Born: November 9, 1890 – Westport
Died: July 1, 1975 – Killara, NSW
Test record: 0 Tests
Tours: 1912 tour of Australia, 1913 tour of Australia

New Zealand and Australia competed for the Bill Kelly Cup in mid-season Test matches from 1998-2017, reflecting the former centre and revered coach’s importance to both nations’ rugby league narrative.

Westport-born Kelly represented Buller and Wellington in rugby union before switching codes with the Athletic club in Wellington in 1912.

Kelly toured Australia with the New Zealand team that year, playing two matches against NSW as a centre up against the stellar combination of Dally Messenger and Herb Gilbert. He scored a try in the 12-7 win in the second clash.

He faced the touring NSW side three times later that year, for Wellington, Hawke’s Bay and New Zealand, dotting down from the wing in the latter match.

Kelly enjoyed a superb tour of Australia with New Zealand in 1913, scoring eight tries in as many games, while he crossed for a try in both of New Zealand’s convincing losses at home to the visiting New South Welshman later that year.

Relocating across the Tasman, Kelly joined Balmain in 1914 and made his sole Test appearance for Australia in the series-opening loss to England in Sydney. He represented NSW in 1914-15 and captain-coached Balmain to an undefeated season and its first premiership in 1915.

Kelly enlisted in the 1st AIF in 1916 in Sydney and served in World War I, eventually returning home in 1917 after suffering injuries in combat in Belgium.

Though his playing days were over, Kelly would become known as the ‘Prince of Coaches’ courtesy of stints at the helm of University (1921, 1923-30), Newtown (1936-37), Balmain (1938-43), St George (1944) and Canterbury (1945).

Meanwhile, he coached New Zealand in its 1932 home series against England.

Kelly’s most notable coaching achievements in Sydney included steering University to the 1926 premiership final, taking Balmain to the title in 1939 and St George to the finals in 1944.

Kelly stood as the last player to represent New Zealand and Australia in rugby league until Tonie Carroll, who debuted for the Kangaroos in 2004 after previously playing for the Kiwis.