Keith Holman
Halfback
Player Bio
- Inducted:
- 2008
- Date of Birth:
- 11 September 1927
- Birthplace:
- Ballarat, VIC
- Nickname:
- Yappy
- Debut Team:
- Western Suburbs
- Date:
- 26 June 1948
- Opposition:
- Eastern Suburbs
- Venue:
- Pratten Park, Ashfield
- Representative:
- City, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Club:
- Western Suburbs
Career
Milestones
- Premierships: 1948, 1952
- Kangaroo Tours: 1952-53, 1956-57
- NSWRL Player of the Year: 1952, 1957, 1959
- Sun-Herald Best and Fairest: 1950-51, 1953, 1956, 1958
- Rated No. 19 in Rugby League Week’s Top 100 players: 1992
- Named in NRL Team of the 1950s: 2007
Playing
- First Class Games
- 305
- Points
- 636
- Tries
- 140
Biography
Keith Holman's childhood on the tough streets of La Perouse served him well for his future as one of rugby league's greatest halfbacks. Born in Ballarat, Holman was orphaned as a young child and raised by a Sydney couple. He attended De La Salle College at Surry Hills where a classmate was Bernie Purcell, later a teammate for Australia.
He trialled for a contract with South Sydney as a teenager but was told to ''go home and grow''.
He was also unsuccessful at Manly, so he headed to Dubbo and befriended former Wests five-eighth Eric Bennett.
With Bennett's help, he landed a contract with the Magpies in 1948 and quickly rose through the ranks. By 1950 he was a Test player, figuring prominently in Australia's first Ashes conquest in 30 years.
Holman was a regular in the Test side until 1958. When his playing days were over he turned to refereeing and later coaching, both with success.
His only regret was never playing in a premiership-winning team at club level. He missed Wests' premiership victory in 1952 because of that year's Kangaroo tour.
“He was a halfback champion who reshaped how No. 7s would play the game from his time onwards.”
Ian Heads A Centenary of Rugby League
45. Keth Holman - Hall of Fame
Career Stats
Club Career
| Team Name | Competition | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CYMS Ipswich | Ipswich Club Competition | 1946 | 1946 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Waratahs Dubbo | Group 11 Competition | 1947 | 1947 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Western Suburbs | Premiership | 1948 | 1961 | 200 | 70 | 83 | - | 376 |
| Western Suburbs | City Cup | 1959 | 1959 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 3 |
Representative Career
City - Country
| Team Name | Opponent | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City Firsts | Country Firsts | 1951 | 1958 | 8 | 7 | 3 | - | 27 |
| Sydney | Touring Sides |
1953
1958 |
1954
1958 |
4 | 4 | 1 | - | 14 |
State
| Team Name | Competition | Opponent | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Interstate Series | Queensland | 1950 | 1958 | 24 | 21 | 2 | - | 67 |
| New South Wales | Touring Sides | 1950 | 1955 | 9 | 3 | 2 | - | 13 |
International
| Team Name | Competition | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Tests and World Cup | 1950 | 1958 | 35 | 14 | 6 | - | 54 |
| Australia | Tour Matches | 1952 | 1957 | 22 | 18 | 11 | - | 76 |
Other Representative
| Team Name | Opponent | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kangaroos | The Rest | 1953 | 1953 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 3 |
| Australia-New Zealand | Rugby League XIII | 1954 | 1954 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 3 |
Hall of Fame Members
National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.
