Max Krilich
Encyclopedia
Max Krilich is an Australian former rugby league
footballer of the 1970s and 80s. He was a hooker for the Australia national team, playing in 13 Tests from 1978 to 1983 and as captain on 10 consecutive occasions in 1982 and 1983. He was the captain of the 1982 "Invincibles
" Australian touring side.
hooker Freddie Jones was the Manly captain when Krilich joined the club. Krilich had to bide his time and played in over 100 reserve grade games till 1974 before he cemented the first grade hooker position. After the departure of Bob Fulton
in 1976 Krilich assumed the club captaincy.
He played 215 first grade games with the club and 119 reserve grade games up till his retirement in 1983.
. Krilich was selected in the Australian side that toured New Zealand weeks later. He played the first two Tests but season fatigue and injury affected his form and he was replaced by George Peponis
for the 3rd Test. It would be four years later before Krilich would regain a Test spot and grab the Australian captaincy.
In 1982, after leading New South Wales into the 1st three-match State of Origin
series, Krilich led Australia to victory in two Tests against New Zealand. He was then named as captain of the 1982 Kangaroos, the Frank Stanton
-coached side which swept aside all before them in Great Britain and France to become known as "the Invincibles"
.
Krilich was forced to retire in August 1983 because of a chronic neck injury, taking on an administrative role with the Manly club. An attempted coaching career ended when his reserve grade side failed to win a match in 1991.
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. He was a hooker for the Australia national team, playing in 13 Tests from 1978 to 1983 and as captain on 10 consecutive occasions in 1982 and 1983. He was the captain of the 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...
" Australian touring side.
Club career
Krilich played rugby union at school before joining the Harbord United Rugby League Club. He was graded by the Manly Sea Eagles in 1969. Australian World CupRugby League World Cup
The Rugby League World Cup is an international rugby league competition contested by members of the Rugby League International Federation . It has been held nearly once every 4 years on average since its inaugural tournament in France in 1954...
hooker Freddie Jones was the Manly captain when Krilich joined the club. Krilich had to bide his time and played in over 100 reserve grade games till 1974 before he cemented the first grade hooker position. After the departure of 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...
in 1976 Krilich assumed the club captaincy.
He played 215 first grade games with the club and 119 reserve grade games up till his retirement in 1983.
Representative career
Unusually Krilich was selected in the City 2nds while playing reserve grade for Manly in 1971. It would be another six years before he was selected for representative honours. In the 1978 finals series Manly played six matches in 16 days to make it through to the Grand Final and the subsequent Grand Final replay where they beat CronullaCronulla Sharks
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales...
. Krilich was selected in the Australian side that toured New Zealand weeks later. He played the first two Tests but season fatigue and injury affected his form and he was replaced by George Peponis
George Peponis
Dr George Peponis is a former rugby league player for the Canterbury Bulldogs, New South Wales and for the Australian national side. He was the first player born outside Australia to captain the Australian rugby league team...
for the 3rd Test. It would be four years later before Krilich would regain a Test spot and grab the Australian captaincy.
In 1982, after leading New South Wales into the 1st three-match 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...
series, Krilich led Australia to victory in two Tests against New Zealand. He was then named as captain of the 1982 Kangaroos, the 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...
-coached side which swept aside all before them in Great Britain and France to become known as "the 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...
.
Krilich was forced to retire in August 1983 because of a chronic neck injury, taking on an administrative role with the Manly club. An attempted coaching career ended when his reserve grade side failed to win a match in 1991.
Matches played
| Team | Matches | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Manly | 334* | 1970–1983 |
| New South Wales | 8 | 1977–1983 |
| Australia (Tests) | 13 | 1978–1983 |
- 215 1st grade ; 119 reserve grade