Arthur Patton

Arthur Patton, the 'Port Kembla Flyer', had already established his athletic career when he came to the club in 1937. Patton was placed third in the Stawell Gift that year and also won the Deniliquin Gift and Benalla Gift during his career. Returning to Port Kembla for several years Patton resumed his career as a winger with the Tigers in 1941. Patton, who scored an equal club record five tries in a match against Easts in 1944, was captain of Balmain team that won the premiership in 1944. He broke his leg the following year, missing the 1945 final loss to Easts, but recovered to play in Balmain's grand final wins in 1946-47. The following year Patton was injured in the final against St George but refused to leave the field. After the match, which Balmain won 13-12, it was discovered that he had again broken his leg. He retired in 1948 as the first Balmain player to score 100 tries (all grades) and remains the greatest try-scorer in the club’s history. Balmain’s first grade coach in 1952-53, Patton took over from Kevin Humphreys as Balmain club secretary in 1973. Patton died from cancer on the Central Coast in 1991.