Playing Career
Vital Statistics
- Nickname(s)
- Jimmy
- Born
- Tuesday, 14th March, 1961
- Current Age
- 65 years and 19 days
- Place Of Birth
- Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
Honours & Awards
Based only on data available in the RLP database. This information should be used as a guide only.
- The Ashes
- 1984, 1986, 1988
- World Cup
- 1985/1988
- Test Series
- Australia vs New Zealand 1985, Australia vs New Zealand 1986
- State of Origin
- 1985, 1986
- City vs Country Firsts
- 1984, 1985
- Midweek Cup
- 1985, 1987
- NSW Reserve Grade
- 1984
- Dally M Fullback Of The Year
- 1985, 1986, 1988
- Dally M Representative Player Of The Year
- 1985
- Golden Boot Award
- 1986
Known Family Links
- Father
- Keith Jack
- Son
- Rhys Jack
Biography
The 'Golden Boot' awarded to Garry Jack as the finest league player in the world in 1987 is a good measure of the standing he attained during his career. The dashing, snowy-haired fullback trialled with Wests on the recommendation of his Wests Wollongong coach Paul Sait in 1981 and, after playing the latter part of the season in first grade, he was signed by Balmain secretary Keith Barnes. Aggressive, fast and safe under pressure Jack was seen at his best running the ball back strongly and breaking the first line of defence. He made his State of Origin debut in 1984 and was selected in the three Test series against Great Britain. For the next four years Jack was the No.1 fullback in the world, missing only the First Test on the tour of NZ in 1985. Jack played in all nine Tests in 1986 (NZ, Papua New Guinea, GB and France on the Kangaroo tour) and was the first Australian fullback to score three tries in a Test (against France in the Second Test at Carcassonne). He stayed on to play for Salford after the tour but although he represented NSW and Australia in 1987 he stood down from the State of Origin match in Los Angeles. After playing in Australia's World Cup victory in NZ the following year Jack’s Test career suddenly ended. An unhappy State of Origin match in 1989 saw him announce his retirement from rep football, leaving the way for Canberra’s Gary Belcher to assume the role. After the disappointment of grand final losses in 1988-89 with the Tigers, Jack tried to regain his place in the rep teams but found the door firmly closed. Signing with Salford he was still in great form when he quit the Tigers at the end of 1992 having surpassed Keith Barnes' record for first grade matches (since surpassed by Ben Elias and Paul Sironen). Accepting a manager-coach position with Salford Jack was relieved of the coaching duties before being sacked as manager of the club in early 1995. He returned to the Tigers that year to play the final season of his career but was back in the news in 1999 when he sued former Manly forward Ian Roberts for injuries suffered after an altercation in a match in 1991.
- ALAN WHITICKER
Playing Career Statistics
All statistics shown in this section are based only on data available in the RLP database, and are not necessarily a complete and/or 100% accurate representation of a player's career. This information should be used as a guide only. If you see a question mark (?), it denotes that the figure is not available.
To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.
