Jim Dymock
Jim Dymock | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 4, 1972 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Rugby league coach, former professional rugby league footballer |
| Years active | 1991–2004 (player), post-2004 (coach) |
| Known for | Playing for Western Suburbs Magpies, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Parramatta Eels, London Broncos; coaching Tongan national team and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |
Jim Dymock (born 4 April 1972) is a seasoned rugby league coach, presently serving as an assistant coach for the Manly Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League (NRL). He is also a former professional player active during the 1990s and early 2000s.
Dymock represented both Tonga and Australia at the international level, and played for New South Wales in the State of Origin. His primary positions on the field were as a or . His club tenure included stints with Sydney’s Western Suburbs Magpies, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, and Parramatta Eels, before concluding his playing career in the Super League with the London Broncos.
Following his playing days, Dymock transitioned into coaching. He took charge of the Tongan national side and was appointed head coach of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs during the closing stages of the 2011 NRL season. Additionally, he has served as an assistant coach for several NRL clubs including the Sydney Roosters, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.
Background
Born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 4 April 1972, Dymock is of Tongan heritage.
His early rugby league development began with Eastern Suburbs juniors, playing for teams such as Paddington Colts and Woolloomooloo Warriors before moving to the South Sydney juniors. He also played for the Zetland Magpies, alongside future top-grade players like Jim Serdaris and Terry Hill.
Early career
Dymock featured in South Sydney’s S.G. Ball and Jersey Flegg squads during his junior years.
Western Suburbs Magpies
He made his first-grade debut in the 1991 NSWRL season with the Western Suburbs Magpies, impressively scoring two tries in his first match against Wally Lewis. After accumulating 31 appearances, he parted ways with the club due to disagreements involving his manager.
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
In 1993, Dymock signed with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. During the contentious 1995 season, he and several teammates withdrew from their Super League contracts, challenging them as 'unfair inducement'—a claim that was upheld legally. Opting to remain loyal to the ARL-aligned Bulldogs, he played a pivotal role in their grand final triumph over the Manly Sea Eagles, earning the prestigious Clive Churchill Medal as man-of-the-match.
Parramatta Eels
Dymock transferred to Parramatta Eels, aligned with the ARL, ahead of the 1996 season. He was selected as an interchange player for all three matches of the 1996 State of Origin series. Throughout the period marked by the Super League conflict and its eventual resolution into the National Rugby League, he remained an integral figure.
In 1997, he started at five-eighth in games I and II of the 1997 State of Origin series, scoring a try in game II. He also played at lock forward in game III of the 1998 State of Origin series. Over five seasons with Parramatta, he made 112 appearances before departing Australia at the conclusion of 2000.
London Broncos
Dymock signed with the English Super League outfit London Broncos for the 2001 campaign. Over the course of four seasons, he appeared in 95 matches before concluding his playing career at the end of 2004.
Tonga
He represented Tonga during the 1994 Pacific Cup and continued to play for them in 1995.
Australia
Between 1995 and 1996, Dymock earned six caps for the Australian national team and was a member of the squad that secured victory in the 1995 Rugby League World Cup held in England.
Coaching career
Following his playing days, Dymock served as an assistant coach under Ricky Stuart at the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks before making a return to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. He took on the role of head coach for the Tongan side during the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.
On 14 July 2011, Dymock was named head coach of Canterbury after the resignation of Kevin Moore. Nevertheless, his tenure was short-lived, as he was succeeded by Des Hasler on 14 November 2011.