Benny Wearing
A blisteringly fast winger who became only the third man to cross the 100-try line in Australian rugby league's foundational era.
1901–1968 (age 67)·Australian rugby league footballer·Birthday: June 11·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Benny Wearing was pure speed and finishing class in a leather-helmeted age, a cornerstone of the South Sydney Rabbitohs dynasty of the 1920s. In an era where rugby league was cementing itself as Australia's dominant winter code, Wearing's ability to slice through defenses and dot down in the corner made him a fan favorite and a nightmare for opponents. His career coincided with Souths' golden run, and his tries were the exclamation points on their dominance. Wearing's pace earned him the green and gold of Australia, representing his country in Test matches against the visiting British Lions. Reaching the century milestone for tries was a rare feat that placed him among the game's early pantheon, a testament to his consistent excellence and longevity in a physically brutal sport.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Benny was born in 1901, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Benny Was Born
The biggest hits of 1901
Benny's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1901Born
Queen Victoria dies, ending the Victorian era
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1906Started school
San Francisco earthquake devastates the city
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1914Became a teenager
World War I begins
President: Woodrow Wilson
1917Could drive
Russian Revolution overthrows the tsar; US enters WWI
President: Woodrow Wilson
1919Could vote
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1922Turned 21
King Tut's tomb discovered in Egypt
President: Warren G. Harding"April Showers" — Al Jolson
1931Turned 30
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1941Turned 40
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1951Turned 50
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1961Turned 60
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1968Died at 67
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
Key Achievements
- Became the third player in Australian rugby league history to score 100 premiership tries.
- Was a key member of multiple premiership-winning South Sydney Rabbitohs teams in the 1920s.
- Represented Australia in Test matches, including games against Great Britain.
Did You Know?
He scored a try in South Sydney's 1925 premiership victory, part of their record-setting 1920s run.
Wearing played his entire first-grade club career for the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
His try-scoring milestone of 100 tries was a significant benchmark in the sport's early history.
“I just put my head down and ran for the corner.”
