Ken Kearney

Coaching Career

Vital Statistics

Full Name
Kenneth Howard Kearney
Nickname(s)
Killer
Born
Saturday, 3rd May, 1924
Died
Friday, 18th August, 2006 (Aged 82 years and 106 days)
Place Of Birth
Penrith, New South Wales, Australia

Awards & Accolades

International Hall Of Fame
2006
National Rugby League Hall Of Fame
2006
NSWRL Hall Of Fame
2022

Biography

Ken 'Killer' Kearney brought a ruthless professionalism to St George that held the club in good stead during their unprecedented 11 grand final victories. The champion hooker captained the great club to win six premierships from 1956-61 and was coach from 1957-62. Born in Penrith, his football career started in RU with P’matta. Kearney represented the Wallabies in 7 Tests before switching to League in England after serving with the RAAF during the war. Playing for Leeds from 1948 until he linked with St George in 1952 he proved to be a cunning, tough hooker. Kearney toured with 1952-53 Kangaroos and played in 20 matches on tour, making the first of 25 Test appearances in the Third Test against England. As St George coach in 1953 he instigated the famous 'brick wall' of defence at the club but Kearney had his critics - especially regarding his poor relationship with referees. When the Dragons lost the 1953 grand final he was replaced by coach Norm Tipping. Kearney had been openly critical of club officials with many feeling his aggressive attitude put the club offside with leading referee Darcy Lawler. Kearney's leadership qualities were recognised with his naming as Australian captain-coach for the 1956 Test series against NZ and on the 1956-57 Kangaroo tour (Clive Churchill was relegated to vice-captain). Upon his return he was reinstated as captain-coach at St George. Under Kearney's guidance St George turned its mastery of unlimited tackle football into an art form. While his last Test series was against Great Britain in 1958 (he was overlooked as Australian captain-coach in the 1957 World Cup and 1958 Ashes series) Kearney continued to lead St George by example until a chronic knee injury ended his career at the beginning of the 1962 season. After fulfilling his obligations as coach (St George won their seventh consecutive grand final) the club's policy of having a player-coach saw Kearney join P’matta in 1963. Under his coaching the Eels experienced their best era since being promoted into the competition. He then coached Wests (1965) and Cronulla (1967-68) during the Sharks’ entry into the ‘Big League’. Ken Kearney is remembered as the man who brought coaching in Sydney up to English club standard - and ultimately beyond. He was inducted into the RL Hall of Fame in 2006 but died in retirement on the G’Coast, aged 82, before the announcement.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Additional Notes

Served in the RAAF as a Warrant Officer in the Second World War.

Coaching 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 List button.

Competitions

Competition   Games W L D Win %  
NRL 284 168 111 5 59.15% List
NRL Finals 20 12 8 0 60.00% List
Tour Matches Australia 9 7 2 0 77.78% List
Test Series 9 7 2 0 77.78% List
The Ashes 3 1 2 0 33.33% List
City Cup 1 1 0 0 100.00% List
Craven Mild Cup 31 13 16 2 41.94% List


International

Test Matches - By Team

Team Years Games W L D Win %  
Australia 1956-57 9 7 2 0 77.78% List


Club Career

NRL/NSWRL - By Year

Team Season Games W L D Win %  
St George NSWRFL 1954 20 12 7 1 60.00% List
St George NSWRFL 1955 20 14 6 0 70.00% List
St George NSWRFL 1957 20 17 3 0 85.00% List
St George NSWRFL 1958 21 18 3 0 85.71% List
St George NSWRFL 1959 20 19 0 1 95.00% List
St George NSWRFL 1960 20 16 4 0 80.00% List
St George NSWRFL 1961 20 17 3 0 85.00% List
Parramatta NSWRFL 1962 19 9 8 2 47.37% List
Parramatta NSWRFL 1963 20 12 8 0 60.00% List
Parramatta NSWRFL 1964 20 14 6 0 70.00% List
Western Suburbs NSWRFL 1965 18 6 12 0 33.33% List
Cronulla NSWRFL 1967 22 3 18 1 13.64% List
Cronulla NSWRFL 1968 22 6 16 0 27.27% List
Cronulla NSWRFL 1969 22 5 17 0 22.73% List

NRL/NSWRL - By Team

Team Years Games W L D Win %  
St George 1954-55, 1957-61 141 113 26 2 80.14% List
Parramatta 1962-64 59 35 22 2 59.32% List
Western Suburbs 1965 18 6 12 0 33.33% List
Cronulla 1967-69 66 14 51 1 21.21% List
Overall1954-1969 284 168 111 5 59.15% List

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Contributions: Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson, Greg Fiveash, Paul Carter, Gary Neale, Rugby League Tables, Alan Katzmann, Max Turner, Bill Bates