Noel Raymond “Ned” Kelly OAM

HERITAGE No: 595

WESTS LIFE MEMBER No: 95

BIRTH: 22 January 1936

Ipswich, Queensland

DEATH: 14 June 2020 Sydney, NSW

DEATH: 14 June 2020

Sydney, NSW

OCCUPATION: Butcher, 1958; Smallgoods, 1977, 1980

RESIDENCE: James St Goodna, Queensland, 1958; Dunstan St Moorooka, Queensland, 1958; Suffolk Ave Collaroy Plateau, NSW, 1977, 1980

GAME HISTORY

Goodna (Ipswich) RL
Ipswich Railways RL 1956, 1957
Ipswich Brothers RL 1958, 1959
Ipswich Bulimba Cup RL 1958
Ayr RL (Player/Coach)1960
Queensland RL Firsts v NSW RL Firsts 1959, 1960
Queensland RL Firsts v New Zealand RL 1959
Queensland RL Firsts v France RL 1960
Wests RL First Grade 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969
Wests RL Pre Season Cup 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969
Wests RL State Cup 1964
Wests RL AMPOL Cup 1963
Sydney RL Firsts v South Africa RL 1963
Sydney RL Firsts v France RL 1964
City RL Firsts v Country RL Firsts 1963, 1964
NSW RL Firsts v Queensland RL Firsts 1963, 1964, 1966, 1967
NSW RL v Great Britain RL 1966
Australia RL v New Zealand RL 1959, 1963, 1967
Australia RL v Italy RL 1959
Australia RL v France RL 1960, 1964, 1967
Australia RL v South Africa RL 1963
Australia RL v Great Britain RL 1966, 1967
Australian RL Kangaroo Tour 1959-60, 1963-64, 1967-68
Australian RL World Cup Tour 1960
Australia RL v France RL (World Cup) 1960
Australia RL v New Zealand RL (World Cup) 1960
Australia RL v Great Britain (World Cup) 1960
Wollongong RL (Player/Coach) 1970
Wests RL (Coach) 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969
North Sydney RL (Coach) 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976

Accolades

Wests RL Team of the Century (Captain and Hooker) 2004
Wests RL Team of the 1960’s – (Hooker)
Wests RL Life Member No.95
ARL and NRL 100 Greatest Players (1908-2007) 2008
Australian RL Team of the Century (Hooker) 2008
NRL Hall of Fame (Hooker/Prop) Inductee No.59
Queensland RL Team of the Century (Hooker) 2008
Wests Tigers Team of the Century 2003
Wests Tigers RL Annual Best Forward Award named in his Honor
Medal of Order of Australia (OAM) Service to Rugby League 2018
Men of League Founding Board Member 2002-2014
Men of League Welfare Committee Member/Officer 2002 2014
Men of League Life Member 2016
Life Member Sydney Cricket Ground
Australia Day Ambassador (10 Years)
Past Commentator – Channel 7 Sports Action Program
Australian Sports Medal 2000

Noel

Under Construction

Noel Raymond Kelly was born in the Ipswich district of Queensland in 1936. He grew up in the Ipswich suburb of Goodna where he played his junior rugby league. By 1958 he was playing with Ipswich Brothers and Bulimba Cup football.

At Ipswich, Noel was part of a powerful front row with Gary Parcell and Dud Beatie. He was soon recognised by the Selectors and played for Queensland and Australia in 1959.

He came down to Sydney in 1961 and joined Wests where he played one hundred and eleven premiership games, all in First Grade. An uncompromising player, he was sent off on seventeen occasions, some of which were for scrum infringements.

Noel was inducted into the National Rugby League Hall of Fame in 2008. The Hall of Fame web site has a tribute including video to Noel Kelly which can be viewed by clicking on the Noel Kelly Hall of Fame.

The Noel Kelly story is still “Under Construction” and further information will be added over time. Pratten Park Magpies have also created a tribute to Noel which can be accessed by clicking on Noel Kelly tribute.

Noel Kelly in Action