Brett Kenny
Five Eighth
Player Bio
- Inducted:
- 2002
- Date of Birth:
- 16 March 1961
- Birthplace:
- Canterbury, NSW
- Nickname:
- Bert
- Debut Team:
- Parramatta Eels
- Date:
- 15 June 1980
- Opposition:
- -
- Venue:
- Redfern Oval
- Representative:
- City, New South Wales, Australia
- Club:
- Parramatta Eels, Wigan
Career
Milestones
- Premierships: 1981-83, 1986
- Kangaroo Tours: 1982, 1986
- Challenge Cup: 1985
- Grand Final man of the match*: 1982-83
- Lance Todd Trophy: 1985
- Golden Boot award: 1985
- Rated No. 27 in Rugby League Week’s Top 100 players: 1992
- Named in NRL Team of the 1980s: 2004
Biography
A Parramatta junior, Brett Kenny was awarded the Club's Rookie of the Year in 1980.
Brett was a naturally gifted player with wonderful acceleration and ability to identify an intercept. He scored two tries in each of his grand finals in 1981, 1982 and 1983 and had two denied in 1986.
He made his debut for NSW in 1982 and his clashes with Wally Lewis in State of Origin became rugby league folklore. In the 12 State of Origin games where he was selected a starting five-eighth for NSW, Kenny had 8 games to 4 winning advantage over Lewis. The pair were featured on the Winfield State of Origin Trophy in 1986.
Brett spent a season at Wigan in 1985 where he scored another double in the club's win over Peter Sterling's Hull in the Challenge Cup Final and was the first Australian player to be awarded the Lance Todd Trophy as man of match.
Brett won the Adidas Golden Boot for the best player in the world.
He was appointed captain 1991-93, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2002 and moved into coaching roles upon his retirement.
Hall of Fame Members
Parramatta Eels respect and honour 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.