Cliff Watson

For other people named Cliff Watson, seeCliff Watson (disambiguation).

Clifford H. Watson(26 April 1940 – 2 May 2018) was an English professionalrugby leaguefootballer who played as apropin the 1960s and 1970s. He played for theSt Helensin theRugby Football League Championship,and later theCronulla-Sutherland Sharksin theNew South Wales Rugby League premiershipin Australia. Along with hardmanKen Gee,and legendary captainAlan Prescott,he remains one of the best Great Britain front-rowers ever.

Cliff Watson

Personal information
Full name	Clifford H. Watson
Born	(1940-04-26)26 April 1940 Stepney, London,England
Died	2 May 2018(2018-05-02)(aged 78) Cronulla, New South Wales,Australia
Playing information
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position	Prop
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1960–71 St. Helens 373 57 171 1971–73 Cronulla-Sutherland 39 9 27 Total 412 66 0 0 198 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1963–70 Great Britain 7 1 0 0 3 1969–70 England 4 2 0 0 6 1974 Illawarra Firsts 1 0 0 0 0
Source:

Watson originally played amateurrugby unionin England forDudleyKingswinfordinStaffordshirecompetition before answering a St. Helens club advertisement for "top class Rugby Union forwards". A trial was arranged and in 1960 he was signed to the club for £750 initially and then a further £750 after he had completed six first grade games for the club. However his career first started to gain momentum after the 1961 Rugby LeagueChallenge CupFinal againstWigan;in front of 95,000 fans Watson's defence was instrumental in helping his club gain a 12–6 victory over their rivals and helped keep Cliff a permanent fixture in the team line-up for the next ten years.

After playing out eleven seasons for St. Helens, Watson moved to Australia and signed on to theCronulla-Sutherland Sharkswith fellowGreat Britain,and St. Helens teammateTommy Bishop.In his three seasons at the club Watson made an impact in leading a young and inexperienced pack of forwards always by example. His presence along with that of Bishop undoubtedly helped the young Cronulla club to its maiden grand-final in 1973.

Watson also went on to represent Great Britain on thirty occasions becoming known for his physical, tough and all-round fearless style of play. He played for the British between 1963 and 1970 often striking fear into opponents. He retired from first grade and international rugby league altogether after the 1973 season.

Childhood and early career

Clifford Watson was born into aworking classfamily inCentral Londonon 26 April 1940; he grew up playing both codes ofrugbybut slowly began to steer himself toward the amateur game of the day inrugby union.At the early age of seventeen Watson trialled for Dudley Kingswinford rugby union football club where he was quickly signed and placed into the first team atsecond-row,quickly displaying his natural ability by cementing a regular place in the squad at such a young age.

His career continued to grow in stature when within a year of signing for Dudley Kingswinford, Watson was selected for his first representative role with the Worcestershire and Herefordshire Combined Counties side and playing on several occasions in a new role ofprop-forward.

At the end of the 1959 season Watson decided on a switch of codes after wanting to forge a career in rugby league. After viewing an advertisement listed in theSporting ChroniclebySt. Helensoffering trials for 'top class Rugby Union forwards', Watson replied offering his services to the club and outlining his statistics and credentials he had accomplished in rugby union. St. Helens quickly replied and a trial was organised for 2 August after which Watson was signed to a six-game contract worth £1,500.

St. Helens

He made his début for theLancashireclub on 15 August 1960 playing at prop-forward in what turned out to be a defeat by local rivalsLiverpool Cityat home. However he quickly adjusted to the new game, slowly establishing himself and garnering a reputation as a tough, resilient and hard working player amongst fellow professionals and spectators alike something which never did never change throughout his career.

Watson played out the six matches as per terms on his original contract and quickly re-signed for the club establishing himself further with each passing game played. After a mere eleven competitive matches for his new club Watson shot to fame in the 1961 Rugby LeagueChallenge CupFinal againstWiganwith his quick thinking and often vital defence; although it took Watson a further seven matches to garner his maiden first grade point againstBarrowon 23 September 1961.

After the Challenge Cup Final Watson became a regular first team member of the Saints side of the 1960s. Watson tasted further success in 1961 with a Charity Cup victory in 1961.

His career continued to flourish for St. Helens during the rest of the 1960s being first selected for Great Britain in 1963 and winning the Western division Championship in 1963; the Gallie Cup in 1964, 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1970; the Championship trophy in 1966 and a further Challenge Cup in 1966.

Watson played his 373rd and last match for St. Helens in England on 7 May 1971 againstLeedsbefore being enticed to sign with newly formed Australian club theCronulla-Sutherland Sharksby ex-teammate and present Sharksplayer-coachTommy Bishop.

