Walter James Lewis a.k.a. Wally Lewis is an Australian retired professional rugby league footballer who also served as the coach in the 1980s and 1990s. Lewis later became a commentator for the TV coverage of the sport. Rugby star is widely regarded as one of the greatest ever player in rugby league. He was nicknamed “The King” and “The Emperor of Lang Park”.
Regarding his personal life, Lewis is married and shares three children with his wife. Furthermore, his net worth in 2019 is assumed no less than the six digit figure.
Legendary rugby star, Wally Lewis has earned huge name, fame, and wealth through his professional rugby career both as player and coach. He later began his career as a sports presenter following his retirement.
While his career at Trinity, he got paid $1425.31 per game, which was world-record wages of that time.
Apart, he also gets paid between $5,000 to $10,000 a speech in mass-attendance speaking events, same as Wayne Bennett.
Although Wally has not revealed his exact figure of net worth, looking at his career, it is assumed that his net worth can be in six digit figure.
Currently 59, Lewis is a married man. He tied the wedding knot with his long-time girlfriend Jacqueline in 1982 after dating for a couple of the year.
CAPTION: Wally Lewis and his spouse SOURCE: The Courier Mail They together are blessed with three children: two sons Lincoln and Mitchell and a daughter, Jaime-Lee, who was born profoundly deaf.
Lewis’s daughter Jamie-Lee is a professional water polo player who currently is on a scholarship to the Queensland Academy of Sports. She has represented Australia and is the very first deaf person to represent Australia’s national hearing team.
Whereas his son, Mitchell is a presenter on the Nova FM radio station and another son, Lincoln, is an Australian actor who is well recognized for his roles in SLiDE, Tomorrow When the War Began, and Home Away.
Read More.Jacqueline Lewis
Lewis was diagnosed with Epilepsy which is a group of neurological disorders characterized by epileptic seizures and on 21st of February 2006; he underwent brain surgery to aid his epilepsy at Austin Hospital located in Melbourne. Since he made a full recovery.
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He also wishes to work with epilepsy organizations and raise awareness regarding the condition. Once he said, “People come and ask me now about the thing (from his rugby league career) and I Just don’t remember them at all- that’s absolutely frightening.”
In May 2010, Lewis underwent a gallbladder surgery to remove it.
In 2009, he completed his autobiography, “Out of the Shadows: A Champion’s Return to the Spotlight”, in which he also mentioned that his on-air disorientation was caused by the condition.
Lewis is the vice patron of the charity organization called, “Hear and say Centre”.
Lewis is well-recognized as a diehard fan of an American adventure comic strip, “The Phantom” by Lee Falk.
Wally Lewis was born on 1st of December 1959, in Hawthorne, Queensland, Australia. Regarding his nationality, he is an Australian and is of white ethnicity. His birth sign is Sagittarius. His mother, June, was a Queensland representative netball player whereas his father, Jimmy, is a former rugby league footballer having played for Brisbane Wests and Souths, later became coach of the Wynnum Manly club.
At six, Lewis began playing rugby with Cannon Hill Stars.
During the 1970s, Lewis enrolled at Brisbane State High School. While his time at high school, he also played representative rugby union, touring Japan and Europe with the Australian schoolboy team alongside all 3 Ella brothers Gary, Mark, and Glen, Michael O’Connor, and Tony Melrose.
In 1978, Lewis joined and started playing in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership with Fortitude Valley. The following year, Lewis made his senior debut from the bench for Queensland. He played overall 5 seasons for the Fortitude Valley playing total 135 games earning 16 points.
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Lewis played 1983-84 seasons for the Wakefield Trinity, recording 24 points. Then he moved to Wynnum-Manly and remained there for the next three seasons, until 1987. He played total 76 games with recording single points.
In 1988, he joined Brisbane Broncos. For Broncos he made his appearance in 46 games recording 102 points, and 11 goals. After three years, he played for Gold Coast, recording 30 points and 3 goals before he gets retired as a player in 1992.
Wally Lewis has represented his national side, Australian national team in 33 international matches from 1981 to 1991. He was national team captain from 1984 to 1989.
In 1986, Wally Lewis began his coaching career as Captain-coach of Wynnum-Manly. In his first season as coach, he led the team, which include rep player Bob Linder, Colin Scott, and Gene Miles, to a 14-6 victory against Brothers in BRL Grand Final at Lang Park.
Also Read: Wally Lewis Bio, Salary, Net worth, Married, and Personal Life
The following season he was replaced by the Don Furner.
Then in 1992, he made his comeback as a coach but this time for Gold Coast Seagulls. He coached the club for only 1 season recording 7 wins, 1 draw, and 36 losses.
After his retirement from the sport, Wally Lewis pursued his late career as a television sports presenter. He first served on “Seven Nightly News Brisbane” as TV sports presenter, prior moving to the higher-rating “Nine News Queensland” where he still works.
