Keith Barnes

One of the finest goal-kickers the code has seen, ‘Golden Boots’ set a point-scoring record in his 14 seasons with Balmain and became an institution with the Tigers club. W. Keith Barnes immigrated to Australia from Port Talbot in Wales in 1948. He commenced his league career in Wollongong where he first played five-eighth before moving to fullback. Barnes' faultless kicking style and his resolute last-line of defence while playing for Southern Division against Great Britain in 1954 came to the notice of Balmain stalwart 'Latchem' Robinson. Signing with the Tigers, Barnes established a club record 180pts in 1956, including three goals in the club’s 18-12 grand final loss to St George. He made his debut for Australia in the 1957 World Cup but suffered a smashed jaw when making a tackle on Kiwi prop Henry Maxwell. After playing against NZ in 1959, he went on to kick goals in each of his 14 Test appearances and was given the honour of captaining Australia on the Kangaroo tour. Australia went within a goal of winning the Ashes, losing the Second Test by a point. Barnes also led Australia in two 'friendlies' against Italy on the trip home. He went on to play against France in 1960 (kicking a record 10 goals in the Second Test in Brisbane), was selected as captain-coach of Australia in the 1960 World Cup, and against Great Britain in the 1962 Ashes series. Despite winning an around-the-world trip as ‘Player of the Year’ in 1963, he was left out of the Kangaroo squad in favour of Ken Thornett, Les Johns and Graeme Langlands. In the 1964 semi-final series Barnes scored all of all Balmain's points in the semi-final, final and grand final matches. He triumphantly returned to the Test arena in 1966 - his three goals in the Second Test in Brisbane in 1966 giving Australia a 6-4 victory to keep the Ashes series alive. Unfortunately, he was again injured and ruled out of the decider. On the club scene, Barnes continued to lead the Tigers by example, winning matches with his deadly accurate boot. Balmain went down to St George in two further grand finals, 1964 and 1966, with Barnes retiring at the beginning of the 1968 season. Injuries in the club saw him return to the playing field for one last season but the sad irony to his career is that the year after he retired Balmain won their last premiership. In retirement, Keith Barnes remained where his heart was as General Manager of the Balmain Leagues Club but stood down as Balmain Chief Executive at the end of 1994 at a period when the club changed its name to the Sydney Tigers for a short time. Balmain’s amalgamation with Wests at the end of 1999 saw the end of Barnes’ long association with the game.

Career Statistics

All statistics shown in this section are based only on data available in the RLP database, and are not necessarily a complete and/or 100% accurate representation of a player's career. This information should be used as a guide only. If you see a question mark (?), it denotes that the figure is not available.

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the icon.

International
Test Matches - By Team
Team	Years	App	T	G			GK %	FG	Pts	W	L	D	Win %
Australia	1957, 1959-60, 1962, 1966	17	-	59				-	118	9	7	1	52.94%
Overall	1957-1966	17	0	59				0	118	9	7	1	52.94%
International Matches - By Team
Team	Years	App	T	G			GK %	FG	Pts	W	L	D	Win %
Australia	1957-1960	2	-	12				-	24	2	0	0	100.00%
Overall	1960	2	0	12				0	24	2	0	0	100.00%
World Cup Matches - By Team
Team	Years	App	T	G			GK %	FG	Pts	W	L	D	Win %
Australia	1957, 1960	3	-	5				-	10	2	1	0	66.67%
Overall	1957-1960	3	0	5				0	10	2	1	0	66.67%
Representative
Australia - By Team
Team	Years	App	T	G			GK %	FG	Pts	W	L	D	Win %
NSW Firsts	1956-60, 1963	11	2	46				-	98	9	2	0	81.82%
NSW City Firsts	1957-58	2	-	16				-	32	2	0	0	100.00%
Overall	1956-1963	13	2	62				0	130	11	2	0	84.62%
Club Career
Australian League Matches - By Year
Team	Years	App	T	G			GK %	FG	Pts	W	L	D	Win %
Balmain	NSWRFL 1955	?	1	60				-	123
Balmain	NSWRFL 1956	?	-	90				-	180
Balmain	NSWRFL 1957	?	3	42				-	93
Balmain	NSWRFL 1958	?	2	71				-	148
Balmain	NSWRFL 1959	?	1	48				-	99
Balmain	NSWRFL 1960	?	-	61				-	122
Balmain	NSWRFL 1961	?	-	53				-	106
Balmain	NSWRFL 1962	?	-	36				-	72
Balmain	NSWRFL 1963	?	4	55				-	122
Balmain	NSWRFL 1964	?	-	48				-	96
Balmain	NSWRFL 1965	?	-	45				-	90
Balmain	NSWRFL 1966	?	-	67				-	134
Balmain	NSWRFL 1967	?	-	29				-	58
Balmain	NSWRFL 1968	?	-	37				1	76
Overall	1955-1968	?	11	742				1	1,519	?	?	?	?
Australian League Matches - By Team
Team	Years	App	T	G			GK %	FG	Pts	W	L	D	Win %
Balmain	1955-68	?	11	742				1	1519	?	?	?	?
Overall	1955-1968	?	11	742				1	1,519	?	?	?	?

Last modified: Sun, 12 May 2013 09:59:01 +1000 (Sydney time)