Albert Kelly

Albert Kelly (born 21 March 1991) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a five-eighth or halfback for the Redcliffe Dolphins in the Hostplus Cup.

For the film director often credited by this name, see Albert H. Kelley.

Albert Kelly
Personal information
Born (1991-03-21) 21 March 1991
Macksville, New South Wales, Australia
Height177 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight88 kg (13 st 12 lb)
Playing information
PositionFive-eighth, Halfback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2010–11 Cronulla Sharks 14 2 0 0 8
2013–14 Gold Coast Titans 33 16 0 0 64
2015–16 Hull Kingston Rovers 43 23 3 0 98
2017–20 Hull FC 74 44 0 1 177
2021–22 Brisbane Broncos 12 3 0 0 12
2023– Redcliffe Dolphins 2 0 0 0 0
Total 178 88 3 1 359
Source: [1][2]
As of 18 January 2023

He has previously played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and the Gold Coast Titans in the National Rugby League (NRL), and Hull Kingston Rovers and Hull F.C. in the Super League. He has also spent time with the Souths Logan Magpies in the Hostplus Cup.

Early career

Kelly was born in Macksville, New South Wales, Australia and grew up in Kempsey, New South Wales.

He started playing at the age of five, he is a product of Group 2 junior rugby league.[3] He attended St Paul's College, Kempsey[4] before moving to Sydney and attending Patrician Brothers' College, Blacktown. He was selected in the New South Wales under-15s Combined Catholic High Schools' rugby league side as five-eighth. In 2008, he played for the Australian Schoolboys where he was vice-captain. He was chased by the Sydney Roosters and St. George Illawarra Dragons, before being signed by the Parramatta Eels on a four-year contract.[5]

Playing career

Early career
Kelly playing for the Eels

In 2008 to 2010, Kelly played Toyota Cup for the Parramatta Eels' Toyota Cup team, scoring 11 tries in 23 games, and also played for the New South Wales under-18s.[6]

He then played for Cronulla's Toyota Cup team in 2010, scoring three tries in 11 games.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Kelly Playing for the Sharks in 2010

In Round 1 of the 2010 NRL season he made his NRL début for Cronulla-Sutherland against the Melbourne Storm, but played only five matches that year due to injury. He returned in Round 1 of the 2011 season. He scored his first two NRL tries against the Penrith Panthers in Round 3 of the 2011 NRL season. In Round 7, he broke his leg after an attempted tackle playing against the North Queensland Cowboys. Kelly returned for the last two matches of the season. In 2012, Kelly fell out of favour with Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan and was sacked mid-season.

SeasonMatchesTriesGoalsF/GPoints
20105----
201192--8
Total148--8

2012 Newcastle Rugby League
Kelly playing for Newcastle in 2012

In 2012, he signed with the Charlestown-based Central Newcastle Butcher Boys in the Newcastle Rugby League. While signed to Central, Kelly also trained with the Newcastle Knights from early April, as the Knights' coach, Wayne Bennett, offered Kelly help in getting his career and life back on track.[7] He then signed with the Knights to play in the New South Wales Cup competition.[8]

In June 2012, Kelly was suspended before having his contract terminated after pleading guilty in court to smashing a light at Newcastle nightclub Fannys.[9][10]

Gold Coast Titans

In 2013, Kelly joined the Gold Coast Titans to trial for a contract. He made his début for the Titans against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. They lost the game 12–10, however there were good signs for Kelly, producing a try assist. In his next game, he scored a double and another try assist against the Canberra Raiders in the 36-0 demolition. On 22 August 2014, Kelly became one of the current NRL players and former Sharks players to accept reduced bans from the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority for his role in the club's 2011 supplements program.[11]

SeasonMatchesTriesGoalsF/GPoints
20132111--44
2014125--20
Total3316--64

Hull Kingston Rovers

On 18 October 2014, Kelly was released from the Titans alongside Maurice Blair to sign two-year contracts with Hull Kingston Rovers, replacing Australian halves Travis Burns and Kris Keating.[12][13] On 30 September 2015, he was named Hull KR Player of the Year.[14] In 2015, Kelly played in the 2015 Challenge Cup final suffering a loss of 50–0 against Leeds Rhinos.

