Chris McKivat

While it is always difficult to compare players from different eras, the career of Chris McKivat in two codes at the beginning of the last century rates him as one of the greatest captains and halfbacks Australia has seen. A member of Glebe's RU club, he first resisted calls to the newly-formed professional code to tour England with the Wallabies in 1908-09. Although he was not the official tour captain, McKivat led Australia to a gold medal victory over England in the London Olympics and in Test wins over Wales and England. On his return to Australia, he severed ties with the amateur game to take part in promotional matches that pitted the Kangaroos against the Wallabies. Turning professional with the Glebe RL club, McKivat brought all his shrewdness and tactical brilliance to the new code. He represented NSW in 1910 and made his Test debut in the Ashes series against England that year. In 1911-12 he led the 'Australasian' Kangaroos on the tour of England, and led Australia in an undefeated Test series to capture the Ashes for the first time. While his playing career ended soon after, he had assured his place in the history of the game. McKivat later coached Norths in the club’s only premiership successes (1921-22) as well as Wests in 1928. He died suddenly in 1941, at the age of 61.