Denis Lutge

Norths RU forward made his amateur Test debut in the first ever Australia v. All Blacks match in 1903. Lutge played in four RU Tests before becoming Norths' first club captain and nominated delegate to the NSWRL. Lutge played in the three Test series against NZ during the year, scoring two tries, and captained Australia in the Third Test of the first ‘Trans Tasman’ series, which was won by Australia 14-9 (also our first Test victory). The hardy prop acted as a NSW selector for the 1908-09 Kangaroos and was duly selected to lead the initial overseas tour by an Australian rugby league side (the players voted for their captain after the squad had set sail for England!) Despite having the confidence of his players Lutge had a personally unhappy tour in England. Lutge was injured in an early tour match, which limited him to just five games, and the Kangaroos were led by ‘Dally’ Messenger and Alex Burdon in the first ‘Anglo-Australian’ test series.