SeasonMatchesTriesGoalsF/GPoints
201520152-64
Total20152-64

Hull F.C.

After two seasons at Hull Kingston Rovers he moved to rivals Hull F.C.[15] On 26 August 2017, Kelly played in the 2017 Challenge Cup final for Hull F.C., winning the game 18–14 against the Wigan Warriors at Wembley Stadium[16]

He was also named in the 2017 Super League Dream Team and finishing as Man of Steel runner up 2017.

In 2018 footage emerged of Kelly verbally abusing a female McDonald's employee while intoxicated. Hull FC released a statement a few days later saying the incident had been dealt with internally.[17]

Brisbane Broncos

Kelly joined Brisbane on a train and trial contract ahead of the 2021 NRL season.[18] He spent the early part of 2021 playing for the Souths Logan Magpies in the Hostplus Cup. While playing for the Magpies in March 2021, Kelly suffered a laceration to his right ear after clashing heads with another player.[19]

He was selected in the halves to replace the dropped Anthony Milford ahead of the round 11 fixture against the Sydney Roosters.[20][21][22]

On 3 April 2022, it was announced that Kelly had been placed under investigation by the Brisbane club after video footage emerged which showed Kelly being involved in a drunken fight with teammate Payne Haas.[23]

Honours
  • Challenge Cup: (1) 2017
  • Super League Dream Team: (1) 2017

Personal life

Kelly is a cousin of player Greg Inglis.[24]

References
  1. "Albert Kelly".
  2. Rugby League Project
  3. Nick, Houghton. "Sharks star could play in Group 2". The Coffs Coast Advocate. Nick Houghton. The Coffs Coast Advocate. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
  4. "Another Junior doing well". league unlimited. Jake the snake. Retrieved 10 July 2006.
  5. "TOYOTA CUP SQUAD NAMED FOR SEASON 2009". ourfootyteam. Parramatta Eels. Retrieved 17 November 2008.
  6. "Monday Morning Halfback: Week 3 Review". www.rleague.com. Archived from the original on 9 September 2011.
  7. "Sacked Sharks Bad Boy Albert Kelly Thrown a Lifeline". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  8. "NSW Cup team - Newcastle Knights". Archived from the original on 31 December 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
  9. Leeson, Joshua (28 June 2012). "Albert Kelly sacked by Knights | Newcastle Herald". Theherald.com.au. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  10. "Albert Kelly sacked by Newcastle Knights". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  11. "Cronulla Sharks players accept doping bans". The Sydney Morning Herald. 22 August 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  12. Michael Carayannis (18 October 2014). "Gold Coast Titans release Albert Kelly and Maurice Blair". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  13. "Titans release Blair and Kelly". NRL.com. 18 October 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  14. "Albert Kelly the big winner at Hull KR awards dinner". Hull Daily Mail. 30 September 2015. Archived from the original on 1 October 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  15. The Guardian , June 2017 salford hull super league match salford hull super league match
  16. "Hull FC 18-14 Wigan recap as the Black and Whites claim back-to-back Challenge Cup triumphs". Daily Mirror. 26 August 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  17. "Hull FC rule on Albert Kelly's drunken tirade". Yorkshire Post. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  18. ‘He’s piled on a few kilos’: New Broncos recruit sent back to feeder club
  19. Badel, Peter (23 May 2021). "NRL 2021: Gruesome reason behind Broncos hero Albert Kelly's ear guard". Courier Mail. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  20. Bellamy’s radical No.6 selection as Kevvie changes up his halves AGAIN: Teams Analysis
  21. Team List Round 11: Two Broncos Debutants Among Four Changes
  22. St John, Mark (22 May 2021). "Broncos answer Kevvie's 'embarrassing' call, Walker's 'first real test': 3 Big Hits". Fox Sports. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  23. "Brisbane stars Payne Haas and Albert Kelly in alleged drunken fight". www.news.com au.
  24. "Albert Kelly". NRL. 30 March 2009. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
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