Playing Career
Vital Statistics
- Full Name
- William Frank Ashurst
- Born
- Monday, 12th April, 1948
- Died
- Tuesday, 14th June, 2022 (Aged 74 years and 62 days)
- Place Of Birth
- Ince-in-Makerfield, Greater Manchester, England
Biography
Immensely talented Englishman spent three controversial seasons with the Panthers before walking out on his contract. A tall, rangy second row forward with deft ball-skills, a brilliant swerve and chip-kick and distinctive around-the-corner goal-kicking style, Ashurst was signed for a then record $27,700 from Wigan in 1973. Ashurst was also a consummate showman, uncannily reserving his best for the cameras. Sent off on several occasions and constantly under a fitness cloud, his highly publicised feud with countryman Mick Stephenson succeeded only in dividing the club. Ashurst secretly returned home prior to the 1977 season, citing ‘home-sickness’ as the reason, but had a hidden desire to play for his country again (which he never did). At age 40 he made a startling comeback with Runcorn but was sent off after 12 minutes with his side copping a 92-2 thrashing. Penrith showed there were no hard feelings when the club named Ashurst in their best-ever side and flew him back to Australia for the celebrations in 2006.
- ALAN WHITICKER
Playing 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 List button.
Competitions | ||||||||||||||
Competition | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tour Matches | Great Britain | 1 | 1 | - | - | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | List | |||
Test Series | 1 | 1 | - | - | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | List | ||||
Tour Matches | Wigan Warriors | 1 | - | - | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00% | List | |||
Craven Mild Cup | 3 | - | 2 | - | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 66.67% | List | ||||
NSWRFL Premiership (NRL) | 46 | 19 | 51 | 6 | 165 | 21 | 24 | 1 | 45.65% | List | ||||
National Panasonic Cup | 4 | 5 | 8 | - | 31 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 75.00% | List | ||||
Yorkshire Cup | 1 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | List | ||||
English Championship | 8 | 1 | - | 2 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 50.00% | List | ||||
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Test Matches - By Team | ||||||||||||||
Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
Great Britain | 1971-72 | 3 | 3 | - | - | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 66.67% | List | |||
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NSWRFL Premiership (NRL) - By Year | ||||||||||||||
Team | Season | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
Penrith | NSWRFL 1974 | 13 | 8 | - | 4 | 28 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 53.85% | List | |||
Penrith | NSWRFL 1975 | 16 | 2 | 42 | 1 | 91 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 43.75% | List | |||
Penrith | NSWRFL 1976 | 17 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 46 | 7 | 9 | 1 | 41.18% | List | |||
NSWRFL Premiership (NRL) - By Team | ||||||||||||||
Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
Penrith | 1974-76 | 46 | 19 | 51 | 6 | 165 | 21 | 24 | 1 | 45.65% | List | |||
English Career - By Year | ||||||||||||||
Team | Season | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
Wakefield | 1980/81 | 6 | 1 | - | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 50.00% | List | |||
Wakefield | 1981/82 | 2 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50.00% | List | |||
Wakefield | 1983/84 | 1 | - | - | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | List | |||
English Career - By Team | ||||||||||||||
Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
Wakefield | 1980-81, 1983 | 9 | 1 | - | 2 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 44.44% | List |
Contributions:
Alan Katzmann, Paul Carter, Andrew Ferguson, Rugby League Tables, Shawn Dollin, Greg Fiveash, Bill Bates, AJ Lucantonio
Sources:
Irvin Saxton's Record Keepers' Club, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1981-82, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1982-83, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1984-85
Your Say
23/05/2012
Panthers did not get value for their (then very considerable amount of) money from the much-vaunted English back-rower.
24/06/2017
Bill Ashurst was a second row forward who possessed the skills to be a world class stand off. His ball playing, kicking and reading of the game. Fast and elusive Bill had every piece of the jigsaw you would want in the complete rugby player.A master of the chip over the top, no one since Bill could match his touch finding, in the 40/20 era Bill would have made it look so easy.
If Bill had played in the Wigan team in they would have a statue of him as well as Billy Boston.
centre as well as Billy Boston.
02/07/2017
We should remember Bill Ashurst for his first game with Penrith Panthers, regardless of anything else, he changed the style of goal kicking for ever in Australia.
I was at the game when he lined up to covert the try. Then he took 2 steps to the left and kicked round the corner. Now everyone kicks like that, but he was the first. Well done Bill.
18/04/2022
Totally agree with the comment from anonymous. If Bill had played in Billy Boston's era or in the late 80s to 90s era.( Imagine Bill in the back row with Ellery Hanley!)
He would have been held in the same esteem as both of them. It his only because he played for Wigan in a barren period that he is not in the Wigan Hall of Fame. On ability Bill would walk into it and should be in it now!
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