Pat Devery

Pat Devery (born 9 August 1922) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1940s and 1950s, and coach of the 1950s. An Australian international representative half, he played in Australia for the Balmain club, winning the 1944, '46 and '47 grand finals with them. He was also the 1947 season's top point-scorer. Devery then had a successful career playing in England for the Huddersfield club before returning to Sydney where he coached the Manly-Warringah club.

Devery was discovered by Latchem Robinson while playing football in The Domain, Sydney as a sailor in the Royal Australian Navy during the war. He played for Balmain at halfback in the 1944 NSWRFL season's premiership final, scoring a try in his side's victory over Newtown. Devery also represented City Firsts on 6 occasions, New South Wales on 2 occasions between 1946–1947 and the Australian rugby league team in 1946 in three tests against Great Britain. He is listed on the Australian Players Register as Kangaroo No.222. Balmain reached the 1946 NSWRFL season's premiership final and Devery played at centre in their victory over St. George.

At the end of the 1947 season a large number of Australians signed with English clubs, headed by Devery who signed with Huddersfield for a fee of £1,350 (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £120,000 in 2013). He went on to break the club's record for most points in a season with 332, achieved during the 1952–53 season. He also made 11-appearances for the Other Nationalities, and one appearance for the British Empire.