Career Record for Featherstone
Appearances			Tries	Goals	Drop Goals	Points
Total	Start	Sub
278	278	0	115	3	0	351

Jack Hirst has been described as the 'prince of centres' and he graced the game in the first decade of Rovers' history as a senior club.  His talent soon showed in junior football, attracting the attention of senior clubs, and he was actually spirited away and signed for the Rovers whilst Wakefield Trinity officials were at his house. That was in 1920 and he was therefore one of the Rovers thirteen which opened the club's senior history at Bradford on 27 August 1921. He soon settled to the senior game and enjoyed a full season, only missing 3 of the 29 games played. His first tries were scored at home to Leeds on 1 October 1921 when his inspirational value emerged and he so nearly gained victory with two special tries. The previous week at Leigh, Rovers had lost 25-0 but the Athletic News reported that 'Hirst is really a great centre with a fine swerve and plenty of speed. Although young, he is already a finished player'.

He continued his splendid form into the next season and was rewarded with selection for Yorkshire v Cumberland at Maryport in October 1922 but had to withdraw through illness. This was the first indication of the injuries which were to blight his career. He eventually made his county debut in October 1924 and was only able to make four appearances in his career, which was a travesty. However, his 18 tries in l922/23, was his seasonal best and included four tries v Bradford.

In 1923/24, he was appointed captain but relinquished the position after one month as he was far happier without that responsibility.  Although he had been unable to be the first Rovers player to play for his county he did become the club's first international when played for England v Wales at Huddersfield on 1 October 1923. Hundreds of Rovers fans travelled to the game, but he did not get much opportunity to shine, allegedly ‘the half-backs wanting to go it alone'.

At club level the tries kept coming and in one purple patch he scored 10 tries in 8 matches between 15 March and 24 April 1924. He started the 1926/27 season in similar fashion and had already notched up six tries when he injured his knee at Batlev on 6 November. This proved serious, and he was  out for the rest of the season. He attempted a comeback on the wing against Wakefield 15 April 1927 which attracted a record league attendance of 7,000, but he had to leave the field with a recurrence of the knee injury. The club sought specialist advice from Sir Robert Jones of Liverpool who operated on Hirst, although his fee of £70 caused comment at the next annual general meeting...

He did not return until 29 October 1927 and was thus able to assist in the club's bid for championship honours which ended in the League Championship final defeat by Swinton - but what an effort by the club in only its seventh season. What was encouraging was that Hirst was back and in devastating form and his efforts helped Rovers to their first Yorkshire Cup final in November 1928 - they lost 5-0 to Leeds. Hirst continued to excel and he scored five tries against Bradford (at home) on 24 April 1929 - a club record which stood until 1968. His selection as reserve for Yorkshire signalled that the selectors were acknowledging his fight-back after injury, but when it all went wrong and another serious knee injury sustained at home to Broughton in December 1931 ended his career at the comparatively young age of thirty.

The match accounts in those ten years are littered with superlatives describing Hirst's 'specials', which influenced so many matches. These examples give an indication of the maestro at his best - on 3 March 1923 RL Cup v Wigan, 'Wigan were leading 11-3 when Hirst received the ball on the half-way line and threaded his way with characteristic swerve past opponents until Jim Sullivan was the last defender. His progress seemed halted, but he surged over to score. Another classic burst by Hirst gave Mason a try and then Hirst went over again only for the try to be disallowed and Wigan were mighty fortunate'.  24 October 1928 Yorkshire Cup second round at Fartown: 'Huddersfield were the league leaders and were unbeaten. Rovers were 21st in the league. With four minutes left, Huddersfield were leading 4-2 when Hirst picked the ball up from a ruck 20 yards out, feigning to pass he slipped past his opposing centre, a characteristic side-step disposed of another would be tackler, and then with a great rush left the full-back helpless and with a Huddersfleld player hanging on, dropped between the posts for a magnificent try to win the match.' 24 June 1925 v Warrington (at home), 'Hirst picked up the ball on the half-way line and with a characteristic run worked his way to within 10 yards of the line beating opponent after opponent before passing to Barraclough for Annable to score'.

He was a legend in his own time as crowds thrilled to his sheer artistry and football skills.  His body swerve and side-step (he could manoeuvre a side-step on either side), were attributes which made him a truly great centre. The wonder is that, even in spite of his unfortunate injuries, he did not achieve more honours. Nevertheless, he lit up the Featherstone scene in its formative years and would have been an asset to any team.

 

Biography by Ron Bailey