Ken Irvine
Encyclopedia
Kenneth John Irvine was an Australian rugby league
footballer of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. He holds the standing record for the most number of tries in a first-grade career – 212. No other player has yet managed 200 tries in their career, apart from Steve Menzies who has scored 216 (36 in super league and 180 in nrl). He is also the 2nd all time top try-scorer for the Australian national team, behind current Australian captain Darren Lockyer. Irvine has been named amongst the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century.
Irvine played for the North Sydney
and Manly-Warringah
clubs of the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership, primarily as a winger
.
and sprinting, playing in the New South Wales junior baseball side alongside future Australian team mate Reg Gasnier
while also competitively running for the Randwick-Botany Club. After deciding to attend a trial at Wentworth Park
for the North Sydney
rugby league club as a 17-year-old, their first grade coach Ross McKinnon
stated "sign that kid for life", and Ken was signed and playing for the club the following year.
side and the Australian
side to tour Europe.
In 1961 Irvine showcased his speed at a specially-arranged event specifically in an attempt to break professional world record
over 100 yards. Irvine won the event and equalled the record of 9.3 seconds. During the same event he would also win the 120 yard Dubbo Gift after starting a yard behind scratch, displaying his much-publicised speed.
Ken Irvine excelled at running with pace along the sideline, his small frame in perfect balance as he did what all great wingers must do, finish the play and score. His very high leg speed and balance allowed him to make larger defenders grasp at straws as he evaded them with ease. There is little doubt amongst Rugby League historians that Irvine was one of the quickest accelerating and highest top speed players ever seen, certainly capable of International athletic medals.
Irvine would go on to make 184 appearances for the Bears, scoring 171 tries. He also had the honour of captaining the side on occasions, although he infamously threatened to lead his team off in protest of referee Keith Page, in a 1969 match against Canterbury
.
His stint with the Bears ended at the end of 1970 after disagreements with head coach Roy Francis.
as NSWRFL all-time top try-scorer and helped Manly to claim successive premierships in 1972 and 1973 before retiring. He retired after becoming the first player to score 200 tries in NSWRFL Premiership history.
, scoring a try on debut. In all Irvine played 31 Test matches, scoring 33 tries. Irvine's Test career ended in 1968 when he suffered a broken leg against France, ruling him out of much of the following season.
's Ken Irvine Scoreboard was named in his honour. Irvine was inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame
in 2004. In August, 2006 he was named at winger in the North Sydney Bears' Team of the Century.
In 2007 Irvine was selected by a panel of experts as a winger in an Australian 'Team of the 50s'.
In February 2008, Irvine was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players (1908–2007) which was commissioned by the NRL
and ARL
to
celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia. Irvine went on to be named as one of the wingers, along with Brian Bevan
, in Australian rugby league's Team of the Century
. Announced on 17 April 2008, the team is the panel's majority choice for each of the thirteen starting positions and four interchange players. In 2008 New South Wales announced their rugby league team of the century and Irvine was again named on the wing.
Irvine died at the age of 50 in 1990 after battling leukemia
.
and Terry Lamb
who achieved their 160+ totals in respectively 300+, 384 and 387 first class games.
Irvine's 33 tries for Australia was eclipsed by Darren Lockyer in 2010 against Papua New Guinea.
(Note - the above totals represent points at present-day values. When Irvine played, a try was worth 3 points, and goals and field goals were each worth 2 points.)
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 1950s, 60s and 70s. He holds the standing record for the most number of tries in a first-grade career – 212. No other player has yet managed 200 tries in their career, apart from Steve Menzies who has scored 216 (36 in super league and 180 in nrl). He is also the 2nd all time top try-scorer for the Australian national team, behind current Australian captain Darren Lockyer. Irvine has been named amongst the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century.
Irvine played for the North Sydney
North Sydney Bears
The North Sydney Bears are an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales. They currently compete in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League following the 1999 NRL season after 92 years of top-grade competition. The Bears are based on...
and Manly-Warringah
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...
clubs of the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership, primarily as a winger
Rugby league positions
A rugby league football team consists of thirteen players on the field, with four substitutes on the bench. Players are divided into two general categories: "forwards" and "backs"....
.
Childhood and early career
Attending Marist College North Shore, Irvine originally excelled in both baseballBaseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
and sprinting, playing in the New South Wales junior baseball side alongside future Australian team mate Reg Gasnier
Reg Gasnier
Reg Gasnier AM is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach, regarded as one of the 20th century's finest players. He played in the centres for the St. George Dragons from 1959 to 1967...
while also competitively running for the Randwick-Botany Club. After deciding to attend a trial at Wentworth Park
Wentworth Park
Wentworth Park is a multi-purpose sporting facility in the suburb of Glebe in New South Wales, Australia.that is used for various sports including rugby union, rugby league, soccer and greyhound racing. Wentworth Park is located 2 kilometres from the Sydney central business district...
for the North Sydney
North Sydney, New South Wales
North Sydney is a suburb and commercial district on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. North Sydney is located 3 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of North Sydney...
rugby league club as a 17-year-old, their first grade coach Ross McKinnon
Ross McKinnon
Ross McKinnon was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach. He played for the University, Eastern Suburbs, New South Wales and for the Australian national side....
stated "sign that kid for life", and Ken was signed and playing for the club the following year.
