Made a cameo in the 1943 and 1945 reserve grade winning squad for South Sydney.
McDowell was recommended to join South Sydney by Fred Quinlivan after playing with Glen Innes and then Young. Being in the military before joining South Sydney, he transfered to Sydney and qualified under the soldiers transfer rule. After clearing the mid season transfer, McDowell made his senior grade debut with South Sydney in the Round 7 Reserve Grade clash against Newtown at Henson Park. Towards the end of the season McDowell was called up into first grade and made his first grade debut for South Sydney in the Round 13 clash against North Sydney at North Sydney Oval.
McDowell a former Maher Cup five-eighth, went well at the base of the scrum. His career at South Sydney was interupted by military duties, including being transfered to the Northern Territory late in 1943.
McDowell played 3 seasons with South Sydney between 1942 and 1945. He played 15 first grade club games with South Sydney, which included 13 first grade premiership games and 1 first grade cup game. Overall he played 22 senior grade career games with South Sydney which included 20 senior grade premiership games.
McDowell played his final first grade premiership game for South Sydney in the 1943 Round 14 clash against Newtown at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He played his final first grade cup game for South Sydney in the 1943 Round 1 State Championship Cup-Tie clash against Cessnock at the Sports Ground. He played his final first grade club game for South Sydney in the 1943 Tour match against Tamworth at Tamworth. He obtained a formal clearnce to play with South Sydney in 1946 but was not graded.
Playing - Height / Weight
5ft 6in / 12st
Representative Qualification
NSW Country
Date of Birth
Emmaville - 6th October 1919 (Died - 2007)
Previous Clubs First Grade
M T G FG Pt
Torrington (1937-38)
Young (1939-41)
Military Service (1940-46) Army Corporal Australian Army Canteen Service (Served in Northern Territory)
Previous Rep Honours M T G FG Pt
Glenn Innes (1937-38)
Playing Career at South Sydney (1942-43,45)
Souths First Grade Debut
1942 Aug 1 Rd13 NSO v North Sydney (22y 299d)
First Grade
Premiership : City Cup : State Championship : Tour
M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts
1942 2 2 - - - - - : - - - - - - - : : - - - - - - -
1943 11 11 - - - - - : : 1 1 - 1 - - 3 : 1 1 - - - - -
1945 - - - - - - - : : - - - - - - -
TOTAL 13 13 - - - - - : - - - - - - - : 1 1 - 1 - - 3 : 1 1 - - - - -
SS Cup 1 1 - 1 - - 3
SS FG 15 15 - - - - -
South Sydney Senior Grade Debut
1942 Jun 13 Rd07 Hens v Newtown (Reserve Grade)
Lower Grades
Reserve Grade : Third Grade
Year M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts
1942 4 4 - 1 - - 3 : - - - - - - -
1943 1 1 - - - - - : - - - - - - -
1945 1 1 - - - - - : 1 1 - - - - -
TOTAL 6 6 - 1 - - 3 : 1 1 - - - - - -
South Sydney Senior(FG/RG/3G) Grade Career
Premiership : Cup : All Matches
M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts
CAREER 20 20 - 1 - - 3 : 1 1 - 1 - - 3 : 22 22 - 2 - - 6
Short Form
Short-Game Matches
M S R T G/A FG Pts
1943 - - - - - - -
TOTAL - - - - - - -
SS SF - - - - - - -
Captaincy Record at South Sydney
never
Suspension Record at South Sydney
Year Grade v Wk CHARGE never
Representative Honours at South Sydney
Year Pos Team Versus Match T G/A FG none
After Leaving South Sydney
Subsequent Clubs First Grade
M T G FG Pt
Young (1947-48)
First Class Playing Career (1942-43)
M T G FG Pts
Total FG Premiership 13 - - - -
Total FG Cup 1 1 - - 3
Total FG Club Tour 1 - - - -
Total Internationals - - - - -
Total State - - - - -
Total Other Representative - - - - -
TOTAL FIRST CLASS 15 1 - - 3
Ref - RLP / NAA-108779 / CI / FN-46
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