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Clem Kennedy

  • Playing Career

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
Clem Michael Kennedy
Nickname(s)
The Mighty Atom or The L
Born
Friday, 25th November, 1921
Died
Friday, 17th December, 2010 (Aged 89 years and 22 days)
Place Of Birth
Redfern, New South Wales, Australia

Competitions Won

Interstate Series
1945, 1946, 1947
NSW City vs Country Firsts
1945, 1946

Biography

Tiny halfback known as 'The Mighty Atom' or 'The Little Bully', weighed in at only 52kg when he made his first grade debut with Souths in 1939. Kennedy's career was interrupted by military service (he saw action on the Kakoda Trail and suffered a bout of malaria) and had to overcome shoulder injuries suffered in the war before resuming his career. Kennedy played for NSW in 1945 and remarkably, achieved Test honours the following year in a season when the Rabbitohs failed to win a match. Kennedy was selected for NSW in two matches before gaining a place in the Australia's Third Test side against Great Britain in 1946. After injury had ruled him out of the first two Tests, he was Australia's sole try-scorer in the 20-7 loss in the third. Kennedy played for Cessnock in 1947, captaining Country, and later signed with Grenfell after a season with Newtown.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Additional Notes

Served in the Second World War in the Army.

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 1-1 - - - 3 - - - - 1 - 0.00% List
The Ashes - 1 - 1 1-1 - - - 3 - - - - 1 - 0.00% 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 New South Wales FirstsNFI - 1 - 1 1-1 - - - 3 - - - 1 - - 100.00% List
Interstate Series 3 4 - 4 2-2 - - - 6 - - - 4 - - 100.00% List
NSW City vs Country Firsts 2 3 - 3 2-2 - - - 6 - - - 2 1 - 66.67% List
NSW City vs Country 2 3 - 3 2-2 - - - 6 - - - 2 1 - 66.67% 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) - 50 - 50 16-16 1 - - 50 - - - 13 36 1 26.00% List
NRL Finals - 1 - 1 --- - - - - - - - - 1 - 0.00% List
Overall   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
First Class  58 - 58 21-21 1 - - 65 - - - 19 38 1 32.76% 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 1946   1 - 1 1-1 - - - 3 - - - - 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%  
Metropolis Seconds 1944   - 1 1 1-1 - - - 3 - - - 1 - - 100.00% List
NSW Firsts 1945-47   4 - 4 2-2 - - - 6 - - - 4 - - 100.00% List
NSW City Firsts 1945-46   2 - 2 1-1 - - - 3 - - - 2 - - 100.00% List
Rest of NSW Firsts 1947   1 - 1 --- - - - - - - - - 1 - 0.00% List
NSW Country Firsts 1947   1 - 1 1-1 - - - 3 - - - - 1 - 0.00% 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%  
SouthsSouth Sydney 19391939 NSWRFL   1 - 11-1 - - - 3 - - - 1 - - 100.00% List
SouthsSouth Sydney 19411941 NSWRFL   6 - 62-2 - - - 6 - - - - 6 - 0.00% List
SouthsSouth Sydney 19441944 NSWRFL   12 - 124-4 - - - 12 - - - 5 6 1 41.67% List
SouthsSouth Sydney 19451945 NSWRFL   13 - 135-5 - - - 15 - - - 1 12 - 7.69% List
SouthsSouth Sydney 19461946 NSWRFL   9 - 92-2 - - - 6 - - - - 9 - 0.00% List
NewtownNewtown 19481948 NSWRFL   6 - 62-2 1 - - 8 - - - 4 2 - 66.67% List
NewtownNewtown 19491949 NSWRFL   3 - 3--- - - - - - - - 2 1 - 66.67% 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%  
South Sydney 1939, 1941, 1944-46   41 - 41 14-14 - - - 42 - - - 7 33 1 17.07% List
Newtown 1948-49   9 - 9 2-2 1 - - 8 - - - 6 3 - 66.67% List

Your Say

  • Les Miller
    7 Feb 2011 10:54pm

    We will miss you Clem.. at the annual dinner of the Inner City Alumni. You always were loyal to your school Our Lady Of Mt. Carmel, Waterloo, to the Patrician Brothers, and to your country.

  • Burt
    24 Oct 2014 7:46am

    Clem was responsible unearthing future champions such as Ron Coote, Bob McCarthy, Eric Simms & Gary Stevens when he coached the great Souths President Cup teams late 50s & 60s

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Contributions: Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson, Greg Fiveash, Max Turner, Rugby League Tables, Tony McCarron, Alan Katzmann, Paul Carter

Sources: 2006 Official Rugby League Annual