Championship final appearances

Cliff Watson played right-propinSt. Helens' 35–12 victory overHalifaxin theChampionshipFinal during the1965–66 seasonatStation Road, Swintonon Saturday 28 May 1966, in front of a crowd of 30,165.

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Cliff Watson played right-propinSt. Helens' 12–6 victory overWiganin the1961 Challenge CupFinal during the1960–61 seasonatWembley Stadium,Londonon Saturday 13 May 1961, in front of a crowd of 94,672, and played right-propin the 21–2 victory overWiganin the1966 Challenge CupFinal during the1965–66 seasonatWembley Stadium,Londonon Saturday 21 May 1966, in front of a crowd of 98,536.

County Cup Final appearances

Cliff Watson played right-propinSt. Helens25–9 victory overSwintonin the1961 Lancashire CupFinal during the1961–62 seasonatCentral Park,Wiganon Saturday 11 November 1961, played right-propin the 7–4 victory overSwintonin the1962 Lancashire CupFinal during the1962–62 seasonatCentral Park,Wiganon Saturday 27 October 1962, played right-propin the 15–4 victory overLeighin the1963 Lancashire CupFinal during the1963–64 seasonatStation Road, Swintonon Saturday 26 October 1963, was asubstitutein the 12–4 victory overSwintonin the1964 Lancashire CupFinal during the1964–65 seasonatCentral Park,Wiganon Saturday 24 October 1964, played right-propin the 2–2 draw withWarringtonin the1967 Lancashire CupFinal during the1967–68 seasonatCentral Park,Wiganon Saturday 7 October 1967, played right-propin the 13–10 victory overWarringtonin the1967 Lancashire CupFinalreplayduring the1967–68 seasonatStation Road, Swintonon Saturday 2 December 1967, and played right-propin the 30–2 victory overOldhamin the1968 Lancashire CupFinal during the1968–69 seasonatCentral Park,Wiganon Friday 25 October 1968.

BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final appearances

Cliff Watson played right-propinSt. Helens' 0–4 defeat byCastlefordin the1965 BBC2 Floodlit TrophyFinal during the1965-66 seasonatKnowsley Road,St. Helenson Tuesday 14 December 1965, and played right-propin the 4–7 defeat byWiganin the1968 BBC2 Floodlit TrophyFinal during the1968-69 seasonatCentral Park,Wiganon Tuesday 17 December 1968.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

After making his way to theNew South Wales Rugby Leaguecompetition with theCronulla-Sutherland Sharks,the now international veteran immediately assumed the role of leader in a young and inexperienced forward pack.

Slowly but surely his lead by example attitude and influence took effect. After success had passed the Sharks by for the 1971 and 1972 seasons, hard work paid off in 1973 with the team making their maiden Grand Final appearance. Watson toiled long and hard throughout the length of the match but premiership success was to elude him at the Sharks.

At the beginning of the 1974 competition, Watson did not come to terms with the financially struggling club and decided to play in the lower grades, seeing out the remainder of his career with Wollongong Souths in the Illawarra competition. In 1974, Watson was selected to play for and captainIllawarra Firstsin their game against thetouringGreat Britain Lions. The Illawarra side was coached by Australian rugby league legend and future (2018)rugby league ImmortalNorm Provan.Played in front of over 8,000 fans at theWollongong Showground,Illawarra pushed the Great Britain side, eventually only going down by the score of 22–26.

In 1979, he returned to Sydney to coach the North Sydney Bears reserve grade team.

Great Britain

Cliff made his international début against the touring Australian Kangaroo side in 1963 and immediately struck fear into the hearts of all the touring players with his rugged, aggressive and often unpredictable style of play. This was seen on more than one occasion such as when he introduced the Australian players and viewing public to the infamous "Liverpool kiss" in aBrisbanetest match onJim Morgan(according to Watson the two shook hands after the match and ended up as good friends). Watson holds the dubious record of being the only British player to be sent off twice against Australia.

Watson featured in another three British tours in 1966, 1967 and 1970. He made a soleWorld Cupappearance in 1970.

Career playing statistics

Point scoring summary

Games	Tries	Goals	D/G	Points
412	66	-	-	264

Matches played

Team	Matches	Years
St. Helens	373	1960–1971
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	39	1971–1973
Great Britain	30	1963–1970

Death

Watson died of cancer, aged 78, on 2 May 2018.

External links

• Profile at saints.org.uk
• (archived by web.archive.org)Cliff Watson, Era of the Biff Profile