Ken McCaffery

  • Playing Career

Playing Career

Vital Statistics

Full Name
Kenneth Anthony McCaffery
Born
Friday, 27th September, 1929
Died
Saturday, 6th February, 2021 (Aged 91 years and 132 days)
Place Of Birth
Paddington, New South Wales, Australia

Known Family Links

Son
Paul McCaffery

Biography

Easts junior signed with Toowoomba at the instigation of the legendary Duncan Thompson in the early 1950s - the move ultimately fulfilling McCaffery's major ambition to play for Australia. After starring for Queensland the halfback/centre toured with the 1952-53 Kangaroos as a utility back. McCaffery scored 9 tries in 12 matches but did not make his Test debut until the following year on the tour of NZ. As vice-captain of that tour he was a centre in all three Tests against the Kiwis and scored two tries in Australia's Second Test victory. He then took on Great Britain in the 1954 Ashes series before representing Australia in the inaugural World Cup competition. McCaffery captained Queensland in 1953-54 and moved to Brisbane Valleys in 1955-56. His final Test appearance was against France in the Second Test in 1955 and he later returned to Sydney to play with Norths. Although he played a vital role in Australia’s undefeated win in the 1957 World Cup McCaffery's time with Norths was frustrating in that the club did not reach its full potential. After his retirement he became a commentator with Channel 9, a School's Liaison Officer for the NSWRL and Assistant Secretary to the NSWRL before being approached to take on the Club Secretary role at C’bury after the boardroom 'coup' of 1969. McCaffery returned to Norths as club secretary in 1980 but two controversial decisions led to him leaving the club. In 1982 he sacked successful coach Ron Willey for being too ‘negative’ in his coaching style and appointed Greg Hawick, who had not coached in Sydney for almost 20 years. When the club faced a player revolt and Hawick resigned the knives were out for McCaffery and he was voted out of office the following year. His son Paul flew the family flag as a player with Norths for much of the 1980s.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Playing 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   App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
NRL 79 22 11   - 88 26 49 4 32.91% List
Interstate Matches 16 7 -   - 21 6 10 0 37.50% List
Tour Matches Queensland Firsts 2 2 -   - 6 0 1 1 0.00% List
Tour Matches Toowoomba 2 - 4   - 8 1 1 0 50.00% List
Tour Matches Australian XIII 1 1 2   - 7 0 1 0 0.00% List
Tour Matches Australia 20 19 -   - 57 15 4 1 75.00% List
Test Series 5 4 -   - 6 2 3 0 40.00% List
Tour Matches United States of America 1 1 -   - 3 0 1 0 0.00% List
The Ashes 1 2 -   - 12 1 0 0 100.00% List
World Cup 3 2 -   - 6 2 1 0 66.67% List
Country Carnival 1 1 3   - 9 1 0 0 100.00% List


International

Test Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australia 1953-55, 1957 8 6 -   - 18 4 4 0 50.00% List

International Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australia 1953-1957 1 - -   - - 1 0 0 100.00% List

World Cup Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australia 1953-1957 3 2 -   - 6 2 1 0 66.67% List


Representative

Australia - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
NSW City Seconds 1950, 1957-58 3 2 -   - 6 3 0 0 100.00% List
Australia XIII 1951 1 1 2   - 7 0 1 0 0.00% List
Toowoomba 1951-52 2 - 4   - 8 1 1 0 50.00% List
QLD Firsts 1951-56 18 9 -   - 27 6 11 1 33.33% List
Metropolis 1957 1 - -   - - 1 0 0 100.00% List
Overall1950-1958 25 12 6   0 48 11 13 1 44.00% List


Club Career

NRL/NSWRL - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Eastern Suburbs NSWRFL 1948 16 2 7   - 20 5 9 2 31.25% List
Eastern Suburbs NSWRFL 1949 15 3 2   - 13 3 11 1 20.00% List
Eastern Suburbs NSWRFL 1950 18 7 -   - 21 7 11 0 38.89% List
North Sydney NSWRFL 1957 17 8 2   - 28 8 8 1 47.06% List
North Sydney NSWRFL 1958 6 1 -   - 3 2 4 0 33.33% List
North Sydney NSWRFL 1959 7 1 -   - 3 1 6 0 14.29% List

NRL/NSWRL - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Eastern Suburbs 1948-50 49 12 9   - 54 15 31 3 30.61% List
North Sydney 1957-59 30 10 2   - 34 11 18 1 36.67% List
Overall1948-1959 79 22 11   0 88 26 49 4 32.91% List

Your Say

  • Col the Bear
    05/02/2011

    Ken McCaffery is also a member of the North Sydney Team of the Century (bench).

  • Anonymous
    02/06/2011

    Legend

  • Anonymous
    04/08/2011

    A complete human, not just a footy player.

  • Ian kennedy
    13/06/2020

    Played for toowoomba under Duncan Thompson. Known as twinkle toes when he asked Duncan Thompson if he thought Bobby Banks made him Thompson replayed only God can make a player like you Ken but playing outside Bobby makes it so much easier

  • Anonymous
    13/06/2020

    Also played for toowoomba and Brisbane

  • Warren Thompson
    09/02/2021

    First met Ken in 1980 when he was in charge at North Sydney and I was coaching the under 23 team there. It was my good fortune to become friends with Ken as he was a man that was humble, loyal, honest and caring - admired for his calmness and intelligence. In my lifetime I rate Ken in the top three people I most admired and respected. R I P Old Friend.

  • Anonymous
    26/08/2021

    Miss ya Dad ??

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