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Bill Kelly

Playing 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

Interstate Series
1915
NSWRFL Premiership (NRL)
1915

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

Playing Career Statistics

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.
Representative Career - International   Comp Wins Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Tests (Senior International Matches) - 1 - 1 --- - - - - - - - - 1 - 0.00% List
The Ashes - 1 - 1 --- - - - - - - - - 1 - 0.00% List
Tour Matches New ZealandNZL - 13 - 13 12-12 - - - 36 - - - 5 8 - 38.46% List
Tour Matches MetropolisMTR - 1 - 1 1-1 - - - 3 - - - 1 - - 100.00% List
Tour Matches New South Wales FirstsNFI - 1 - 1 1-1 - - - 3 - - - 1 - - 100.00% List
Representative Career - Australia   Comp Wins Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Tour Matches WellingtonWLL - 2 - 2 --- - - - - - - - - 2 - 0.00% List
Tour Matches Hawke's BayHWK - 1 - 1 --- - - - - - - - - 1 - 0.00% List
Interstate Series 1 2 - 2 --- - - - - - - - 2 - - 100.00% List
Club Career - Australia   Comp Wins Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) 1 27 - 27 16-16 - - - 48 - - - 18 3 6 66.67% List
City Cup - 2 - 2 --- - - - - - - - - 2 - 0.00% List
Overall   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
First Class  50 - 50 30-30 - - - 90 - - - 27 17 6 54.00% List

Test Matches - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Australia 1914   1 - 1 --- - - - - - - - - 1 - 0.00% List

Australia - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Hawke's Bay 1912   1 - 1 --- - - - - - - - - 1 - 0.00% List
Wellington 1912-13   2 - 2 --- - - - - - - - - 2 - 0.00% List
Metropolis 1914-15   3 - 3 2-2 - - - 6 - - - 3 - - 100.00% List
NSW Firsts 1914-15   3 - 3 1-1 - - - 3 - - - 3 - - 100.00% List

NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) - By Year

Team Season   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
BalmainBalmain 19141914 NSWRFL   13 - 137-7 - - - 21 - - - 6 3 4 46.15% List
BalmainBalmain 19151915 NSWRFL   14 - 149-9 - - - 27 - - - 12 - 2 85.71% List

NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Balmain 1914-15   27 - 27 16-16 - - - 48 - - - 18 3 6 66.67% List

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