Ben Kennedy
Encyclopedia
Ben Kennedy 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
.
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.
Kennedy scored a try in Newcastles 2001 Grand Final victory. At the end of the 2001 NRL season, he went on the 2001 Kangaroo tour
.
After missing representative opportunities in 2003 due to injury and surgery, Kennedy seemed determined to make the most of all further chances and grew in stature as an on-field leader.
In his final seasons 2005–06 he was an inspirational leader in captaining the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
. He appeared in six out of the seven Australian Test matches in 2005. Along with former club team mate and friend Andrew Johns
, Kennedy finished his international career in the 2006 Anzac Test
.
His final club match was Manly's 2006 Semi Final loss St George Illawarra at Aussie Stadium.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. A New South Wales State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
and Australian international
Australian national rugby league team
The Australian national rugby league team have represented Australia in senior men's rugby league football competition since the establishment of the game in Australia in 1908. Administered by the Australian Rugby League, the Kangaroos' are ranked number one in the RLIF World Rankings...
representative forward, he played his club football for the Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
, Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
(with whom he won the 2001 NRL Premiership) and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
.
Playing career
Kennedy played GPS 1st 15 rugby union at St. Joseph's College, Hunters HillSt. Joseph's College, Hunters Hill
St Joseph's College is a Roman Catholic, Secondary, day and boarding school for boys. It is located in Hunters Hill, a suburb on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
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
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
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
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
before the mid season anti-tampering deadline. He was first selected for New South Wales
New South Wales Rugby League team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
in 1999 and went on to play 13 State of Origins.
In 1999, Kennedy and Brandon Pearson
Brandon Costin
Brandon Costin is a retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and first decade of the 21st century. He initially played under the name Brandon Pearson. He played for the Huddersfield Giants, Canberra Raiders, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Bradford Bulls and the United States national...
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
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
from 2000 and was selected to national honours while playing for the Knights. He debuted for Australia
Australian national rugby league team
The Australian national rugby league team have represented Australia in senior men's rugby league football competition since the establishment of the game in Australia in 1908. Administered by the Australian Rugby League, the Kangaroos' are ranked number one in the RLIF World Rankings...
in 2000 when the Kangaroos played Fiji in the World Cup tournament.
Kennedy scored a try in Newcastles 2001 Grand Final victory. At the end of the 2001 NRL season, he went on the 2001 Kangaroo tour
2001 Kangaroo Tour
The 2001 Kangaroo Tour was almost abandoned due to the events of September 11, 2001. The tour was initially cancelled by the ARL but after strong public opinion in both Great Britain and Australia, it went ahead, though the only games played were the three tests, marking the first Kangaroo Tour to...
.
After missing representative opportunities in 2003 due to injury and surgery, Kennedy seemed determined to make the most of all further chances and grew in stature as an on-field leader.
In his final seasons 2005–06 he was an inspirational leader in captaining the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
. He appeared in six out of the seven Australian Test matches in 2005. Along with former club team mate and friend Andrew Johns
Andrew Johns
Andrew Gary "Joey" Johns is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s who is considered by many to be the greatest player of all time. He was heralded as the world's best halfback for a number of years...
, Kennedy finished his international career in the 2006 Anzac Test
ANZAC Test
The Anzac Test is an annual rugby league football test match . The test match is played annually between Australia and New Zealand on or around Anzac Day for the Bill Kelly Memorial Trophy.-Origins:Australia and New Zealand had competed in Rugby League Tests since 1908...
.
His final club match was Manly's 2006 Semi Final loss St George Illawarra at Aussie Stadium.