| Representative Career - International | Comp Wins | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests (Senior International Matches) | - | 21 | 11 | - | - | 44 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 85.71% | List | ||||
| Other International Matches | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | List | ||||
| The Ashes | 3 | 9 | 4 | - | - | 16 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 88.89% | List | ||||
| World Cup | 1 | 8 | 5 | - | - | 20 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 75.00% | List | ||||
| Tour Matches | Australia | - | 33 | 20 | - | - | 80 | 30 | 3 | 0 | 90.91% | List | |||
| Tour Matches | Sheffield Eagles | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | List | |||
| Test Series | 5 | 15 | 5 | - | - | 20 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 86.67% | List | ||||
| Representative Career - Australia | Comp Wins | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | ||||
| State of Origin | 2 | 17 | 1 | - | - | 4 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 41.18% | List | ||||
| City vs Country | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | List | ||||
| City vs Country Firsts | 2 | 3 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 1 | 0 | 66.67% | List | ||||
| Club Career - Australia | Comp Wins | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | ||||
| NSWRFL/NSWRL/ARL Premiership (NRL) | - | 248 | 61 | 1 | 1 | 239 | 136 | 108 | 4 | 54.84% | List | ||||
| NSWRFL/NSWRL/ARL Finals | - | 15 | 2 | - | - | 8 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 46.67% | List | ||||
| Preseason Cup | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | List | ||||
| Midweek Cup | 2 | 20 | - | - | - | - | 16 | 4 | 0 | 80.00% | List | ||||
| Challenge Cup AU | - | 4 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 3 | 0 | 25.00% | List | ||||
| Club Career - UK | Comp Wins | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | ||||
| English Championship | - | 66 | 17 | 1 | - | 70 | 25 | 40 | 1 | 37.88% | List | ||||
| Challenge Cup | - | 4 | 1 | - | - | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 50.00% | List | ||||
| Regal Trophy | - | 8 | 1 | - | - | 4 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 62.50% | List | ||||
| Yorkshire Cup | - | 4 | 1 | - | - | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 75.00% | List | ||||
| UK Top Division | - | 66 | 17 | 1 | - | 70 | 25 | 40 | 1 | 37.88% | List | ||||
| Overall | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||||
| First Class | 406 | 103 | 2 | 1 | 409 | 270 | 190 | 5 | 66.50% | List | |||||
Test Matches - By Team | |||||||||||||||
| Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | ||||
| Australia | 1984-88 | 21 | 11 | - | - | 44 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 85.71% | List | ||||
International Matches - By Team | |||||||||||||||
| Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | ||||
| Australia | 1984-1988 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | List | ||||
World Cup Matches - By Team | |||||||||||||||
| Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | ||||
| Australia | 1984-1988 | 8 | 5 | - | - | 20 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 75.00% | List | ||||
Australia - By Team | |||||||||||||||
| Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | ||||
| NSW | 1984-89 | 17 | 1 | - | - | 4 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 41.18% | List | ||||
| NSW City Firsts | 1984-85 | 2 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | List | ||||
| NSW Country Firsts | 1986 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | List | ||||
| NSW Country | 1987 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | List | ||||
| Overall | 1984-1989 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 12 | 0 | 42.86% | List | ||||
NSWRFL/NSWRL/ARL Premiership (NRL) - By Year | |||||||||||||||
| Team | Season | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | ||||
| Western Suburbs | NSWRFL 1981 | 5 | 1 | - | - | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 40.00% | List | ||||
| Balmain | NSWRFL 1982 | 21 | 7 | - | - | 21 | 10 | 11 | 0 | 47.62% | List | ||||
| Balmain | NSWRFL 1983 | 25 | 7 | - | 1 | 29 | 15 | 10 | 0 | 60.00% | List | ||||
| Balmain | NSWRL 1984 | 20 | 8 | - | - | 32 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 50.00% | List | ||||
| Balmain | NSWRL 1985 | 18 | 8 | - | - | 32 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 61.11% | List | ||||
| Balmain | NSWRL 1986 | 24 | 10 | - | - | 40 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 58.33% | List | ||||
| Balmain | NSWRL 1987 | 20 | 3 | - | - | 12 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 60.00% | List | ||||
| Balmain | NSWRL 1988 | 23 | 4 | - | - | 16 | 16 | 7 | 0 | 69.57% | List | ||||
