Captaining an Australian sporting team is the ultimate dream and is realised by precious few whose unique talents and leadership qualities allow them to seize an important moment in history. In almost a century of rugby league in this country that honour has fallen to just 65 men whose careers and achievements are outlined in this book, 'Captaining The Kangaroos: Australian Rugby League Captains'.
The careers of all the great rugby league captains - Messenger, Gorman, Brown, Prigg, Churchill, Gasnier, Raper, Langlands, Beetson, Fulton, Lewis and Meninga - are outlined in full with accompanying statistical information and Test team line-ups. Current champions such as Brad Fittler, Andrew Hohns, Gorden Tallis and Darren Lockyer - and whose chapters are still being written out on the playing field - are also included.
For the first time the stories of those lesser-known captains - 'Dinny' Lutge, the first Kangaroos captain; Joe Jorgensen, who pioneered the art of goal-kicking; the forgotten man, Len Smith; Newtown pivot Keith Froome; and Barry Muir, the proudest Queenslander of them all - are given the prominence their achievements deserve.
A book that recognises the achievements of Australian rugby league captains has been long overdue. For those of us old enough to have seen many of these great players in action it is bound to recall many memories of Tests and World Cup captains from times long past. Their stories may even provide a touch of inspiration for a new generation of young fans who dream of one day captaining their country.
