Joe 'Chimpy' Busch (1907-1999) was an Australian rugby league footballer. A state and national representative halfback, his club career was played with Eastern Suburbs in Sydney in the 1930s and he has been named amongst the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century.^[1]

Born in the country town of Maclean, New South Wales Busch first broke into the Eastern Suburbs rugby league side as a 19 year old having been spotted by talent scout John 'Dinny' Campbell and invited to trial with the club. Busch played forty-three matches for Easts in the years 1928-30.

The halfback was selected for his state – NSW, where he enjoyed instant success. For many years after, fans would talk about a try Busch scored where he took the ball from a scrum and shot down the blind-side with Souths and Australian winger, Benny Wearing, in support. As the Queensland defence closed in, Busch held the ball back from Wearing - he dummied to him five times before scoring a brilliant individual try. Later that year Busch was selected to go away with the 1929/30 Kangaroo Tour of England.

Busch played in 6 test matches for Australia in his career; however, it is a controversial no-try incident on that tour that he is best remembered for. England had held the Ashes for almost 20 years, with only a few minutes remaining and the scores locked at nil-all in the third and deciding test, Busch collected the ball from a scrum win 30 metres out and scooted down the sideline. He crashed over the try-line in the corner with England's lock Frank Butters on his back making a last-ditch attempt to stop him. As the corner post went flying the crowd spilled onto the field in excitement. Referee Robinson looked set to award Australia the try and the game (and with it the Ashes) when the touch-judge emerged through the crowd claiming Busch had taken out the corner post before grounding the ball. Even though the referee believed it was a fair try he had no option other than to rule 'no try'. The referee was reported to have said to the Kangaroos "fair try Australia, but I am overruled".

Busch with the Kangaroos 1st Test 5 Oct 1929

Busch went on to play four seasons with English club Leeds, before returning to Australia to take up captain-coach role with the Balmain club in 1935. A leg injury forced Busch into retirement midway through the 1936 NSWRFL season.

[edit] Accolades

In February 2008, Busch was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players (1908–2007) which was commissioned by the NRL and ARL to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia.^[2]

[edit] References

[edit] Sources

• RL1908.com - Sean Fagan
• The Encyclopedia Of Rugby League Players; Alan Whiticker & Glen Hudson