From Hillston to the SCG: Vale Eric ‘Ecca’ Robinson, the ‘Legend’ Who Built a Rugby League Dynasty

In Short

• The Debut: Eric Robinson became Rabbitoh #478 at just 18 years old, scoring 8 tries in his first 10 First Grade games.
• The Dynasty: "Ecca" sired a legendary lineage of speed, including son Ricky Walford and grandsons Nathan Merritt and the Robinson twins.
• The Legacy: Beyond the field, he served as an honorary Elder for the Babana Aboriginal Men’s Group, mentoring generations of Indigenous athletes.

Eric Michael Robinson, the man they called "The Legend," passed away on 14 November 2024, aged 82, leaving behind a legacy that continues in Australia rugby league.

Born in Hillston, NSW, on 11 June 1942, Robinson’s speed carried him all the way to the hallowed grounds of the Sydney Cricket Ground. To the fans, he was "Ecca"; to the defenders he left clutching at thin air, he was a nightmare in a footy jumper.

A Meteoric Rise

After relocating from the Riverina to Sydney, Robinson’s journey began at just 15 with the Alexandria Rovers, quickly graduating to the Redfern All Blacks. By 1960, he steered the South Sydney Presidents Cup side to a premiership, crossing the tryline in the final against Eastern Suburbs.

His ascent through the grades was incredible. After scoring on debut in Third Grade and backing it up the following week in Reserve Grade, Robinson was handed the First Grade jersey in Round 1 of 1961. At just 18 years of age, he became South Sydney Rabbitohs Player #478.

That debut season was the stuff of folklore. In just 10 appearances, the lightning-fast winger crossed for eight tries, including a scintillating hat-trick against Canterbury in Round 5.

"He didn't just run around opponents; he danced past them," recalled one longtime Redfern resident. "That sidestep was pure instinct, a flash of movement that left the best cover defenders looking like they were stuck in the mud."

Beyond the Burrow

After 80 senior games for the Rabbitohs (1960–64), Robinson took his talents on the road. He became a prolific point-scorer for Maitland and Brisbane Wests, where he finished as the Brisbane Rugby League’s top try-scorer in 1972, and represented Western Division while playing out of Bourke.

Yet, the pull of the inner city was too strong. He eventually returned to his roots, finishing his playing days with the Redfern All Blacks.

A Dynasty of Greatness

While Ecca’s boots were eventually hung up, his DNA remained etched in the NRL record books. He sired a dynasty of speedsters, including his son, Ricky Walford, and his grandsons: the prolific Nathan Merritt, and the fleet-footed twins Travis and Reece Robinson.

Achievements at a Glance

The accolades Eric earned throughout his life serve as a testament to his contribution to the sport and his community. In 2003, his decades of service were formally recognised with Life Membership of the South Sydney DRLFC, followed by a similar honour from his beloved Redfern All Blacks. His on-field brilliance was further immortalised in 2008 when he was named in the Alexandria Rovers ‘60 Years of the Best’ Team, confirming his status as one of the finest to ever pull on a boot in the South Sydney juniors. 

More Than a Footballer

In his later years, Eric became a cornerstone of the Inner Sydney community. As an honorary Elder at the Babana Aboriginal Men’s Group, he wasn't just a former footy player; he was a mentor, a storyteller, and leader.

He paved the way for Indigenous stars to not only play the game but to own it. When we watch the modern winger skip down the touchline today, we see a shadow of the man from Hillston.

Vale, Eric Robinson. The Legend lives on.