Noel Kelly

The first hooker/prop forward to make three Kangaroo tours (1959-60, 1963-64 & 1967-68), Noel ‘Ned’ Kelly represented Queensland in 1959 while part of a great Ipswich front row partnership with Gary Parcell and Dud Beattie. Queensland's success that year under Clive Churchill saw Kelly play for Australia against NZ before touring with the Kangaroos. He was the No.2 hooker to Ian Walsh on tour but played in one Test against France. In 1960 he represented Australia in the First Test against France and in the World Cup before commencing a long career with Wests. Kelly played in three straight grand final losses against St George (1961-63) but his Test career continued unabated. In 1963 he played Tests against all three League nations as well as newcomers South Africa and made his second Kangaroo tour, supporting Australian captain and hooker Ian Walsh as a front row forward. Kelly was a roguish character, as his comical sending off (twice in the same match!) in a tour game in Avignon, France at testifies. On his third Kangaroo tour he was back at hooker in five Test matches. He left Wests after two years as captain-coach (1968-69) but later regretted his season as captain-coach of Wollongong in 1970. Kelly later coached Norths (1973-76) as well as taking a combined Sydney team on a tour of NZ in 1976.