St George DCC and its Rugby League Connections - Pt 3 - Ray Lindwall
St George Cricket Club | March 06, 2026
Ray Lindwall was as much a prodigy at rugby league as cricket and, in 1938, garnered rave reviews while playing with the Dragons when studying at Darlinghurst Marist Brothers' High School. In 1942 he was considered the finest fullback in the game when he amassed 186 points - ninety goals and two tries.
All up he had 4 full seasons with The Dragons –
1940 with 2 games and kicking 8 goals.
1942 with 16 games, scoring 1 try and kicking 69 goals including 3 goals in the losing Grand Final to the Bulldogs (11-9).
1943 with 5 games, scoring 1 try and kicking 12 goals.
1945 with 8 games and kicking 25 goals. He also played in a losing grand final this season against the Tigers (13-12).
In his 31 appearances for the Dragons he scored 236 points, played in 22 victories and just 9 losses for a win percentage of 70.97%
He also made 1 appearance for City Firsts against Country First in 1942 scoring 1 try and kicking 1 goal in a losing side.
Such was his affection for his surrogate father Bill O'Reilly and the thrill of bowling at breakneck speed with the wind in his hair, that in 1946 when he returned from Army service in New Guinea, cricket clearly won the day.
The Rest is written in Australian Cricket History.
Lindwall went on to capture 228 Test wickets and score 1502 runs (including 2 centuries) during his career for Australia. Following the retirement of Don Bradman in 1948-49, Lindwall also captained Australia in a Test match. Lindwall, whose cricket career ended in 1961-62, was awarded the MBE in 1965.
For St George he played between 1937 and 1952. Including Green Shield and Poidevin Gray Shield, he finished with 3903 runs at 36.82 with a highest score of 133* (PG’s). He took 272 wickets at an average of 17.41.
In First Grade he scored 2292 runs at an average of 29.38 and a highest score of 102*. He also took 187 First Grade wickets at an average of 19.36.
In 1953 Lindwall moved to Queensland finishing his playing time with St George.
He passed away in 1996, aged 75 and will be remembered as one of the great Australian Sportsman of all time.
The 1946 St George Grand Finalist with Ray Lindwall far right of the front row and brother Jack far right of the top row.
