Ben Kennedy

Ben Kennedy (born 14 March 1974 in Casino, New South Wales), is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australian international representative forward, he played his club football for the Canberra Raiders, Newcastle Knights (with whom he won the 2001 NRL Premiership) and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.

Kennedy played GPS 1st 15 rugby union at St. Joseph's College, Hunters Hill when he transferred to grade 12 from another school, and was selected in the Australian Schoolboys side. He switched to rugby league, playing for the Casino Cougars.

His club career started with the Canberra Raiders in 1996 where he was named the club's Rookie of the Year. He had four seasons with the club though the 1999 season was coloured by questions whether he had agreed to terms with the Newcastle Knights before the mid season anti-tampering deadline. He was first selected for New South Wales in 1999 and went on to play 13 State of Origins.

In 1999, Kennedy and Brandon Pearson were sent home from training after being involved in a drinking session. There were claims that the pair had taken drugs, and Pearson confessed to taking an illicit substance, but Kennedy claimed to have spat the tablet out. Subsequent drug tests for both returned negative.

Kennedy saw premiership victory during his five-year stint with the Newcastle Knights from 2000 and was selected to national honours while playing for the Knights. He debuted for Australia in 2000 when the Kangaroos played Fiji in the World Cup tournament.