Bill Kelly (rugby league)

Bill Kelly

Kelly in 1939
Personal information
Full name	William Martin Kelly
Nickname	The Prince of Coaches
Born	1892 Westport, New Zealand
Died	1 July 1975 Killara, New South Wales
Playing information
Rugby union
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1910 Buller 1911 Wellington Total 0 0 0 0 0
Rugby league
Position	Centre
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1912–13 Athletic (WRL) 1914–15 Balmain 27 16 0 0 48 Total 27 16 0 0 48 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1912–13 Wellington 6 6 0 0 18 1912–13 New Zealand 17 8 0 0 24 1914 Australia 1 0 0 0 0 1914–15 New South Wales 3
Coaching information
Club Years Team Gms W D L W% 1914–15 Balmain 28 18 6 4 64 1923–24 University 24 4 2 18 17 1936–37 Newtown 22 11 0 11 50 1938–43 Balmain 92 55 5 32 60 1944 St. George 15 9 0 6 60 1945 Canterbury-Bankstn. 14 4 1 9 29 Total 195 101 14 80 52 Representative Years Team Gms W D L W% 1932 New Zealand 1932 Auckland 1 0 0 1 0
Source: Yesterday's Hero, RLP and RLP

William (Bill) Martin Kelly (1892–1975), born in Westport, New Zealand was a rugby league football identity who enjoyed success in New Zealand and Australia as both a player and coach in the first half of the 20th century. He played for Wellington, the Balmain Tigers, New South Wales and for both the New Zealand and Australian national sides. He also had a long coaching career with five different clubs in the NSWRFL in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s, and with New Zealand in 1932.

Born in Westport, Kelly played first class rugby union for Buller when he was 18 and later represented Wellington.

Kelly switched to rugby league with the launch of the Wellington Rugby League competition in 1912 and played for Athletic in their grand final loss to Petone.

He became a Wellington representative and toured Australia in 1912 and 1913 with the New Zealand national side. No test matches were played with the Kiwis meeting New South Wales and Queensland and a number of regional sides. He played in Wellingtons 1913 victory over Auckland.