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 | ||||
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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 | |||
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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 | |||
Overall | 1950-1958 | 25 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 48 | 11 | 13 | 1 | 44.00% | List | |||
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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 | |||
Overall | 1948-1959 | 79 | 22 | 11 | 0 | 88 | 26 | 49 | 4 | 32.91% | List |
Contributions:
Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson, Greg Fiveash, Gary Neale, Rugby League Tables, Paul Carter, Alan Katzmann, Bill Bates, Tim Costello
Your Say
05/02/2011
Ken McCaffery is also a member of the North Sydney Team of the Century (bench).
02/06/2011
Legend
04/08/2011
A complete human, not just a footy player.
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
13/06/2020
Also played for toowoomba and Brisbane
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.
26/08/2021
Miss ya Dad ??
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