Born in the northern New South Wales town of Collarenebri, Walford was raised by his grandparents in the larger nearby town of Walgett. He was selected from Walgett as an Australian schoolboy representative and toured New Zealand in 1981. In 1982 Walford moved to Sydney, joined the Eastern Suburbs Roosters and made thirteen appearances for the tri-colours in 1982 and 1983. He made his first grade debut in Round 2 of the 1982 season and kicked two goals coming from the bench, going on to score three tries and kicking four goals in seven appearances. Walford played in only six games in 1983 for the Roosters, scoring no tries or goals. He then moved north of Sydney Harbour in 1984 and played 11 games for the NorthSydney Bears, scoring eight tries and kicking 21 goals. In his day Ricky Walford was one of a dying breed of 'toe poke' goalkickers in top-line rugby league. He was an old style direct kicker of the ball rather than using an 'around-the-corner' style that gives the kicker greater accuracy, and has proved popular since EnglishmanJohn Gray introduced the style to Australia when he joined the Bears in 1975.
St. George Career
Walford joined the St. George Dragons in 1985 but only played two games for the season and missed out on the Dragons' 6-7 loss to Canterbury-Bankstown in the Grand Final at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He cemented his place on the wing for the Dragons in the 1986 season and scored nine tries in 17 games to be the club's leading try scorer. After an injury interrupted 1987 season where he only played 14 of the Dragons' 26 games, Ricky Walford enjoyed some of his best form and his best ever points haul in 1988. Playing 22 games he was the club's leading try and point scorer with 15 tries and 52 of 89 goals kicked for a total of 164 points scored. Walford was also a member of the victorious St. George Dragons team that won the 1988 Panasonic Cup. In an 11-year career with the famous St. George club Ricky Walford played 207 games. He scored 104 tries and kicked 229 goals. He played on the wing in both of the 1992 and 1993 Grand Final losses to the Brisbane Broncos at the Sydney Football Stadium and was the NSWRL's leading point scorer in 1989 when he scored 146 points. Walford crossed the line for 13 tries and kicked 47 goals from 75 attempts. Walford had his biggest point scoring day in Round 19 of 1989 at the Dragons' home ground Kogarah Oval when he crossed for four tries and kicked five goals against Canterbury in a 32-2 romp over the reigning premiers. Ricky Walford played in two losing grand finals for St. George in 1992 and 1993, going down to the Brisbane Broncos in both games 8-28 in 1992 and 6-14 in 1993. Ricky Walford's 874 career points for St George stood in second place behind Graeme Langlands on the club's all-time highest score tally. He retired from the Dragons at the end of the 1995 season but made himself available to play for the Dragons in the 1996 season as a result of troubles during the Super League war. He subsequently retired again at season's end.
After retiring, Walford became the Indigenous Program Manager for the Australian Rugby League's development function. He was awarded Life Membership of the St. George Dragons in 1996.
