Sad news. A great goalkicker and from all acounts a great man.
http://www.weststigers.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=44833&title=len-killeen-dies-aged-72
LEN KILLEEN DIES AGED 72
By Nathan Ross
31/10/2011 8:34:04 PM
Wests Tigers regret to announce the passing of Balmain Tigers legend, Len Killeen, who died, aged 72, last Friday in South Africa.
Born in Uitenhage near Port Elizabeth on 19 November 1938, Killeen joined the Balmain Tigers in 1967 on a £4500 transfer from St Helens.
He played with Balmain for five seasons, playing on the wing and was also one of the most prolific goal kickers in the Sydney Premiership.
He played in 78 first grade games for the Club, scoring 36 tries, 270 goals and eight field goals for a total of 664 points.
In 1969 he was a member of the Grand Final winning team where he kicked two goals in the 11-2 victory over Souths. His points tally of 207 in that year is a Club record for most points in a season.
Earlier in his career, Killeen was a highly rated junior with his local Rugby Union team and made his mark in senior rugby, while still only 18 years of age. A few years later he was spotted by a St Helens talent scout and moved to the north of England in late May 1962, aged 23.
He had a successful stint with the St Helens Club from 1962 to 1966\. During his stay, he played in 187 games and scored 115 tries and his deadly left boot kicked 408 goals for a total of 1161 points.
The highlight came in his final year with the Club when they took out the Challenge Cup title with a 21-2 win over Wigan. Killeen kicked a memorable 65 metre penalty goal in the triumph as well as winning the Lance Todd Trophy as man of the match.
A member of the St Helens Hall of Fame, Len was inducted into the Balmain Hall of Fame in 2009 when he and his wife Cathy returned to Sydney from South Africa for the 40 year celebration dinner at the SCG for the 1969 Grand Final winning team. His home nation also officially recognised him as a “Pioneer Legend” in the South African Rugby League Hall of Fame.
The talented sportsman, who resided in South Africa after retiring from Rugby League, represented his country in Basketball and was also a competent cricketer.
Wests Tigers Chief Executive Stephen Humphreys said that Killeen was one of the true Balmain greats.
“Len experienced great success during his time with the Balmain Tigers and had an outstanding Rugby League career overall. He played a leading role in what is arguably the Club’s greatest ever Grand Final triumph.
“We are all in mourning after hearing of this extremely sad news. On behalf of the entire Tigers family, I’d like to offer my sincere condolences to Len’s family.”
Len is survived by his wife Cathy and his two sons, Michael and Heath.
http://www.weststigers.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=44833&title=len-killeen-dies-aged-72
LEN KILLEEN DIES AGED 72
By Nathan Ross
31/10/2011 8:34:04 PM
Wests Tigers regret to announce the passing of Balmain Tigers legend, Len Killeen, who died, aged 72, last Friday in South Africa.
Born in Uitenhage near Port Elizabeth on 19 November 1938, Killeen joined the Balmain Tigers in 1967 on a £4500 transfer from St Helens.
He played with Balmain for five seasons, playing on the wing and was also one of the most prolific goal kickers in the Sydney Premiership.
He played in 78 first grade games for the Club, scoring 36 tries, 270 goals and eight field goals for a total of 664 points.
In 1969 he was a member of the Grand Final winning team where he kicked two goals in the 11-2 victory over Souths. His points tally of 207 in that year is a Club record for most points in a season.
Earlier in his career, Killeen was a highly rated junior with his local Rugby Union team and made his mark in senior rugby, while still only 18 years of age. A few years later he was spotted by a St Helens talent scout and moved to the north of England in late May 1962, aged 23.
He had a successful stint with the St Helens Club from 1962 to 1966\. During his stay, he played in 187 games and scored 115 tries and his deadly left boot kicked 408 goals for a total of 1161 points.
The highlight came in his final year with the Club when they took out the Challenge Cup title with a 21-2 win over Wigan. Killeen kicked a memorable 65 metre penalty goal in the triumph as well as winning the Lance Todd Trophy as man of the match.
A member of the St Helens Hall of Fame, Len was inducted into the Balmain Hall of Fame in 2009 when he and his wife Cathy returned to Sydney from South Africa for the 40 year celebration dinner at the SCG for the 1969 Grand Final winning team. His home nation also officially recognised him as a “Pioneer Legend” in the South African Rugby League Hall of Fame.
The talented sportsman, who resided in South Africa after retiring from Rugby League, represented his country in Basketball and was also a competent cricketer.
Wests Tigers Chief Executive Stephen Humphreys said that Killeen was one of the true Balmain greats.
“Len experienced great success during his time with the Balmain Tigers and had an outstanding Rugby League career overall. He played a leading role in what is arguably the Club’s greatest ever Grand Final triumph.
“We are all in mourning after hearing of this extremely sad news. On behalf of the entire Tigers family, I’d like to offer my sincere condolences to Len’s family.”
Len is survived by his wife Cathy and his two sons, Michael and Heath.
