The entire St George family was saddened by the death of famous Dragons and Australian Captain-Coach Ken Kearney, who died at his Gold Coast home in August, aged 82.
The former stoutly built hooker, who played for St George from 1952-60 after an international rugby union career, died of heart failure while at home with his wife, Maureen. “It was nice and quick for him – he never had any pain,” Mrs Kearney told the Journal recently. “He had not been sick and he just got up out of his chair – it was a big shock.
“He had a good life and we had many years together, though I would have liked him around a bit longer. But we have great children and I have had lots of support.” Leagues and Football Club Board members and playing greats Norm Provan, Johnny Raper and Reg Gasnier paid their respects at Firth Memorial Chapel, Parkwood, on the Gold Coast. Peter Doust recounted how Mr Kearney gave him an Australian Test jumper made of mohair when the current Football Club CEO was just eight.
“I didn’t realise then what a great and illustrious sporting career he had had,” Mr Doust said. “I did not realise the impact he had on rugby league as such and how he prepared the Dragons for the successful run.
“When you talk to Norm Provan and Ian Walsh you get an idea of how he prepared them and how he was disciplined and rigorous at training.” As Captain from 1953-1960 and Coach of the Dragons from 1954-55 and 1957-61, Ken Kearny is credited with spurring the 11-Premiership juggernaut. Considered a tactical genius after arriving via a stint in Leeds, England, during the heyday of English rugby league, he also represented Australia in 25 Tests, Captain-Coaching the Kangaroos in 1956.
“Kearney’s skills as a hooker and dummy half, allied with the skills and tactics he had learned in England, were critical factors in Saints’ rise to the top,” Saint’s No.1 scribe Ian Heads wrote in his book, Saints: The Legend Lives On.
Mr Kearney scored 18 tries and two goals in 153 games with St George. He switched to league after playing three rugby Tests for Australia and touring the United Kingdom with the 1948 Wallabies, a trip on which he met his wife of 54 years. Mrs Kearney said her husband treated his players as if they were his sons. “He called them his boys,” she said. “He always referred to them as his boys.”
Australian and NSW Test halfback Bobby Bugden eulogised his former skipper’s paternal guidance at his funeral. After winning his third Australian Beach Flags Surf Lifesaving Championship, Mr Bugden said, he was surprised by his captain’s brusque query: “What do you want to do, Bugs – muck around on the beach or play for Australia?”
Mr Kearney, a former Parramatta boy, probably developed such leadership qualities while serving as a wireless operator and gunner for the RAAF during World War Two. A fortnight after his death, he was one of six players inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame at the Dally M awards ceremony in Sydney. “He loved the game,” Mrs Kearney said. “He loved the football.”
Mr Kearney is survived by his wife, children Glynn, Brian and Peta and 10 grandchildren.
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St George Leagues Club
LEAGUES CLUB JOURNAL
