George Bishop

Controversy followed George Bishop through several phases of a unique career. The former Balmain hooker returned to the club in 1927 after three seasons with Parkes and later represented NSW. Bishop was a controversial selection with the 1929-30 Kangaroos but answered criticism on the field, playing in two of the four Tests against Great Britain. In 1933 he was again selected to tour England but was ruled unfit because of injury. Following his retirement as a player, Bishop was graded as a referee in 1937. He went on to referee his old club in the 1946 and 1948 grand finals, drawing flak for his handling of the latter match. Progressing to Test level, he officiated in matches against NZ and Great Britain but it was his handling of the 1952 grand final, which resulted in an upset win to Wests over defending premiers Souths, which drew the most derision. Bishop stood down as a referee after the match and progressed to the national selection panel. In 1955, he was caught up in yet another controversy when he was accused of leaking news that centre Harry Wells had been dropped from Australia's Third Test team against France. Bishop was dumped from the panel the following year but had the distinction of having been a Test player, Test referee and Test selector during his career.