Duncan Thompson
Duncan Thompson a revered Australian rugby league name
Born Warwick, March 14, 1895. Died Brisbane, May 27, 1980 - aged 85.
Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame
Queensland Rugby League Team of the 20th Century
Queensland Sports Hall of Fame - 2009 (Original inductee)
DUNCAN FULTON THOMPSON MBE was one of Australian rugby league's finest running halfbacks who helped put Toowoomba on the map in the early 20th Century as "the rugby league capital of the world".
Duncan was told he would never play sport again after being shot through the chest while serving in the AIF during World War I before going on to represent both Queensland and New South Wales and playing nine matches for Australia.
He later became one of the sport's most influential coaches whose "contract football" style saw him regarded as the Father of modern coaching.
Duncan kicked off his playing days in Ipswich, where he worked in banking.
When the bank transferred him to Sydney, Duncan's ability began to shine through during two premiership wins as captain of North Sydney.
Duncan was nicknamed "One Bung Lung" due to his war injury but he rose above his physical short-comings to make his Australian debut in 1920.
He captained New South Wales (pre State-of-Origin days) between 1920-22 before tranferring to Toowoomba in 1923 where he set up a sport store and began playing for the Valleys club.
At the time, the Toowoomba team boasted seven Australian players and 10 Queensland reps.
Duncan was part of the 1924-25 Toowoomba "Galloping Clydesdales" team which defeated England, New South Wales, Victoria, South Sydney, Ipswich and Brisbane.
He played a total of 17 matches for Queensland, three for NSW and nine for Australia.
After retiring as a player Duncan flourished as a coach, while also becoming a high-level rugby league administrator, Australian selector and Queensland Rugby League patron.
In the 1950s he coached Toowoomba to six straight Bulimba Cup victories
Duncan also represented Queensland in country cricket, and tennis.
He also represented Toowoomba in lawn bowls and had a golf handicap of three.
Duncan Thompson career highlights at a glance:
Member of the all-conquering 1924-25 Toowoomba Galloping Clydesdales
Represented Australia, Queensland and NSW
Grandstands named in his honour at North Sydney Oval and Toowoomba's Athletic Oval
Australian RL Hall Of Fame 2005
North Sydney Team of the Century 2006
Australia's greatest 100 players (1908-2007) in 2008
QRL Team of the Century 2008
Toowoomba and SW Team of the Century 2008
Represented Queensland in three sports