The rugby league world is in mourning after the death of Balmain Tigers legend Keith Barnes, who has passed away at the age of 89.
Barnes made 194 appearances for the Tigers over a 13-year span, including three Grand Finals, all of which were lost to the St George Dragons during their long string of Premierships.
Born in Wales, Barnes emigrated to Australia with his family and was raised in Wollongong, making his first steps in the game in the Illawarra region.
He played for Southern Districts and Country before signing with the Tigers in 1955, going straight into the first grade team and never leaving it.
He would set multiple records for pointscoring and, by the time of his retirement in 1968, Barnes was the highest pointscorer in NSWRL history with 1519, including 742 goals, earning him the nickname ‘Golden Boots’,
A fullback, he also represented NSW and Australia, managing 17 Tests and a World Cup win in 1957.
Barnes also led the Tigers in 1968 as captain-coach, retiring a year before their drought-breaking Premiership in 1969, and was later named in the Team of the Century for both the Balmain club and its successor, the Wests Tigers.
He was inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame in 2007, was listed as one of the 100 greatest players even in the 2008 centenary celebrations and had a grandstand at Leichhardt Oval named in his honour in 2009.
“Keith was one of the greatest fullbacks the game has seen,” said Australian Rugby League Commission chear Peter V’Landys.
“A wonderful goalkicker and prolific point scorer, he was slight in stature but built with extraordinary courage.
“The stories of Keith’s skills but also importantly his leadership are renowned across the game, having captained the Kangaroos in 14 Test matches.
“Keith’s legend continued well after his playing career. He was instrumental in guiding so many of the game’s great players – particularly through his long association with Balmain.
”He was deservedly recognised for his contribution to the game with induction into the NRL Hall of Fame in 2007.
“On behalf of the Commission, I extend our sincerest condolences to Keith’s family, and all those who knew him.”
Albo
Roar Rookie
Barnes spent a decade trying to grab a premiership from St George. He played in 3 Grand Finals ( 56, 64 & 66) during that mighty 11 year premiership run of the Dragons. He went close, but the Tigers were not quite good enough.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Yes. I’d love to see some goals from well over halfway now. Added to the 2 point field goals , from anywhere on the field. Teams with such players, just ‘goal kicked’ the opponent to death .
Tony
Roar Guru
A long range specialist
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Then the ball was heavy in the wet & mud. The grounds were often wet & muddy in the winters back then.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Plus Kevin Longbottom of course.
Gamechanger
Roar Rookie
Barnes’ greatest moments. Locals still talk about the memorable day Barnes broke a 15-all deadlock against the legendary St George side at Leichhardt Oval in 1960. From a penalty, Barnes lined up the kick, six metres inside his own half and out wide and nailed it. An incredible feat.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Well troops it's a sad day. I had the pleasure of meeting Keith many times at Leichhardt. Sure I was a young fella back then but gees he was fabulous. Oh and yeah handy on the field too! Nearly forgot...
andrew
Roar Rookie
Never saw Keith Barnes play, but he was a legend in the true sense of the word. RIP Keith Barnes.
E-Meter
Roar Rookie
Never saw him play as he was a bit before my time. But did meet him as a youngster. We would play our junior league grand finals at Leichhardt and he happened to be at our one (Ermington-Rydalmere). Very encouraging to all our team. The comments above attest to the gentleman he was.
mrl
Roar Rookie
And Laurie Nicholls of course…
mrl
Roar Rookie
My mates and I would go to Liechardt for the Armco cup games on a Wednesday night. We were only kids. And there were Keith Barnes and Dawn Fraser every time. Wonderful times.
criag
Roar Rookie
I often remember his oft-repeated line as co-commentator on the Amco Cup when I think a team should take a shot at goal and not a tap from a penalty: "Well, when the points are there for the taking, Ray..."
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Before my time, but I've only ever heard good things about Keith Barnes as a player, and especially as a person. Vale.
Phil
Roar Rookie
One of Balmain's greatest ever players. An ornament to RL. R.I.P. Golden Boots.
Tony
Roar Guru
Gould is right. How the likes of Barnes, Simms, Langlands, Batty and co kicked so many goals with those leather balls is a mystery. Just catching a wet leather ball on the full was difficult enough.
Birdy
Roar Rookie
A great loss to our great game. Lost track of how many times I saw him play at Leichardt. The ironey that 2 pf the greatest Tigers of all time missed the ’69 GF, Barnes and Beetson. Thanks for the memories .
Gamechanger
Roar Rookie
The challenges faced by “TOE-POKER “ kickers of that era like Barnes, Eric Simms, Graeme Langlands is summed up well by Phil Gould. “ The footballs back then were made of leather and no two balls were ever alike. The balls could be of different hardness and used to get bashed out of shape. Generally, there would be a skinny end and a fat end to the ball. The seams of the ball were crooked and when you laid it on the mound, the seam never actually pointed in a direct line to the target. They also had those big, bulky, leather laces. On wet days, the old leather ball used to get as heavy as a brick. It was hard to kick any distance at all.“
steveng
Roar Rookie
RIP Mr K. Barnes, a really nice guy and a gentleman and an unbelievable goal kicker and point scorer for the Tigers, a real credit to RL, very sad to hear his passing.
Albo
Roar Rookie
And a top bloke !
Albo
Roar Rookie
I'm pretty sure, as a kid, I was at that particular game at Leichhardt Oval when the ground in those days ran east / west. And those goals he kicked were mostly into the teeth of a westerly gale blowing. Some from near halfway. An amazing goal kicking display. It was no surprise that he was called "golden boots". A great player, a great goal kicker and a tough last line defender. He won the 2nd test in Brisbane against the powerful British team in 1966 with his goal kicking, but got hurt and missed the decider in Sydney (the Beetson Test), giving Les Johns a shot at fullback. His nose spread across his face indicated the punishment he took over the years at the back for the Tigers.