North Sydney Bears
Making his debut for the club during the 1958 season on the wing, he was an instant success for the club, proving to be a frequent try scorer. In NSWRFL season 1959 he was the season's leading try-scorer with 19 and was rewarded with selection in the New South WalesNew 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...
side and the Australian
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...
side to tour Europe.
In 1961 Irvine showcased his speed at a specially-arranged event specifically in an attempt to break professional world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
over 100 yards. Irvine won the event and equalled the record of 9.3 seconds. During the same event he would also win the 120 yard Dubbo Gift after starting a yard behind scratch, displaying his much-publicised speed.
Ken Irvine excelled at running with pace along the sideline, his small frame in perfect balance as he did what all great wingers must do, finish the play and score. His very high leg speed and balance allowed him to make larger defenders grasp at straws as he evaded them with ease. There is little doubt amongst Rugby League historians that Irvine was one of the quickest accelerating and highest top speed players ever seen, certainly capable of International athletic medals.
Irvine would go on to make 184 appearances for the Bears, scoring 171 tries. He also had the honour of captaining the side on occasions, although he infamously threatened to lead his team off in protest of referee Keith Page, in a 1969 match against Canterbury
Canterbury Bulldogs
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League junior competitions...
.
His stint with the Bears ended at the end of 1970 after disagreements with head coach Roy Francis.
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Irvine joined Manly in 1971, making 58 appearances for the club, scoring 41 tries. He overtook Harold HorderHarold Horder
Harold Norman Horder was an Australian rugby league player a national and state representative player whose club career was with the South Sydney Rabbitohs and North Sydney Bears between 1912 and 1924...
as NSWRFL all-time top try-scorer and helped Manly to claim successive premierships in 1972 and 1973 before retiring. He retired after becoming the first player to score 200 tries in NSWRFL Premiership history.
New South Wales
After only one full club season with Norths, Irvine was selected for New South Wales in 1959. He would play for NSW on 24 occasions over the next nine years, scoring 30 tries and kicking four goals.Australia
Irvine made his Australian debut in 1959 on the Australian tour to Europe, against FranceFrance national rugby league team
The France national rugby league team represent France in international rugby league tournaments. They are also sometimes referred to as "Les Tricolores" or more commonly "Les Chanticleers"...
, scoring a try on debut. In all Irvine played 31 Test matches, scoring 33 tries. Irvine's Test career ended in 1968 when he suffered a broken leg against France, ruling him out of much of the following season.
Accolades
North Sydney OvalNorth Sydney Oval
-Development:* The first cricket pitch was laid on 6 December 1867, making it one of the oldest cricket grounds in Australia.* The first structure built, in 1879, was a simple pavilion overlooking the cricket ground...
's Ken Irvine Scoreboard was named in his honour. Irvine was inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame
Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame
The Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame honors players who have shown exceptional skill at rugby league, all-time great coaches and referees, and other major contributors to the game who are Australian...
in 2004. In August, 2006 he was named at winger in the North Sydney Bears' Team of the Century.
In 2007 Irvine was selected by a panel of experts as a winger in an Australian 'Team of the 50s'.
In February 2008, Irvine was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players (1908–2007) which was commissioned by the NRL
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
and ARL
Australian Rugby League
The Australian Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. It is made up of state bodies, including the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League...
to
celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia. Irvine went on to be named as one of the wingers, along with Brian Bevan
Brian Bevan
Brian Eyrl Bevan was a legendary rugby league winger who scored a world record 796 tries for Warrington RLFC...
, in Australian rugby league's Team of the Century
Australian Rugby League's Team of the Century
In late 2007, the Australian Rugby League and National Rugby League commissioned a college of 130 experts to select the 100 best rugby league players in the game's 100-year history in Australia...
. Announced on 17 April 2008, the team is the panel's majority choice for each of the thirteen starting positions and four interchange players. In 2008 New South Wales announced their rugby league team of the century and Irvine was again named on the wing.
Irvine died at the age of 50 in 1990 after battling leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
.
Records
Irvine's 212 career tries is the standing NSWRL/NRL career record for the most first grade tries. This extraordinary tally was achieved in 296 first grade and representative games and is over 40 tries clear of his nearest rivals in the rankings: Steve Menzies, Andrew EttingshausenAndrew Ettingshausen
Andrew Ettingshausen is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. He played his first grade Australian club football for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, retiring with the record of most games at a single club, with 328...
and Terry Lamb
Terry Lamb
Terry Lamb OAM, is an Australian retired professional rugby league footballer and coach. He played 349 games , with Wests , and Canterbury . Lamb was known for his support of the ball-carrier - his ability to be in the right place at the right time netted him 164 tries. This earned him the moniker...
who achieved their 160+ totals in respectively 300+, 384 and 387 first class games.
Irvine's 33 tries for Australia was eclipsed by Darren Lockyer in 2010 against Papua New Guinea.
Point scoring summary
| Games | Tries | Goals | F/G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 242 | 212 | 70 | 1 | 989 |