Keith Barnes, the former Australia Kangaroos captain and Balmain Tigers rugby league legend, has passed away at the age of 89.
Renowned as one of the finest players of his time and a member of the National Rugby League Hall of Fame, Barnes was considered one of the greatest to don the black and gold jersey of the Tigers.
His death was confirmed on Monday morning.
Barnes played a total of 194 first-grade games for Balmain from 1955 to 1968, never once dropping down to reserve grade.
Known as “Golden Boots,” Barnes was celebrated for his exceptional goal-kicking abilities.
In his career, he successfully kicked 954 goals in premiership and representative matches, with 742 of those goals coming while playing for the Tigers.
Representing Australia, Barnes played in 17 Test and World Cup matches, captaining in 14 of them and scoring 59 goals for the national team.
Despite playing in three grand finals, he unfortunately lost all of them to St George.
His legacy in Australian and Balmain rugby league was immortalized by the naming of a grandstand after him at Leichhardt Oval.
Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys described Barnes as “one of the greatest fullbacks the game has seen,” highlighting his exceptional goal-kicking abilities and courageous leadership both on and off the field.
Recognized for his immense contributions to the sport, Barnes was inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame in 2007.
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