Arthur Hennessy is known as the founding father of South Sydney, and one of rugby leagues chief pioneers. He is a one time South Sydney premiership winning squad member in 1908, missing the final because he was on the 1908-09 Kangaroo tour.
Hennessy is a South Sydney resident who had a long career in Rugby Union before being a key figure in the establishment of Rugby League in Australia. Hennessy joined South Sydney RU in 1898 and playing in the South Sydney pre-district days. He would play 10 seasons with South Sydney RU, winning the 1905 MRU premiership. He had also represented New South Wales in RU between 1901 and 1904, including a tour of New Zealand.
Hennessy was a core member of the professional rugby movement in Australia. Originally proposing that South Sydney play New Zealand "All Golds". In 1907 he was captain of the NSW Pioneers, the first NSWRL team to play the touring New Zealand All Golds. As captain of the first NSW team he was given the #1 NSW representative player number. Along with the other rugby league pioneers, he was banned immediately by the MRU. His energy now focused on the new professional Rugby League movement and the formation of a district Rugby League club. He organised the original meeting in late September 1907 to propose the South Sydney District Rugby League club. Over the subsequent months it would be come reality with the club formed on Jan 17 1908 at the Redfern Town Hall.
Hennessy made his South Sydney first grade premiership debut as captain in South Sydney's inaugural Round 1 1908 clash at Birchgrove Oval. Being the clubs first captain he was honored by with the #1 First Grade player number. He was also the oldest player to debut at 31 years 209 days. A record he would hold until the 1908 semi-final.
Hennessy was a high quality hooker, a vital position. Hennessy quickly realised that the Northern Union game was going to be different from the old Rugby and as captain-coach, moulded the teams playing style into a running game, with a no kick policy.
At representative level, Hennessy was not only be the NSW first ever capatin, but he was also the first ever Australian Rugby League captain. So vital was the position in the first ever test against New Zealand he was taken out in the opening minutes of the game. On the 1908-09 Kangaroo tour he would suffer a broken jaw in the second tour game against Bradford. He would play 15 representative games while at South Sydney representing New South Wales on 5 occasions, and Australia on 10 occasions, playing 2 internationals.
After a 1909 residential qualifications dispute, Hennessy retired and completed his referee certificate. It seems South Sydney Surry Hills territory had been incorrectly allocated to Eastern Suburbs, while on tour. Upon his return this was corrected. He came out of played rivals late in the season after coming out of retirement. He moved to a Maroubra home, and returned to South Sydney in 1910.
Hennessy would play 3 seasons with South Sydney playing 26 first grade games, which included 25 first grade premiership games. He captained South Sydney in 8 first grade games which included 7 premiership games.
In 1911 he led South Sydney for thier first NSW Country tour game against a Goldfields side at West Wyalong. Hennessy played his final first grade premiership game in the 1911 Round 14 clash against Balmain at Birchgrove Oval.
In 1908 he was awarded NSWRL Life Membership, and in 2021 was recognised as a South Sydney founding father.
Playing - Height / Weight
5ft 8in(173cm) / 12st 6lb(76kg)
Representative Qualification
NSW City
Date of Birth
Sydney - 24th September 1876 (Died - 1959)
Previous Clubs First Grade
M T G FG Pt
Boys Brigade RU (1896)
Bayview RU (1897)
South Sydney RU 1st Jnrs (1898-99)
South Sydney RU (1900-07)
Eastern Suburbs (1909) 4 - - - -
Previous Rep Honours M T G FG Pt
New South Wales RU (1901-04) (1901 NSW RU Tour of New Zealand)
New South Wales (1909) 1 - - - -
Playing Career at South Sydney (1908,10-11)
South Sydney First Grade Debut
1908 Apr 20 Rd01 Brch v North Sydney (31y 209d) (c)
First Grade
Premiership : Tour
M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts
1908 5 5 - 2 - - 6
1910 10 10 - 4 1 - 14
1911 10 10 - 1 - - 3 : 1 1 - - - - -
TOTAL 25 25 - 7 1 - 23 : 1 1 - - - - -
SS FG 26 26 - 7 1 - 23
Lower Grades
Second Grade : Third Grade :
Year M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts :
1908 - - - - - - - : - - - - - - -
1910 - - - - - - - : - - - - - - -
1911 - - - - - - - : - - - - - - -
TOTAL - - - - - - - : - - - - - - -
South Sydney Senior(FG/RG/3G) Grade Career
Premiership : All Matches
M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts
CAREER 25 25 - 7 1 - 23 : 26 26 - 7 1 - 23
Captaincy Record at South Sydney
South Sydney First Grade Captaincy Debut
1908 Rd01 v Norths
First Grade
Year Premiership( W- D-L %) : Other( W- D-L %)
1908 5( 5- 0-0 100%) :
1910 2( 2- 0-0 100%) :
1911 : 1( 0- 0-1 0%)
TOTAL 7( 7- 0-0 100%) : 1( 0- 0-1 0%)
SS FG 8( 7- 0-1 88%)
Suspension Record at South Sydney
Year Grade v Wk CHARGE 1911 Rd14 FG Balmain 1 Disputing Decision
Player Awards
Year Award 1908 - NSWRL Life Membership 1952 - Rugby League News Immortal 2021 - South Sydney Founding Father
Representative Honours at South Sydney
Domestic CvC / Interstate : Tourists : Other
M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts
New South Wales 1907-08 1 1 - - - - - : 4 4 - 1 - - 3 :
TOTAL 5 5 - 1 - - 3
International Internationals : Other
M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts
Australia 1908-09 2 2 - - - - - : 8 8 - - - - -
TOTAL 10 10 - - - - -
ALL REPS 15 15 - 1 - - 3
Captaincy CvC/Interstate/Internationals : Tourists : Other
M( W- D-L %) : M( W- D-L %) : M( W- D-L %)
New South Wales 1907-08 : 4( 2- 0-2 50%) :
Australia 1908 2( 1- 0-1 50%) : :
TOTAL 6( 3- 0-3 50%)
Year Pos Team Versus Match T G/A FG
1907 Fwd NSW Pioneers v New Zealand 1st Match - - - (c) L
1907 Fwd NSW Pioneers v New Zealand 2nd Match - - - (c) L
1908 Hook New South Wales v New Zealand 1st Match - - - (c) W
1908 Hook Australia v New Zealand 1st Test - - - (c) L (Injured early in the game)
1908 Hook Australia v New Zealand 2nd Test - - - (c) W
1908 Hook New South Wales v NZ Maoris 1st Match 1 - - (c) W
1908 Hook New South Wales v Queensland 1st Match - - -
1908 Australia (Kangaroo Tour)
1908 Hook Australia v Bradford Northern Tour Match - - - (Jaw broken in the match)
1908 Hook Australia v Treherbert Tour Match - - -
1908 SRow Australia v Leeds Tour Match - - -
1909 Hook Australia v Widnes Tour Match - - -
1909 SRow Australia v Keighley Tour Match - - -
1909 SRow Australia v Broughton Rangers Tour Match - - -
1909 Prop Australia v Warrington Tour Match2 - - -
1909 Fwd Australia v New South Wales 2nd Match - - -
Upon his retirement Hennessy remained focused on growing the game of rugby league as he moved into coaching. Firstly with South Sydney second grade with great success, then at club and representative levels.
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