Brett Kenny

One of the most naturally gifted players to emerge during the modern era, Brett Kenny possessed cat-like anticipation, dazzling acceleration and a great step. The son of Australian Baseball rep Alan Kenny scored two tries in a hat-trick of grand final wins for P’matta (1981-83) and played in 17 Tests for Australia before standing down from Test duty in 1988. The Guildford junior was graded with the Eels in 1980 and was partnering Mick Cronin in the centres before the end of the year. Linking with halfback Peter Sterling, Kenny formed a classic combination at the scrumbase with the pair playing in five grand finals (1981-84 & 1986). He made his debut for NSW in 1982 and his brilliant form on the Kangaroo tour kept vice-captain Wally Lewis out of the Test line-ups. Kenny played in all six Tests on tour against Papua New Guinea, Great Britain and France but from 1984, the remainder of his Test career was played in the centres with Lewis at pivot and captain. English fans saw Kenny at his absolute best during his stay with Wigan in 1985. He scored another double in the club's win over Hull in the Challenge Cup final and became the first Australian player to win the Lance Todd Trophy as man of the match. (Champion Great Britain winger Billy Boston lauded him as the finest player he had seen - high praise indeed). Kenny's clashes with Wally Lewis during 17 interstate matches in the early years of State of Origin football became legendary and the pair was featured on the Winfield State of Origin trophy. In the 1986 grand final against C’bury, Kenny was again twice across the line but could not force the ball. P’matta won their fourth premiership, 4-2, and at seasons’ end Kenny toured with the Kangaroos for a second time. In 1986 he won the Adidas 'Golden Boot' for best player in the world but after an unhappy match against NZ in 1987 (in which he carried a neck injury) he stood down from Test duty citing family reasons. While P’matta's fortunes waned in the early 1990s Kenny continued to give great service for the club. In 1991, after moving to lock, he became the first (and still the only) clubman to score 100 tries. Kenny’s inspiring, creative efforts often stood out in a struggling Eels team following the retirement of the club’s star players. The laconic P’matta captain celebrated his testimonial year in 1992 before a shoulder injury suffered in the International Sevens tournament at the beginning of 1993 put plans for a competitive final season on hold. He recovered to finish the season and if his form was not exactly ‘vintage Kenny’, he retired as one of the greats of the modern game. After working for FoxSports for several seasons Kenny entered the coaching ranks with Penrith but was released by the club in 2006 before his Jersey Flegg team’s win in the grand final. Autobiography, The Natural (1993).

Career Statistics

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