Kerry Boustead
Encyclopedia
Kerry Boustead is an Australian former rugby league
footballer of the 1970s and 80s. A talented representative winger for Queensland and Australia, at the time he was picked for the Australian national rugby league team
he was the youngest ever player so selected. A prolific try-scorer, he has been named amongst the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century.
junior and younger brother of 1976 Queensland representative Ian Boustead, Kerry was a Queensland Schoolboy representative and made his first grade debut with Innisfail Souths in 1977. In 1978 he became the youngest Test player for Australia.
In 1979 the Queensland Rugby League
tried to block Boustead's move to Sydney, although Eastern Suburbs
ultimately gained his services. He broke his ankle in his first season in Sydney but recovered to play in the first ever State of Origin
match in 1980. He scored Queensland's first ever try in State of Origin. Boustead then played in the centres in the club's loss to Canterbury
in the NSWRL 1980 Grand Final. He stayed with the Roosters till the end of 1982 and then in 1983 followed his club and national coach Bob Fulton
to Manly for four season.
In the Australian off-seasons he played in the UK for Hull Kingston Rovers
in 1985-86 and 1986-87 but leg, collarbone and shoulder injuries seriously disrupted the momentum of his career in this period. In 1986 while still at Manly he played in only seven matches of the 25 round regular season. In 1988 Boustead resumed his career with the North Sydney Bears
making thirty-three appearances in his last three seasons before retiring at the end of 1990.
and Mark Harris. After playing for New South Wales
in 1979 under residential selection criteria, Boustead represented Queensland in the first ever State of Origin
match, and is one of a handful of players to have scored 3 tries in an Origin game.
He is one of a number of players to have represented both Queensland and New South Wales and one of those rare foundation Origin representatives whose NSW appearances were bookended by selections for Queensland.
Boustead made his international representative debut at 18 years and 310 days in 1978 in a Test against New Zealand
thus becoming the youngest ever player to represent Australia. He played in all three Tests of that series.
He was a consistent Australian representative from 1978 to 1984 often appearing in all Tests of a tour, in domestic Ashes series and in series against New Zealand and France. He toured with the 1978 Kangaroos
and with Frank Stanton
's 1982 'Invincibles'
. All up he made twenty-five Test appearances for Australia and played in eighteen minor matches on two Kangaroo tour
s.
returned an overwhelming positive response, a major step was taken with the appointment of a promotions manager for the bid. Boustead was appointed to this task in 1990. He was also coaching rugby league in the Winfield State League at this time and North Queensland became the first regional side to win the competition in 1991 under Boustead.
In 2000 he was awarded the Australian Sports Medal
for his contribution to Australia's international standing in the sport of rugby league.
Boustead returned to the game as the Chief Executive of the newly promoted North Queensland Cowboys
in 1995 but resigned after five competition matches when the club aligned itself with Super League
. He served on the NRL
Judiciary Tribunal from 1997–98 and in 2000.
In February 2008, Boustead 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.
Surprisingly Boustead's position was usurped in the Queensland Team of the Century announced on the night of game II of the 2008 State of Origin by two wingers who were not named in the Australian 100 Greatest - Cec Aynsley and Denis Flannery
.
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 1970s and 80s. A talented representative winger for Queensland and Australia, at the time he was picked for the Australian national rugby league team
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...
he was the youngest ever player so selected. A prolific try-scorer, he has been named amongst the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century.
Club career
An InnisfailInnisfail, Queensland
Innisfail is a town located in the far north of the state of Queensland, Australia. It is the major township of the Cassowary Coast and is well renowned for its sugar and banana industries, as well as for being one of Australia's wettest towns...
junior and younger brother of 1976 Queensland representative Ian Boustead, Kerry was a Queensland Schoolboy representative and made his first grade debut with Innisfail Souths in 1977. In 1978 he became the youngest Test player for Australia.
In 1979 the Queensland Rugby League
Queensland Rugby League
The Queensland Rugby Football League is the governing body for rugby league in Queensland. It is a member of the Australian Rugby League and selects the members of Queensland State of Origin teams....
tried to block Boustead's move to Sydney, although Eastern Suburbs
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
ultimately gained his services. He broke his ankle in his first season in Sydney but recovered to play in the first ever 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...
match in 1980. He scored Queensland's first ever try in State of Origin. Boustead then played in the centres in the club's loss to 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...
in the NSWRL 1980 Grand Final. He stayed with the Roosters till the end of 1982 and then in 1983 followed his club and national coach Bob Fulton
Bob Fulton
Robert "Bob" Fulton AM is an Australian rugby league football identity. Fulton played, coached, selected for and has commentated on the game with great success at the highest levels and has been named amongst Australia's greatest rugby league players of the 20th century.As a player Fulton won...
to Manly for four season.
In the Australian off-seasons he played in the UK for Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...
in 1985-86 and 1986-87 but leg, collarbone and shoulder injuries seriously disrupted the momentum of his career in this period. In 1986 while still at Manly he played in only seven matches of the 25 round regular season. In 1988 Boustead resumed his career with the North Sydney Bears
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...
making thirty-three appearances in his last three seasons before retiring at the end of 1990.
