Cliff 'Napper' Lyons

Born in Narrandera, teenager Cliff Lyons came to the Cronulla district as a boarder from the Mount Druitt area (Tregear) and was graded as a second rower with the Sharks in 1981. He then played with the Gundagai Tigers for three seasons where he represented Riverina against NZ in 1982 and Great Britain in 1984. Lyons signed with Norths midway through that year, following his Riverina coach Greg Hawick to the Bears in 1985, before signing with Manly. His early career, which included stays with Leeds (1985-86) and Sheffield Eagles (1986-87) in England, saw him targeted by rival forwards but Lyons was tough enough to stand up for himself and there was no denying his talent at five-eighth. ‘Cliffy’ became a favourite with the Brookvale Oval crowds; represented NSW in the State of Origin match in Los Angeles in 1987and won the Clive Churchill Medal for his dynamic, try-scoring display against Canberra in the grand final. Lyons’ ability to set up tries for his support players with his uniquely unpredictable weaving runs saw him consistently win player awards, culminating in his ‘breakthrough’ rep season in 1990, age 29. After winning the coveted 'Dally M' Player of the Year award, he received his call-up to the Australian Test team on the 1990 Kangaroo tour. With Australia losing the First Test, Lyons was thrust into the Second Test team and repaid the faith shown in him by former club coach Bob Fulton by finishing one of the best team tries ever seen in an international match. He then switched play at a crucial stage which resulted in Ricky Stuart’s run that led to the winning try of the match. Lyons produced a solid display in the Third Test 14-0 shutout to win the Ashes before going on to play in both Tests in France (he was ‘man of the match’ in the Second Test). Lyons toured Papua New Guinea in 1991 and remained the focal point of the Manly attack with his deft ball skills and his authoritative bursts around the rucks. Cliff was particularly in his element in the ‘Sevens’ competitions; winning the ‘Player of the Competition’ in 1994 and captaining the Aboriginal ‘Dream Team’ in 1996. Despite winning his second Gold 'Dally M' award in 1994 he missed selection for what would have been a second Kangaroo tour. Lyons resisted a lucrative offer from the W’Reds to stay with the Sea Eagles in 1995 and went on to play in three consecutive grand finals (premiers 1996). At the end of the 1998 season, in which he was mainly used off the interchange bench, Lyons reluctantly retired after not being offered a contract. January 1999 found him playing for Warringah in a RU Sevens competition but following the Sea Eagles’ disastrous start to the 1999 season he made a comeback with the club and passed the 300 first grade mark during his career. At the end of the year he was named Aboriginal Sportsman of the Year (tied with Nicky Winmar) and captained Australian Aborigines in an unofficial ‘test’ against Papua New Guinea in Cairns. Cut from the newly-formed N’Eagles at year’s end he signed with Umina and captain-coached the Central Coast club in 2001, the year he celebrated his 40th birthday. Three years later he was still playing in the Manly ‘A’ Grade competition – a modern marvel. Biography, From the Bush to Brookvale (2000).