Arthur Hennessy

Souths ‘founding father’ and Australia’s first Test captain, ‘Ash’ Hennessy was a tough hooker/prop who captained the rebel NSW side in the first match against the NZ ‘All Golds’ in 1907. Hennessy held the initial meeting that led to the formation of the Souths Club in his house and was named the club's delegate to the NSWRL. Hennessy became Souths' first captain and coach and with his policy of 'no kicking' at the club earned Souths’ the title 'The Pride of the League' with their running and passing style of play. He also captained NSW in their first interstate match before being named Australia’s inaugural Test captain in the series against NZ (when the ARL chronologically numbered all Australian representatives in 2004, as had been the case in cricket, Hennessy was afforded the ‘No.1’ ticket). Hennessey’s Australian teams were beaten in both Tests and he was controversially chosen to tour England with the pioneer Kangaroos (he was also one of the selectors!) Unfortunately, Hennessy broke his jaw on tour and his 7 appearances did not include any Test matches. After his playing career wound down (he spent part of the 1909 season with Easts and captained the club into the semi-finals) he went on to devote a lifetime to the code, as a coach (Souths 1918) and administrator. In 1929-30 he gained the distinction of being the first coach of a Kangaroos squad. In 1946, aged 69, Hennessy signed on as Souths coach but the move was an unhappy one with the club failing to win a first grade match. He died a decade later, in September 1959, aged 83.