Derek Turner - Representative Career

Representative Career

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Rocky played for Yorkshire against Lancashire in ten Rugby League War of the Roses matches, scoring two tries.

Alongside fellow Oldham player, Centre Alan Davies, Rocky was selected for the Great Britain squad to play in Australia's 1956 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain, Rocky was rested for the first Test which Great Britain won 21-10 at Central Park, Wigan. Rocky played in the second match which Australia won 9-22 at Odsal, Bradford. Rocky played in the third Test as Great Britain defeated Australia 19-0 at Station Road, Swinton, to take the Ashes series 2-1.

Just prior to the 1957 World Cup, Rocky played in all three of Great Britain's matches against France, alternating between venues in Great Britain and France. Great Britain won two and drew one of the fixtures: 45-12 Headingley, Leeds; 19-19 Stade Municipal, Toulouse; 29-14 Knowsley Road, St Helens.

Alongside fellow Oldham players, Centre Alan Davies and Second-row Sidney "Sid" Little, Rocky was selected for the Great Britain squad to play in the 1957 Rugby League World Cup in Australia. Rocky played in the 23-5 victory over France at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, the 6-31 defeat to Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, and the 29-21 defeat to New Zealand at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney. Australia ran out comfortable World Champions, with victories over New Zealand, Great Britain and France. Despite suffering a heavier defeat to Australia than either New Zealand or France, Great Britain's heavy victory over France in the opening match, France's narrow victory over New Zealand, and Great Britain's narrow defeat to New Zealand in the final match secured Great Britain second place overall. Great Britain had the luxury of playing all their matches at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, whereas New Zealand and France had to play at both the Gabba, Brisbane and Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, which are 575 miles apart.

Rocky played Loose forward/Lock and scored a try in Great Britain & France's 37-31 victory over New Zealand at Carlaw Park, Auckland on 3 July 1957.

Just after to the 1957 World Cup, Rocky played in both of Great Britain's matches against France, alternating between venues in Great Britain and France. Great Britain won both tests; 14-25 at Stade Municipal, Toulouse; 44-15 at Central Park, Wigan.

In 1958, Rocky played for Great Britain in the 23-9 defeat to France at Stade Lesdiguières, Grenoble.

Alongside fellow Oldham players, Centre Alan Davies and Scrum-half/Halfback Frank Pitchford, Rocky was selected for the Great Britain squad to play in 1958 tour of Australia, but had to withdraw because of an injury.

Alongside fellow Wakefield player(s), Rocky was selected for the Great Britain squad to play in Australia's 1959 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain, Rocky played in first of the three matches. Australia won the first Test 22-14 at Station Road, Swinton. Rocky was rested for the second and third of the three matches, Great Britain won the second 11-10 at Headingley, Leeds. Great Britain won the third 18-12 at Central Park, Wigan to take the Ashes series 2-1.

Just prior to the 1960 World Cup, Rocky played in all three of Great Britain's matches against France, alternating between venues in France and Great Britain. Great Britain won one, drew one and lost one of the fixtures: France won 20-18 at Stade Municipal, Toulouse. On 65 minutes a colossal brawl erupted when Georges Fages kicked Rocky on the chin following Rocky’s tackle on Fages. When the dust settled Rocky was ordered off, but five minutes elapsed before he was finally escorted from the field by Bill Fallowfield, secretary of the Rugby Football League. The British players waited for Fages to go, but in vain. There was 17-17 draw at Knowsley Road, St Helens; Great Britain won 21-10 at Stade André Moga, Bordeaux.

Alongside fellow Wakefield Trinity player Prop Jack Wilkinson, Rocky was selected for the Great Britain squad to play in the 1960 Rugby League World Cup in Great Britain. Rocky played in the 23-8 victory over New Zealand at Odsal, Bradford, rested on Saturday 1 October 1960 for the 33-7 victory over France at Station Road, Swinton, Rocky returned for the last match of the series against Australia at Odsal, Bradford. The 1960 Rugby League World Cup was run on a league basis, but with both Great Britain and Australia undefeated, the last match became a virtual World Cup Final. Great Britain become World Champions with the 10-3 victory over Australia at Odsal, Bradford.

In 1961, Rocky played for Great Britain in the 27-8 victory over France at Knowsley Road, St Helens. Unusually, Rocky played as a Second-row, with Vince Karalius playing Loose Forward.

Alongside fellow Wakefield player(s), Rocky was selected for the Great Britain squad to play in New Zealand's 1961 Tour of Great Britain, Rocky played in the first of the three matches, the 11-29 defeat to New Zealand at Headingley, Leeds.

In 1962 Rocky played his sole England international against France, an 18-6 victory at Headingley, Leeds. This was also England's sole international between 10 May 1956 and 7 November 1968. Great Britain being the primary incarnation of international representation during this period, a period that matched Rocky's prominence.

Alongside fellow Wakefield Trinity players, Neil Fox, Harold Poynton, Gerry Round and Jack Wilkinson, Rocky was selected for the Great Britain squad to play in 1962 tour of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. This Great Britain team would be the nearest to achieving a 3-0 Ashes whitewash of the Kangaroos on Australian turf to date.

In Australia, Rocky scored a try in the 31-12 victory in the first test at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, rested for the 17-10 victory in the second test in the Gabba, Brisbane (Attendance 34,786), Rocky returned for the third test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney. In the third Test of the 1962 Ashes series, Australia's Dud Beattie suffered a broken collarbone, and knowing he would have to leave the field anyway (Substitutions not being permitted until 1964), Beattie ignited a fight with Rocky, it resulted in the referee sending both players from the field. As Beattie was being half-carried from the arena by an ambulance man, Rocky prodded and remonstrated with Beattie for his actions. A controversial last-minute Ken Irvine try against the weakened defence, Mick Sullivan having already been sent off, and the subsequent touchline goal resulted in a 17-18 defeat, although a whitewash was denied, Great Britain won the Ashes series 2-1.

After the Australia Ashes Tests, With Eric Ashton (Captain), Alex Murphy and Don Fox injured, Rocky took over the captaincy for the two tests in New Zealand. However, these and other injuries depleted the squad to such an extent that both tests in Carlaw Park, Auckland were lost 0-19 and 8-27.

After the New Zealand Tests, only fourteen players from the original squad of twenty-five were uninjured, thirteen of whom went on to play three exhibition matches in South Africa. Despite being top try scorer, with 22 tries in the tests, Billy Boston could not be considered for selection purely due to the colour of his skin, as this was apartheid-era South Africa. Consequently, coach Colin Hutton became a stand-in substitute. The squad for the South African exhibition matches was; Eric Fraser (Warrington); Ike Southward (Workington Town), Peter Small (Castleford), Neil Fox (Wakefield Trinity), Mick Sullivan (St Helens); Dave Bolton (Wigan), Harold Poynton (Wakefield Trinity); Jack Wilkinson (Wakefield Trinity), John Shaw (Halifax), Ken Noble (Huddersfield), Laurie Gilfedder (Warrington), Dick Huddart (St Helens), Derek Turner (Wakefield Trinity); Substitute: Colin Hutton (Hull Kingston Rovers).

In 1962, Rocky played his final match for Great Britain in the 17-12 defeat to France at Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan.