Early Career
Collins was born in Darlinghurst, an inner suburb of Sydney, the son of Thomas, an accountant, and Emma (née Charlton). He attended Albion Street (Superior) Public School, where he showed an aptitude for cricket and rugby union. He played his early cricket with Paddington Cricket Club, bowling left arm spinners and batting well enough to be selected at 19 for the New South Wales cricket team (NSW).
He made his first-class cricket debut against South Australia in 1909–1910 and was disappointing, scoring three and one and taking 1/35. He played one further match for the season, against Victoria. For the next two seasons, his opportunities at first-class level were limited but he managed to play against the touring South African and English sides.
Collins also played first grade rugby league at this time in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership. He played at five-eighth in Eastern Suburbs' grand final win of the 1911 NSWRFL season alongside the great Dally Messenger. He also played in Brisbane for Toombul's club, gaining selection for Queensland in 1912.
Collins's first full season for NSW was in 1912–1913, playing ten matches and scoring 598 runs at an average of 42.71. He finished the season with 282 against Tasmania at Hobart. During the 1913 Australian winter, Collins was part of an Australian team that toured North America, playing Gentlemen of Philadelphia and a combined Canada–United States team.
Read more about this topic: Herbie Collins
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