1978, Shaun Timmins 9, 1999-2004, Ben Creagh 2, 2005 and 2011, Bruce Olive 0 Tests, 9 games for NSW from 1958-1962.
Coach Harry Nolan, Referee Alf Grew.