| Balmain | NSWRL 1989 | 17 | 2 | - | - | 8 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 64.71% | List | ||||
| Balmain | NSWRL 1990 | 19 | 4 | 1 | / | 1 | 100.00% | - | 18 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 68.42% | List | |
| Balmain | NSWRL 1991 | 21 | 2 | 0 | / | 1 | 0.00% | - | 8 | 8 | 12 | 1 | 38.10% | List | |
| Balmain | NSWRL 1992 | 22 | 3 | - | - | 12 | 10 | 11 | 1 | 45.45% | List | ||||
| Sydney Tigers | ARL 1995 | 13 | 2 | - | - | 8 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 30.77% | List | ||||
NSWRFL/NSWRL/ARL Premiership (NRL) - By Team | |||||||||||||||
| Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | ||||
| Western Suburbs | 1981 | 5 | 1 | - | - | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 40.00% | List | ||||
| Balmain | 1982-92, 1995 | 243 | 60 | 1 | 1 | 236 | 134 | 105 | 4 | 55.14% | List | ||||
| Overall | 1981-1995 | 248 | 61 | 1 | 1 | 239 | 136 | 108 | 4 | 54.84% | List | ||||
English Career - By Year | |||||||||||||||
| Team | Season | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | ||||
| Salford | 1987/88 | 16 | 3 | - | - | 12 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 62.50% | List | ||||
| Sheffield | 1992/93 | 32 | 7 | 1 | - | 30 | 18 | 20 | 1 | 56.25% | List | ||||
| Salford | 1993/94 | 34 | 10 | - | - | 40 | 17 | 22 | 0 | 50.00% | List | ||||
English Career - By Team | |||||||||||||||
| Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | ||||
| Salford | 1987, 1993 | 50 | 13 | - | - | 52 | 21 | 29 | 0 | 42.00% | List | ||||
| Sheffield | 1992 | 32 | 7 | 1 | - | 30 | 14 | 17 | 1 | 43.75% | List | ||||
| Overall | 1987-1994 | 82 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 82 | 35 | 46 | 1 | 42.68% | List | ||||
Contributions:
Rugby League Tables, Greg Fiveash, Paul Carter, Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson, AJ Lucantonio, Alan Katzmann, Steven Russo, Tony McCarron, Max Turner, Jason Ganter, Bill Bates
Sources:
David Middleton's Rugby League Yearbook (1987-88 to present), Match Video, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook (1981-82 to 1999), Irvin Saxton's Record Keepers' Club
Your Say
22 Sep 2012 3:46pm
garry was the best fullback in rugby league in the b
80's and it was a great pleasure watching garry play the great sport
6 Apr 2014 9:17pm
The man now has two AFL stars who graduated to the Swans from Cherrybrook
5 Apr 2016 1:49pm
wonderful fullback,for balmaim nsw Australia courages defender,strong elusive ball runner,,80 minute player,one of the greastist fullbacks ever,,,,
10 Sep 2016 3:37pm
Great fullback,, best defence fullback ever you tough courageous.
4 Apr 2017 7:52am
Garry jack,, was a wonderful defence fullback,, who was strong, wholehearted, and put his body on the line everytime,, great fullback, from John m
23 Aug 2019 6:42am
Garry (Jimmy) jack was one of the greatest fullback ever for balmain NSW & Australia,, tough explosive, fearless,, wonderful player,,My favourite player of all time,,,
28 Jun 2021 4:20am
Exciting, aggressive, fast and what a side step. Great anticipation. Could run down and tackle some of the fastest wingers in the world.
31 Oct 2022 9:55pm
Garry jack ( Jimmy) was without doubt the greatest fullback in the 1980s, he set the standard for being explosive from return kicks at fullback,and he is without doubt probably the most brilliant defensive fullback of all time,, courageous & fearless, Wether it was for balmain NSW or Australia, I will never forget that brilliant tackle he made on Alan mc indoe in game two of the 1988 state of origin series, jack came across from a roaring mc indoe running up the sideline from he's own try line, looked destined to score, and Jimmy came from nowhere put he's body on the line, and smashed him around the legs over the sideline, surely one the greatest tackles ever, thankyou so much for the wonderful memories,????????
24 Feb 2023 11:10pm
Jimm was the first of the Running Fullbacks terrific to watch TIGERS FAN SINCE 1966
30 Jun 2023 8:34am
Garry Jack doesn't BBQ.
3 Jul 2023 1:20pm
Garry Jack, top bloke, some player, a favorite to talk about round the BBQ.
13 Aug 2023 9:08pm
Great work, but do you have mid week games before 1986?
I did play in one at Wests in 1981, and a few at Balmain from 1982-85.
Do you have these stats?
Thanks
Garry Jack.
26 Jan 2024 1:37pm
A good bloke but was so tight he squeeked when he walked
4 Dec 2024 9:27pm
555
27 May 2025 12:35am
Garry jack was the best ever fullback never to win a premiership
28 Oct 2025 3:07pm
Today I met a legend in the great Garry Jimmy Jack what a player he was and a nice bloke to go with it so humble it was good talking to this rugby league great about the old day's you made my day Garry pitty you didn't play for the Roosters's mate
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