Ken Irvine
Winger
Player Bio
- Inducted:
- 2008
- Date of Birth:
- 05 March 1940
- Birthplace:
- Sydney, NSW
- Nickname:
- Mongo
- Debut Team:
- North Sydney
- Date:
- 28 June 1958
- Opposition:
- Parramatta
- Venue:
- North Sydney Oval, Sydney
- Representative:
- City, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Clubs:
- North Sydney Bears, Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Career
Milestones
- Premierships: 1972-73
- Kangaroo Tours: 1959-60, 1963-64, 1967-68
- Australian Rugby League Team of the Century: 2008
- New South Wales Team of the Century: 2008
- Rated No. 15 in Rugby League Week’s Top 100 players: 1992
- Named in NRL Team of the 1950s: 2007
- Named in NRL Team of the 1960s: 2006
- Holds record for most tries in premiership career (212)
Playing
- First Class Games
- 432
- Points
- 1361
- Tries
- 385
Biography
Ken Irvine was the fastest player of his age. He was an athletic try-scoring machine whose place in league's Hall of Fame will never be disputed.
Irvine maintained his place at the highest level of the game for a decade by sheer weight of tries.
His tally of 212 premiership tries is almost 30 more than Billy Slater - who is second on that list.
His 33 tries in 31 Test matches is another record that is likely to stand the test of time.
Ironically, it is a single goal that Irvine is remembered for more than almost any of his phenomenal tally of 356 career tries.
It came in the third Test of 1962 when he landed a goal from the sideline to give Australia a face-saving 18–17 victory over Great Britain.
It is said that Norths' official Tom Hicks saw Irvine in action in a sports carnival when he was 14 and declared, ''If ever I saw a champion on the way, it's this kid ... He has everything''.
Irvine played for 13 seasons with the North Sydney club and scored 171 tries from 176 games, a stunning achievement considering Norths were moderate performers for much of that period.
Irvine left the club in search of a premiership at neighbouring Manly late in his career and featured in back-to-back grand final wins in 1972 and 1973.
Irvine toured three times with the Kangaroos and remained one of league's most popular figures until his death in 1990.
“I’ve never seen a better winger in an Australian jumper.”
John Raper Immortal
61. Ken Irvine - Hall of Fame
Career Stats
Club Career
| Team Name | Competition | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Sydney Bears | Premiership | 1958 | 1970 | 176 | 171 | 59 | 1 | 633 |
| North Sydney Bears | City Cup | 1959 | 1959 | 3 | 4 | - | - | 12 |
| North Sydney Bears | Official Pre-Season |
1962
1969 |
1967
1970 |
26 | 16 | 8 | 1 | 66 |
| North Sydney Bears | Ampol Cup | 1963 | 1963 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 3 |
| North Sydney Bears | State Cup | 1964 | 1964 | 2 | 4 | - | - | 12 |
| Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | Premiership | 1971 | 1973 | 60 | 41 | 11 | - | 145 |
| Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | Official Pre-Season | 1971 | 1973 | 15 | 5 | - | - | 15 |
Representative Career
City - Country
| Team Name | Opponent | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City Seconds | Country Seconds | 1959 | 1959 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 3 |
| City Firsts | Country Firsts | 1960 | 1965 | 7 | 7 | - | - | 21 |
| Sydney | Country |
1959
1964 |
1960
1964 |
3 | 5 | - | - | 15 |
| Sydney | Touring Sides |
1960
1963
1966 |
1960
1964
1966 |
4 | 6 | - | - | 18 |
State
| Team Name | Competition | Opponent | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Interstate Series | Queensland | 1959 | 1967 | 25 | 28 | 4 | - | 92 |
| New South Wales | Touring Sides |
1960
1962
1966 |
1960
1963
1967 |
6 | 4 | - | - | 12 |
International
| Team Name | Competition | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Tests and World Cup | 1959 | 1967 | 33 | 33 | 11 | - | 121 |
| Australia | Tour Matches |
1959
1970 |
1968
1970 |
70 | 59 | 8 | - | 193 |
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.
