Lionel Morgan, the first indigenous man to play Test rugby league for Australia, dies aged 85

The rugby league community is in mourning following the death of trailblazer Lionel Morgan, the first indigenous man to play Test rugby league for Australia.

Lionel Morgan (third right, second row) in the Australian Test team to play France in 1960.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advised the story contains images of dead Indigenous people

The NRL has been urged to induct indigenous trailblazer Lionel Morgan into its Hall of Fame following the former Kangaroos flyer’s death.

Morgan, who died in Brisbane over the weekend aged 85, became the first indigenous man to play Test rugby league for Australia, scoring two tries in his Kangaroos debut against France in 1960.

Morgan’s international heroics on the field remarkably came five years before indigenous people were even allowed to vote in Queensland.

Special arrangements had to be made for him to obtain a passport so he could tour overseas with the Australian representative team.

A product of Tweed Heads in northern NSW, Morgan made a name for himself playing 106 games for Wynnum-Manly in the Brisbane Rugby League from 1959-68.

He overcame toxic racism to play in Kangaroos teams featuring league legends like Reg Gasnier, Keith Barnes, Norm Provan, John Raper and Ken Irvine, becoming a revered figure among his teammates and the league community.

Lionel Morgan (c) with the 1962 Queensland team.

A flyer winger and skilled goalkicker, Morgan played three Test matches for Australia and was coached by the legendary Clive Churchill.

He also made 12 representative appearances for Queensland from 1960-63, before the State of Origin era, and went on to coach the Seagulls’ first grade team.

A minute’s silence was observed at Redcliffe’s Kayo Stadium on Sunday afternoon before the Hostplus Cup grand final in honour of Morgan and former Queensland Rugby League chairman John “Cracker” McDonald, who died on Wednesday.

QRL history committee chairman Steve Ricketts said Morgan deserved to be remembered as a great of the game and called for his inclusion in the NRL Hall of Fame.

Legendary rugby league player Lionel Morgan.

“Lionel Morgan’s positive impact on the game, and the broader community, cannot be understated,” he said.

“As the first Indigenous man to represent Australia in rugby league, he was an inspiration to so many people. He also proved a role model, in the true sense of the term.

“Lionel would be a worthy inclusion in the NRL Hall of Fame.”

Morgan’s feats came long before the contribution of indigenous players in rugby league was celebrated like it is today through events like the NRL Indigenous Round and All Stars game.

He is widely-regarded as a pioneer for indigenous people in not only rugby league but Australian sport in general.

The NRL now has numerous indigenous role models like current superstars Latrell Mitchell, Reece Walsh, Selwyn Cobbo and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.

The likes of retired players Johnathan Thurston, Greg Inglis and Preston Campbell followed in the footsteps of Morgan to become indigenous greats of the game.

In a 2018 column for NRL.com, Broncos legend Steve Renouf said “Uncle Lionel” paved the way for future indigenous superstars.

“Racism still exists in society but back when Lionel played it was more overt,” Renouf wrote.

“He has some harrowing stories about what he copped and how he rose above it with real dignity. He came through in a tough era.

“There were a lot of other Indigenous players and other sportspeople who saw what Lionel achieved and they were inspired to make the most of their own talents.

“Uncle Lionel has mentored a lot of young Indigenous footballers since he retired as a coach. He is a true gentleman.”

Originally published as Lionel Morgan, the first indigenous man to play Test rugby league for Australia, dies aged 85