1908 South Sydney Kangaroo Tour Selections
16th August 1908
Arthur Hennessy, Bill Cann, Johnny Rosewell, Tommy Anderson, Arthur Butler and Jim Davis have been selected from the South Sydney club. Ed Fry was unavailable for tour selection having prior wedding arrangements.
Send-Off To South Sydney Players
11th August 1918
Messrs A.Hennessy, W.Cann, J.Rosewell, J.Davis, A.Butler and T.Anderson members of the South Sydney District League football Club chosen to represent the Rugby League in the North of England tour were entertained last night at the New Masonic Hall by their friends. Mr H.Hoyle presided over a crowded gathering. A varied programme included songs, athletic exhibitions and cinematograph pictures It was stated that the selected members would be shortly presented with cheques by their admirers Mr Hoyle said it was gratifying to see such a splendid response to their invitation to wish bon voyage and success to members of the team. There were some who scouted the idea that the league would ever be able to send a team to England. That idea had become a fact and not only was a team being sent, but every other promise made by the league to the players and the public had been redeemed. The league had promised to provide a faster and a cleaner game and was now able to proclaim that league football had come to stay. The men selected were first class athletes who would give a good account of themselves and uphold the honour of their democratic country on the field and off it. The manager of the All Blacks had told him that the improvement shown by the Australian footballers was astonishing and he expected it would not bo long before New South Wales was the champion football country instead of New Zealand. Mr J.J.Giltinan, manager of the team responded on their behalf.
The members of the Australian Rugby League team left Sydney at noon yesterday in R.M.S. Macedonia for England. At the'Quay a large number of League footballers and friends of the tourists gathered to give the party a send-off. The team was driven to the boat in a drag, the members wearing their new colors in the shape of hat-bands of pale blue and maroon. There are 34 players in the party, and they have set out fully realising that the work ahead is arduous, and that to win success it will be necessary for every man to keep himself in the best possible condition.
The Kangaroos perform their war cry
Ref - FN-17