Derek Turner

Derek Turner (13 November 1932 – 31 July 2015), also known by the nickname of "Rocky", was an English World Cup winning professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, and coached in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

He played at representative level for Great Britain, England, Yorkshire and Great Britain & France, and at club level for Hull Kingston Rovers, Oldham and Wakefield Trinity (captain), with whom he won three Challenge Cup Finals, as a, or more usually , and coached at club level for Castleford, Leeds and Wakefield Trinity.

Turner played his early rugby league at Cathedral Boys School, Wakefield, then Alverthorpe Youth Club, Balne Lane ARLFC, Ossett ARLFC, and Shaw Cross ARLFC, he began his professional rugby league career at Hull Kingston Rovers.

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Turner played for Yorkshire against Lancashire in ten Rugby League War of the Roses matches, scoring two tries.

In 1955, Turner was transferred from Hull Kingston Rovers to Oldham for £2,750 (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £165,900 in 2016).

Turner made his début for Oldham against Hunslet on 3 September 1955.

He was a member of the Oldham team that found success in the Championship of 1956–57, the Lancashire County Cup Finals of 1956–57, 1957–58 & 1958–59, and the Lancashire County League of 1956–57 & 1957–58.

Whilst at Oldham, Turner won 11 of his 24 Great Britain caps, winning the Ashes in 1956.

Alongside fellow Oldham player, Alan Davies, Turner was selected for the Great Britain squad to play in Australia's 1956 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain, Turner was rested for the first Test which Great Britain won 21–10 at Central Park, Wigan.

Turner played in the second match which Australia won 9–22 at Odsal, Bradford.

Turner played in the third Test as Great Britain defeated Australia 19–0 at Station Road, Swinton, to take the Ashes series 2–1.

Just prior to the 1957 World Cup, Turner played in all three of Great Britain's matches against France, alternating between venues in Great Britain and France.

Great Britain won two and drew one of the fixtures: 45–12 Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds; 19–19 Stade Municipal, Toulouse; 29–14 Knowsley Road, St. Helens.

Alongside fellow Oldham players, Alan Davies, and Sid Little, Turner was selected for the Great Britain squad to play in the 1957 Rugby League World Cup in Australia.

Turner played in the 23–5 victory over France at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, the 6–31 defeat by Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, and the 29–21 defeat by New Zealand at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney.

Australia ran out comfortable World Champions, with victories over New Zealand, Great Britain and France.

Despite suffering a heavier defeat by Australia than either New Zealand or France, Great Britain's heavy victory over France in the opening match, France's narrow victory over New Zealand, and Great Britain's narrow defeat by New Zealand in the last match secured Great Britain second place overall.

Great Britain had the luxury of playing all their matches at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, whereas New Zealand and France had to play at both the Gabba, Brisbane, and Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, which are 575-miles apart.

Turner played and scored a try in Great Britain & France's 37–31 victory over New Zealand at Carlaw Park, Auckland on 3 July 1957.

Just after to the 1957 World Cup, Turner played in both of Great Britain's matches against France, alternating between venues in Great Britain and France.

Great Britain won both tests; 14–25 at Stade Municipal, Toulouse; 44–15 at Central Park, Wigan.

Turner also captained Wakefield Trinity to victory in the Yorkshire County League during the 1958–59 season, 1959–60 season, 1961–62 season and 1962–63 season.

In 1958, Turner played for Great Britain in the 23–9 defeat by France at Stade Lesdiguières, Grenoble.

Alongside fellow Oldham players, Alan Davies, and Frank Pitchford, Turner was selected for the Great Britain squad to play in 1958 tour of Australia, but had to withdraw because of an injury.

In March 1959, Turner was transferred from Oldham to Wakefield Trinity for £8,000 (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £391,700 in 2016).

Turner was selected for the Great Britain squad to play in Australia's 1959 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain, Turner played in first of the three matches.

Australia won the first Test 22–14 at Station Road, Swinton.

Turner was rested for the second and third of the three matches, Great Britain won the second 11–10 at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds.

Great Britain won the third 18–12 at Central Park, Wigan to take the Ashes series 2–1.

At Wakefield Trinity Turner captained Wakefield Trinity in three Challenge Cup victories (1960, 1962 and 1963), played in the 38–5 victory over Hull F.C. in the 1959–60 Challenge Cup Final during the 1959–60 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 14 May 1960, in front of a crowd of 79,773 presented by HM the Queen, played in the 12–6 victory over Huddersfield in the 1961–62 Challenge Cup Final during the 1961–62 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 12 May 1962, in front of a crowd of 81,263, presented by Field Marshal Montgomery, and played right-, i.e. number 12, in the 25–10 victory over Wigan in the 1962–63 Challenge Cup Final during the 1962–63 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 11 May 1963, in front of a crowd of 84,492, presented by Field Marshal Alexander.

Turner played in Wakefield Trinity's 16–10 victory over Huddersfield in the 1960–61 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1960–61 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 29 October 1960, and played in the 19–9 victory over Leeds in the 1961–62 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1961–62 season at Odsal, Bradford on Saturday 11 November 1961.

Whilst at Wakefield Trinity, Turner won the remaining 13 of his 24 Great Britain caps, winning the World Cup in 1960 and the Ashes in 1959 & 1962, he also won his sole England cap.

Just prior to the 1960 World Cup, Turner played in all three of Great Britain's matches against France, alternating between venues in France and Great Britain.

Great Britain won one, drew one and lost one of the fixtures: France won 20–18 at Stade Municipal, Toulouse.

On 65 minutes a colossal brawl erupted when Georges Fages kicked Turner on the chin following Turner's tackle on Fages.

When the dust settled Turner was ordered off, but five minutes elapsed before he was finally escorted from the field by Bill Fallowfield, secretary of the Rugby Football League.

The British players waited for Fages to go, but in vain.

There was 17–17 draw at Knowsley Road, St Helens; Great Britain won 21–10 at Stade André Moga, Bordeaux.

Alongside fellow Wakefield Trinity player Jack Wilkinson, Turner was selected for the Great Britain squad to play in the 1960 Rugby League World Cup in Great Britain.

Turner retired in 1964 but returned to play a further 24 matches for Trinity in the 1965–66 season before an injury in the first match of the 1966–67 season brought his playing career to an end.