Johnny Raper

Johnny Raper, nicknamed Chook, was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach, born on 12 April 1939 and died on 9 February 2022. A lock forward, he joined the St. George Dragons in 1959 after starting at Newtown, and played in eight consecutive first-grade grand final victories for the club between 1959 and 1966. He earned a then-record 33 Test caps for Australia between 1959 and 1968, toured Britain and France three times with the Kangaroos, captained Australia in 1967 and 1968 including the 1968 World Cup, and later coached Cronulla-Sutherland. He is regarded as one of the finest Australian footballers of the twentieth century.