Joe Busch

In February 2008, Busch was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players (1908–2007) which was commissioned by the NRL and ARL to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia.

Busch's wife, Ina died in 1996, they had been married more than 65 years. Busch died on 29 May 1999, aged 91. Busch's death left Harry Kadwell as the lone survivor of the 1929–30 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain. Harry "Mick" Kadwell died just under four months later on 27 October 1999, aged 96.

Following his death in 1999, players from the two Australian clubs for which he played, Eastern suburbs and Balmain wore black armbands in his honour.

In 1998, for a rugby league memorabilia auction for charity Busch's 1928 autographed jersey went for A$67,000.

In 1945, Busch became a selector for the Australian side.

Based on his performance in the 1929-30 Kangaroos tour, Busch was offered a position with Yorkshire club, Leeds. Busch's contract included a signing fee of £1,000 and match payments of £7 for a win, £6 for a draw and £5 for a loss. Busch made his début for Leeds against Wigan at Central Park, Wigan on Wednesday 4 March 1931. While playing for Leeds, Busch was selected in the Yorkshire representative team and toured France in 1934. Busch played for Leeds for 5 years until 1935, when he returned to Australia where he took up the position of captain-coach for Balmain. Busch remained at Balmain as coach-captain for 2 years before deciding to retire at the end of the 1936 season.

On the boat trip home to Australia after the 1929-30 Ashes tour of Britain, Busch met and became romantically involved with Josephina (Ina) Castrey, who was emigrating from Scotland to Australia, the pair were eventually married.

In his first year of professional rugby league, Busch was selected for the NSW state representative team and national team, the Kangaroos. Busch played for the Kangaroos against the visiting English national side in 1928 and the following year was also selected for 1929–30 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain.

Joe 'Chimpy' Busch (4 June 1907 – 29 May 1999) was an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s and 1930s. A state and national representative halfback, his club career was played with Sydney-based teams Eastern Suburbs and Balmain, and British team Leeds, in the 1930s. He has been named amongst the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century.

Born in the country town of Maclean, New South Wales, in 1907. As a newborn, one of his older brothers remarked that he looked like a chimpanzee and hence he gained the lifelong nickname 'Chimpy'. Busch was a fisherman who played in the local side, Harwood Island. In 1926, at the age of 19, he was spotted by Eastern Suburbs talent scout John 'Dinny' Campbell, and invited to trial for a position in the team. Busch had to borrow the £5 return boat fare to Sydney. Busch trialled for selection with the Eastern Suburbs and was successful, becoming the team's half-back.