Frank Hyde: Straight Between The Posts

Sean Fagan of RL1908.com

The remarkable Frank Hyde.

Many of us recall his radio 2SM rugby league commentary, for which he has become much loved - his voice is synonymous with the game from the 1950s to the 1980s.

"It's long enough, it's high enough, it's straight between the posts."

If you've ever heard that signature line from Hyde, you can never forget it.

Frank Hyde held many titles in life other than a rugby league commentator.

He was a referee, a coach, an administrator, an "Immortal" selector, a recording artist, a tour guide and a boxing commentator.

But more than that, he was one of Australia's best players in a period when the ultimate reward of selection in the national team was out of the question.

Hyde began playing rugby league at school in 1925 with St Patrick's Marist Brothers (in Millers Point, Sydney). Playing at hooker, his team won the premiership. The team photo below has the young Hyde in the front row, second from the right.

Hyde made his first grade debut in the final rounds of 1936 for Newtown - his first opponent was East's centre Dave Brown. The photograph below is the Newtown side of 1936 - Hyde is front row, second from right.

In 1937 Newtown blitzed all their opponents to take the City Cup (held over the second half of the season) with a win in the Final over Easts 57 to 5 - the greatest ever winning margin in a Sydney competition Final. "Rugged and forceful always, Hyde, of late has infused more brilliance in his play with several scintillating dashes". The 1937 Kangaroos had already left mid-season for England when the 21 year old Hyde started to shine.

Balmain had their suspicions that the City Cup star was still living at home in Millers Point - deep within their territory. Newtown's fake address for Hyde was found out and the Residential Rule saw him off to Balmain for 1938 - on his arrival the young Hyde was appointed Tigers captain.

Hyde's impressive play continued and he gained selection for NSW against New Zealand and Queensland as the 1938 season progressed, playing alongside Prigg, Narvo, Jim Gibbs, Joe Pearce and Ray Stehr. Hyde's form held throughout 1939 and he represented Metropolitan ("City") and NSW.

Meanwhile, Hyde considered an offer from Bradford Northern to play the following seasons in England, but he had his sights set on the 1941 Kangaroo Tour. The 1939 season saw the Balmain side take the minor premiership before defeating South Sydney 33-4 in the premiership decider.

The 1939 Balmain team included Tommy Bourke, Sid Goodwin, Jimmy Quealey and Bischoff. In the photo below Frank Hyde is in the front row, third from the right. The Tigers celebrated long into the night, but a street parade was cancelled the following day when World War 2 broke out.

An already scheduled after-season tour of NZ by a Sydney Rep team went ahead and Hyde was selected along with many of the 1937-38 Kangaroos. In the photo above Cyril Erickson (for Richmond) scores a try with Hyde in pursuit - Carlaw Park.

The war needs saw Hyde transferred to work in Newcastle for the 1940 season and he took up a captain-coach role with Waratah Mayfield. He gained selection for Country against City, the team not getting together until the evening before the game. Hyde is front row, on the right, in this photo.

Hyde returned to Balmain for 1941, but when it became known he was residing at his mother's residence in Lane Cove, North Sydney gained his services for 1942.

During that season rugby league did its part for the war effort and community spirits by organising a Sydney representative team to play a Forces side - the game was played before a huge crowd at the SCG and Hyde was captain of the Sydney side.

The photo above features the opposing captains at a training session - East's Ray Stehr is on the right.

Injury curtailed much of Hyde's first season as captain of the North Sydney 'Shoremen', but 1943 would prove to be more successful as he led the club to their first premiership decider in 21 years. The Grand Final against Newtown arrived with Norths unbeaten in their three earlier encounters that season.

Unfortunately for Norths war duties and injury savaged their side for the decider and Newtown won easily. In the aftermath Hyde retired as a player. The team photo above features Hyde in the front row in the centre.

Primary photographic source:Frank Hyde (with Ian Heads), Straight Between The Posts