Bill Keato
Encyclopedia
William Keato is a retired Australian rugby league
footballer who played in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership for the Western Suburbs Magpies
from 1938 till 1950. A goal-kicking fullback he played over one hundred first grade games for the Magpies.
Keato made his debut in 1938 without ever having played any junior league. He has said that his "first playing bonus for the season was £13", £3 of which was spent on boots.
He scored over 770 points to become Wests' all-time top point-scorer and goal-kicker. He twice scored the most points in the League for a season, in 1949 (163 points) and 1950 (180 points). His career totals might have been much higher had it not been for a period serving in the Australian Army
. He played just four games from 1943 to 1945.
Keato returned to Sydney in early 1946 after being released from the services. He played in the 1948 premiership-winning side, kicking a goal. The victory denied Balmain
a third straight premiership.
In his last game, the 1950 Grand Final, although heavily concussed, Keato kicked six goals. The Magpies
still lost to Souths
in a close match, watched by over 32,000 people at the Sydney Sports Ground
.
Following his retirement from playing Keato served as the club's secretary and treasurer, his involvement with Wests lasting over four decades, and has since become the oldest living Magpies player. He was a nominee for the Wests Tigers
team of the century, and was made a life member of the Western Suburbs club.
Keato was inducted into the Western Suburbs Magpies Hall of Fame in 2010.
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 who played in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership for the Western Suburbs Magpies
Western Suburbs Magpies
The Western Suburbs Magpies are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly referred to, were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia...
from 1938 till 1950. A goal-kicking fullback he played over one hundred first grade games for the Magpies.
Keato made his debut in 1938 without ever having played any junior league. He has said that his "first playing bonus for the season was £13", £3 of which was spent on boots.
He scored over 770 points to become Wests' all-time top point-scorer and goal-kicker. He twice scored the most points in the League for a season, in 1949 (163 points) and 1950 (180 points). His career totals might have been much higher had it not been for a period serving in the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
. He played just four games from 1943 to 1945.
Keato returned to Sydney in early 1946 after being released from the services. He played in the 1948 premiership-winning side, kicking a goal. The victory denied Balmain
Balmain Tigers
The Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles...
a third straight premiership.
In his last game, the 1950 Grand Final, although heavily concussed, Keato kicked six goals. The Magpies
Western Suburbs Magpies
The Western Suburbs Magpies are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly referred to, were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia...
still lost to Souths
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
in a close match, watched by over 32,000 people at the Sydney Sports Ground
Sydney Sports Ground
The Sydney Sports Ground was a Stadium and Dirt track racing venue in Sydney, New South Wales. The ground was located where the car park of the Sydney Football Stadium currently sits. The ground had two main grandstands and was surrounded by a grass covered hill, giving it a capacity of more than...
.
Following his retirement from playing Keato served as the club's secretary and treasurer, his involvement with Wests lasting over four decades, and has since become the oldest living Magpies player. He was a nominee for 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...
team of the century, and was made a life member of the Western Suburbs club.
Keato was inducted into the Western Suburbs Magpies Hall of Fame in 2010.