Representative career
Boustead first represented for Queensland aged 18 in 1978 while playing for Innisfail Souths. Small in stature Boustead outshone his giant New South Wales outside back rivals in Terry FaheyTerry Fahey
Terry Fahey is an Australian former professional rugby league player for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Eastern Suburbs and Canberra Raiders clubs...
and Mark Harris. After playing 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 1979 under residential selection criteria, Boustead represented Queensland in the first ever 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...
match, and is one of a handful of players to have scored 3 tries in an Origin game.
He is one of a number of players to have represented both Queensland and New South Wales and one of those rare foundation Origin representatives whose NSW appearances were bookended by selections for Queensland.
Boustead made his international representative debut at 18 years and 310 days in 1978 in a Test against New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
thus becoming the youngest ever player to represent Australia. He played in all three Tests of that series.
He was a consistent Australian representative from 1978 to 1984 often appearing in all Tests of a tour, in domestic Ashes series and in series against New Zealand and France. He toured with the 1978 Kangaroos
Kangaroo Tour
Kangaroo Tour is the name given to Australian national rugby league team tours of Great Britain and France. The first Kangaroo Tour was in 1908. Traditionally, Kangaroo Tours took place every four years and involved a three-Test Ashes series against Great Britain and a number of tour matches...
and with Frank Stanton
Frank Stanton (rugby league)
Frank "Biscuits" Stanton is an Australian former rugby league player and a successful club and national representative coach. His playing and club coaching career was with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles...
's 1982 'Invincibles'
The Invincibles (rugby league)
The Australia national rugby league team have generally since 1908 barring wartime, toured Great Britain every four years often capping the tour with games and Tests in France. This regular touring side are known as the Kangaroos...
. All up he made twenty-five Test appearances for Australia and played in eighteen minor matches on two Kangaroo tour
Kangaroo Tour
Kangaroo Tour is the name given to Australian national rugby league team tours of Great Britain and France. The first Kangaroo Tour was in 1908. Traditionally, Kangaroo Tours took place every four years and involved a three-Test Ashes series against Great Britain and a number of tour matches...
s.
Accolades and post-playing
In the late 1980s after a survey was conducted to gauge public support for the introduction of a North Queensland team in the New South Wales Rugby League premiershipNew South Wales Rugby League premiership
The New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the first rugby league football club competition established in Australia. Run by the New South Wales Rugby League from 1908 until 1994, the premiership was the state's and later the country's elite rugby league competition...
returned an overwhelming positive response, a major step was taken with the appointment of a promotions manager for the bid. Boustead was appointed to this task in 1990. He was also coaching rugby league in the Winfield State League at this time and North Queensland became the first regional side to win the competition in 1991 under Boustead.
In 2000 he was awarded the Australian Sports Medal
Australian Sports Medal
The Australian Sports Medal was an award given during 2000 to recognise achievements in Australian sport.Recipients of the award included competitors, coaches, sports scientists, office holders, and people who maintained sporting facilities and services. Over 18,000 Medals were...
for his contribution to Australia's international standing in the sport of rugby league.
Boustead returned to the game as the Chief Executive of the newly promoted North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
in 1995 but resigned after five competition matches when the club aligned itself with Super League
Super League (Australia)
Super League was an Australian rugby league football administrative body that conducted professional competition in Australasia for one season in 1997. Along with Super League of Europe, it was created by News Corporation during the Super League war which arose following an unsuccessful attempt to...
. He served on 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...
Judiciary Tribunal from 1997–98 and in 2000.
In February 2008, Boustead was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players
Australian Rugby League's 100 Greatest Players
In late 2007, the Australian Rugby League and National Rugby League commissioned 130 experts to select the 100 best rugby league players in the game's 100-year history in Australia. From this list , a limited panel of experts picked a the "Team of the Century" - a team of 17 players considered to...
(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.
Surprisingly Boustead's position was usurped in the Queensland Team of the Century announced on the night of game II of the 2008 State of Origin by two wingers who were not named in the Australian 100 Greatest - Cec Aynsley and Denis Flannery
Denis Flannery
Denis Flannery is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1940s and 50s. One of Queensland's greats, Flannery was a regular Australian representative during the 1950s, playing on the wing....
.
Sources
- Andrews, Malcolm (2006) The ABC of Rugby League Austn Broadcasting Corpn, Sydney
- Big League's 25 Years of Origin Collectors' Edition , News Magazines, Surry Hills, Sydney
- Whiticker, AlanAlan WhitickerAlan J. Whiticker is an Australian non-fiction author with currently over 30 published books.Whiticker writes primarily on matters pertaining to the history of the sport of rugby league in Australia, but has also published works on subjects as diverse as the Wanda Beach Murders and an adaptation...
& Hudson, Glen (2006) The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players, Gavin Allen Publishing, Sydney