Martin Kennedy (rugby league)
Encyclopedia
Martin KennedyMartin Kennedy (born 20 February 1989 in Lismore
, New South Wales
, is an Australian professional rugby league
footballer for the Sydney Roosters
of the National Rugby League
. He plays as a forward.
Kennedy captained the 2007 Australian Schoolboys team, with (now current) NRL players such as Daniel Mortimer
, Kieran Foran
, Jake Friend
, Andrew McCullough
and Kevin Proctor
on an undefeated tour of New Zealand.
Kennedy's State of Origin
eligibility was a big talking point after an impressive showing against the Wests Tigers
in Round 4 of the 2011 season. After the match Kennedy stated that he "bleeds maroon" and declared himself eligible for Queensland. This caused an uproar from NSWRL officials who believed Kennedy (who was born in Lismore
, New South Wales
) was not eligible for Queensland. The Sydney media, namely journalist Phil Rothfield, were outraged at this decision. With Rothfield stating that Kennedy only lived in Queensland for 2 years of his life.
This was proven not to be the case as Kennedy had moved to Queensland as a 10 year old and played all his junior footy at Norths Ipswich, represented Queensland Under 17's and attended Ipswich Grammar School
before signing with the Roosters
in 2006 and playing for Matraville High School for one year in 2007. Kennedy was also selected to be apart of the 2011 Emerging Queensland Origin Squad in late December 2010.
Lismore
-Places:Australia*Lismore, New South Wales, city*Lismore, Victoria, townCanada*Lismore, Nova Scotia, villageIreland*Lismore, County Waterford, town*Lismore Castle*Lismore, County Down, a townland in County Down,Scotland*Lismore, Scotland, island...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, is an Australian professional rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer for the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
of the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
. He plays as a forward.
Kennedy captained the 2007 Australian Schoolboys team, with (now current) NRL players such as Daniel Mortimer
Daniel Mortimer
Daniel Mortimer is an Australian professional rugby league player. He currently plays for Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League and previously played for the Parramatta Eels. He is the son of former Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and Australian Rugby League player Peter Mortimer...
, Kieran Foran
Kieran Foran
Kieran Foran is a New Zealand rugby league player who has represented his country. He currently plays for the Manly Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League. He plays as a five-eighth or half-back though he can also play centre...
, Jake Friend
Jake Friend
Jake Friend is a rugby league player for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League. He plays as a hooker.On March 17, 2009, Friend was found guilty of drink-driving. He was disqualified from driving for 16 months....
, Andrew McCullough
Andrew McCullough
Andrew McCullough is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Brisbane Broncos of the National Rugby League. He usually plays at hooker. While attending Brisbane State High School, McCullough played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 2007...
and Kevin Proctor
Kevin Proctor
Kevin Proctor is a rugby league player who currently plays for the Melbourne Storm in the NRL. He plays as a second-row.-Playing career:Born in Te Kuiti, Proctor's iwi is Ngā Puhi....
on an undefeated tour of New Zealand.
Kennedy's State of Origin
State of Origin
State of Origin is the name used in Australia for one existing sporting event which involves domestic representative teams. The term, when used in isolation, usually refers to rugby league football, and occassionally Australian Football matches, in which players are selected for the Australian...
eligibility was a big talking point after an impressive showing against the Wests Tigers
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
in Round 4 of the 2011 season. After the match Kennedy stated that he "bleeds maroon" and declared himself eligible for Queensland. This caused an uproar from NSWRL officials who believed Kennedy (who was born in Lismore
Lismore
-Places:Australia*Lismore, New South Wales, city*Lismore, Victoria, townCanada*Lismore, Nova Scotia, villageIreland*Lismore, County Waterford, town*Lismore Castle*Lismore, County Down, a townland in County Down,Scotland*Lismore, Scotland, island...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
) was not eligible for Queensland. The Sydney media, namely journalist Phil Rothfield, were outraged at this decision. With Rothfield stating that Kennedy only lived in Queensland for 2 years of his life.
This was proven not to be the case as Kennedy had moved to Queensland as a 10 year old and played all his junior footy at Norths Ipswich, represented Queensland Under 17's and attended Ipswich Grammar School
Ipswich Grammar School
Ipswich Grammar School is an independent, non-denominational, day and boarding school for boys, located in Ipswich, a city situated on the Bremer River in South East Queensland, Australia...
before signing with the Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
in 2006 and playing for Matraville High School for one year in 2007. Kennedy was also selected to be apart of the 2011 Emerging Queensland Origin Squad in late December 2010.
External links
- Sydney Roosters profile
- NYC profile Australia Schoolboy rugby league team