Ernest Holloway played his early football in rugby union teams at Ashfield. He played with the Ashfield rugby union team that competed in the Sydney Second Grade competition in 1907. From there was selected to play in a Combined Sydney team against North Coast.
He switched over to play rugby league with Wests and made his First Grade debut in round nine of the 1908 season. This was the first ever First Grade win that Wests had, defeating Newtown 6-5. Ern played the next and final match of the season in First Grade.
