Randwick loses a ‘Dream Team' member

Richard "Dick" N. Thornett (1940-2011)
Primarily a lock forward of size and quality, with pace and ball handling skills rare in a tight forward, he played some games as a No.8 in his 52 club games from 1958 to 1962, of which 49 were in first grade. He did not play for Randwick in 1960, concentrating that year on water polo, at which he represented Australia at the Rome Olympics. He scored 76 pts [12 tries, 8 goals and 8 penalty goals] in all grades and 62 pts [10 tries, 7 goals and 6 penalty goals] in first grade. He was a member of the first grade side which won the 1959 premiership by beating Northern Suburbs. His second row partner that day was Bruce Judd.
Dick Thornett represented NSW four times in 1961, and played 11 test matches for Australia. At the end of the 1962 season he joined the Parramatta rugby league club and went on to represent Australia in that code, becoming one of the few sportsmen to represent his country in three sports. He coached Randwick lower grade sides form 1984 to 1986. He was an outstanding, gifted athlete.
He played rugby for Australia with his oldest brother John, touring New Zealand and South Africa and, after turning to rugby league, toured England and France along with his other brother, Ken, with the Australian kangaroos in 1963-64.

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