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Bill Kelly

Coaching Career

All information provided below is based only on data available in the RLP database and should be used as a guide only.

Vital Statistics

Full Name
William Martin Kelly
Born
Sunday, 9th November, 1890
Died
Tuesday, 1st July, 1975 (Aged 84 years and 235 days)
Place Of Birth
Westport, West Coast, New Zealand

Competitions Won

NSWRFL Premiership (NRL)
1915, 1939

Biography

When the ANZac Test was instituted by Super League in April 1997 it was decided to name the ‘Best and Fairest’ medal after Bill Kelly – the first (of only two to date) player to represent both NZ and Australia in rugby league (the NRL named the ANZac Test trophy after Kelly in 1998). A dual international in his native NZ, Kelly toured Australia in 1912-13 before joining Balmain in 1914. The same year he made his debut for his adopted country as a centre in the First Test against England. While this was to be his only Test appearance, Kelly played for NSW in 1915 and captain-coached the Tigers during an undefeated season that secured the club its first premiership. Injuries suffered whilst fighting in Belgium during World War One curtailed his playing career but after his retirement he was regarded as the 'Prince of Coaches', coaching University (1923-24), Newtown (1936-37), Balmain (1938-43 including a grand final win over Souths in 1939), St George (1944), C’bury (1945) and NZ against England (1933).
- ALAN WHITICKER

Coaching Career Statistics

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

Representative Career - Australia     Games W L D Win%  
Tour Matches Universities XIIIUNI - 3 2 1 - 66.67% List
Club Career - Australia   Comp Wins Matches W L D Win%  
NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) 2 264 121 128 15 45.83% List
NRL Finals - 9 3 6 - 33.33% List
City Cup - 10 1 8 1 10.00% List
Overall   Comp Wins Matches W L D Win%  
First Class  268 123 130 15 45.90% List

Australia - By Team

Team Years   Games W L D Win%  
Universities XIII 1922   3 2 1 - 66.67% List

NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) - By Year

Team Season   Games W L D Win%  
BalmainBalmain 19141914 NSWRFL   146 4 4 42.86% List
BalmainBalmain 19151915 NSWRFL   1412 - 2 85.71% List
UniversityUniversity 19211921 NSWRFL   8- 8 - 0.00% List
UniversityUniversity 19231923 NSWRFL   162 13 1 12.50% List
UniversityUniversity 19241924 NSWRFL   82 5 1 25.00% List
UniversityUniversity 19261926 NSWRFL   1810 8 - 55.56% List
UniversityUniversity 19281928 NSWRFL   136 7 - 46.15% List
UniversityUniversity 19291929 NSWRFL   162 13 1 12.50% List
UniversityUniversity 19301930 NSWRFL   142 12 - 14.29% List
NewtownNewtown 19361936 NSWRFL   147 7 - 50.00% List
NewtownNewtown 19371937 NSWRFL   84 4 - 50.00% List
BalmainBalmain 19381938 NSWRFL   157 7 1 46.67% List
BalmainBalmain 19391939 NSWRFL   1612 2 2 75.00% List
BalmainBalmain 19401940 NSWRFL   147 6 1 50.00% List
BalmainBalmain 19411941 NSWRFL   159 6 - 60.00% List
BalmainBalmain 19421942 NSWRFL   1610 6 - 62.50% List
BalmainBalmain 19431943 NSWRFL   1610 5 1 62.50% List
St GeorgeSt George 19441944 NSWRFL   159 6 - 60.00% List
CanterburyCanterbury 19451945 NSWRFL   144 9 1 28.57% List

NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) - By Team

Team Years   Games W L D Win%  
Balmain 1914-15, 1938-43   120 73 36 11 60.83% List
University 1921, 1923-24, 1926, 1928-30   93 24 66 3 25.81% List
Newtown 1936-37   22 11 11 - 50.00% List
St George 1944   15 9 6 - 60.00% List
Canterbury 1945   14 4 9 1 28.57% List

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Contributions: Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson, Greg Fiveash, Rugby League Tables, Tim Costello, Max Turner