1970 – 1980s Series #1

Great Britain RU international also played County cricket for Warwickshire and the MCC before changing codes to play for Wigan in 1973. Gray came to Australia on Great Britain’s 1974 tour and made his Test debut in the Lions’16-11 Second Test win, while his 6 goals in the Third Test almost won his country the Ashes. A tough hooker and a brilliant around-the-corner goal-kicker, Gray brought his considerable talents to Norths in the mid-1970s. In 1976 he was awarded the Amco Cup ‘superstar’ prize for player of the competition but only after an embarrassing mix-up after promoters first gave the award to Balmain’s Allan McMahon. Gray signed with Manly in 1978 on a reduced contract for the chance to play in a competitive side. Unfortunately he was sent off and suspended in the major semi-final replay against P’matta and Manly went on to win a dramatic 1978 grand final replay without him. Gray later returned to Norths but a series of broken forearms and constant back pain ended his career in 1983.

Career Statistics

All statistics shown in this section are based only on data available in the RLP database, and are not necessarily a complete and/or 100% accurate representation of a player’s career. This information should be used as a guide only. If you see a question mark (?), it denotes that the figure is not available.

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the  icon.

International
Test Matches – By Team
Team	Years	App	T	G			GK %	FG	Pts	W	L	D	Win %
Great Britain	1974	8	1	18				1	40	5	3	0	62.50%
England	1975	1	–	4				–	8	1	0	0	100.00%
Overall	1974-1975	9	1	22				1	48	6	3	0	66.67%
International Matches – By Team
Team	Years	App	T	G			GK %	FG	Pts	W	L	D	Win %
England	1975	2	–	–				–	–	2	0	0	100.00%
Overall	1975	2	0	0				0		2	0	0	100.00%
World Cup Matches – By Team
Team	Years	App	T	G			GK %	FG	Pts	W	L	D	Win %
England	1975	1	–	4				–	8	1	0	0	100.00%
Overall	1975	1	0	4				0	8	1	0	0	100.00%
Club Career
Australian League Matches – By Year
Team	Years	App	T	G			GK %	FG	Pts	W	L	D	Win %
North Sydney	NSWRFL 1975	?	–	23				–	46
North Sydney	NSWRFL 1976	15	2	33				–	72	4	10	1	26.67%
North Sydney	NSWRFL 1977	19	3	66				–	141	10	8	1	52.63%
Manly Warringah	NSWRFL 1978	24	4	61				–	134	15	8	1	62.50%
Manly Warringah	NSWRFL 1979	16	–	7				–	14	7	8	1	43.75%
Manly Warringah	NSWRFL 1980	7	–	–				–	–	4	3	0	57.14%
North Sydney	NSWRFL 1981	16	–	40				–	80	7	9	0	43.75%
North Sydney	NSWRFL 1982	21	3	51				1	112	14	6	1	66.67%
North Sydney	NSWRFL 1983	8	1	4				–	12	3	5	0	37.50%
Overall	1975-1983	?	13	285				1	611	?	?	?	?
Australian League Matches – By Team
Team	Years	App	T	G			GK %	FG	Pts	W	L	D	Win %
North Sydney	1975-77, 1981-83	?	9	217				1	463	?	?	?	?
North Sydney	1976-77, 1981-83	79	9	194				1	417	38	38	3	48.10%
Manly Warringah	1978-80	47	4	68				–	148	26	19	2	55.32%
Overall	1975-1983	?	13	285				1	611	?	?	?	?
Australian Finals Matches – By Team
Team	Years	App	T	G			GK %	FG	Pts	W	L	D	Win %
North Sydney	1976-1982	1	–	–				–	–	0	1	0	0.00%
Manly Warringah	1978	3	–	2				–	4	1	1	1	33.33%
Overall	1978-1982	4	0	2				0	4	1	2	1	25.00%

Born: Friday, 29th April, 1955

Place Of Birth: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Awards & Accolades

Dally M Prop Of The Year 1982

Biography

Giant prop forward, the youngest son of Norths’ president Harry McKinnon, eclipsed Norm Strong’s club record number of grade games (260) in 1987. A local junior who played RU with Willoughby until the age of 16, Don McKinnon was graded by the Bears in 1975. He reached his peak in 1982, winning a place in NSW’s State of Origin side before playing in ten minor matches on the unbeaten Kangaroo Tour. McKinnon did not have his contract renewed with Norths for the 1988 season but feeling that he still had something to offer, played his final season with Manly. In the opening match of the season against Brisbane, McKinnon suffered the embarrassment of being fined for relieving himself while still on the field – certainly not the first player to do so but the first to be caught on TV. He spent most of the remainder of the season on the sidelines after dislocating his shoulder when scoring a try in a later match.

– ALAN WHITICKER

Career Statistics

All statistics shown in this section are based only on data available in the RLP database, and are not necessarily a complete and/or 100% accurate representation of a player’s career. This information should be used as a guide only. If you see a question mark (?), it denotes that the figure is not available.

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the  icon.

International
International Matches – By Team
Team	Years	App	T	G			GK %	FG	Pts	W	L	D	Win %
Australia	1982	1	1	1				–	5	1	0	0	100.00%
Overall	1982	1	1	1				0	5	1	0	0	100.00%
Representative
Australia – By Team
Team	Years	App	T	G			GK %	FG	Pts	W	L	D	Win %
New South Wales	1982	1	–	–				–	–	0	1	0	0.00%
Overall	1982	1	0	0				0		0	1	0	0.00%
Club Career
Australian League Matches – By Year
Team	Years	App	T	G			GK %	FG	Pts	W	L	D	Win %
North Sydney	NSWRFL 1977	2	–	–				–	–	1	1	0	50.00%
North Sydney	NSWRFL 1978	18	6	–				–	18	4	13	1	22.22%
North Sydney	NSWRFL 1979	17	3	–				–	9	1	16	0	5.88%
North Sydney	NSWRFL 1980	19	3	–				–	9	4	14	1	21.05%
North Sydney	NSWRFL 1981	18	1	–				–	3	8	10	0	44.44%
North Sydney	NSWRFL 1982	26	6	–				–	18	15	10	1	57.69%
North Sydney	NSWRFL 1983	25	2	–				–	8	12	12	1	48.00%
North Sydney	NSWRL 1984	24	4	–				–	16	9	14	1	37.50%
North Sydney	NSWRL 1985	14	2	–				–	8	3	11	0	21.43%
North Sydney	NSWRL 1986	14	–	–				–	–	7	7	0	50.00%
North Sydney	NSWRL 1987	9	1	–				–	4	4	5	0	44.44%
Manly Warringah	NSWRL 1988	6	1	–				–	4	4	2	0	66.67%
Overall	1977-1988	192	29	0				0	97	72	115	5	37.50%
Australian League Matches – By Team
Team	Years	App	T	G			GK %	FG	Pts	W	L	D	Win %
North Sydney	1977-87	186	28	–				–	93	68	113	5	36.56%
Manly Warringah	1988	6	1	–				–	4	4	2	0	66.67%
Overall	1977-1988	192	29	0				0	97	72	115	5	37.50%
Australian Finals Matches – By Team
Team	Years	App	T	G			GK %	FG	Pts	W	L	D	Win %
North Sydney	1977-1982	2	2	–				–	6	0	2	0	0.00%
Overall	1982	2	2	0				0	6	0	2	0	0.00%