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FORMER Kangaroo, Magpies great and leading referee Keith Holman has passed away aged 84.
NRL lost one of its greats when the national and state representative halfback passed away on Tuesday night.
West Tigers chief executive officer Stephen Humphreys confirmed the death of the great this morning on 2GB.
"We had the sad news overnight,’’ Humphreys said.
"Keith had not been well in recent years . He was in a nursing home in Miranda. Regrettably he had a heart attack last night and died in Sutherland Hospital a but before 9pm.’’
Holman’s club career was with the Western Suburbs Magpies from 1949 to 1961.
Considered one of the best players in the game, Holman became a coach for the club and then also one of the game’s leading referees.
Holman, who in 2007 was selected by a panel of experts at halfback in an Australian Team of the 50s, officiated in the 1971 grand final and went on to referee during Australia’s tour of New Zealand in 1975.
In 2008, Holman was included on a list of Australia’s 100 Greatest Players (1908-2007) which was commissioned by the NRL and ARL to celebrate the code’s centenary year in Australia.
The same year the Western Suburbs Magpies celebrated their centenary by inducting six inaugural members into the club’s Hall of Fame, one of whom was Holman.
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Not just Wests, but Rugby League itself has lost one of its true legends. He always seemed to be smiling.
Rest in peace Yappy.
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I just heard this sad sad news on talkinsport.
I feel a connection to this top bloke, if somewhat distant, played for the junior club named in his honour, awarded my only trophy by him….my young bloke went to the same school as he did in Maroubra
He did just about everything you can in the game - play- coach & ref
Sad news, R.I.P. Yappy
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RIP to a man devoted to the sport. Thank you
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Vale Yappy.A magpie legend.
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What sad new this is. Keith was my first idol in rugby league, because we used to sit with Keith, his wife and (if I remember correctly) his two daughters on half-way at Pratten Park on many Saturday afternoons. He was a thorough gentleman, a great Wests Magpie and a true ornament to the game in all aspects, in which he contributed.
Rest in peace, Keith, you will be sadly missed by many. -
That is sad news. Best wishes to his family.
A well respected lovely man!! -
What sad new this is. Keith was my first idol in rugby league, because we used to sit with Keith, his wife and (if I remember correctly) his two daughters on half-way at Pratten Park on many Saturday afternoons. He was a thorough gentleman, a great Wests Magpie and a true ornament to the game in all aspects, in which he contributed.
Rest in peace, Keith, you will be sadly missed by many.Keith Holman was my first Rugby league idol as well. When I was a small child, we lived not far from Pratten Park. My father and I went for a walk one night and ended up at Pratten Park, watching the Magpies train. Keith Holman came near to where we were sitting at one point, in order to fetch a ball. My father said hi to him and he spoke to us briefly, just saying hello and wishing us well. I’ll never forget that this great hero spoke to me and my father that night.
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Never did see holman play but was highly regarded by the rugby league community.
Dick thornett died as well.One day saw him on take the ball off the goalkicker - Arch Brown - and drop kick the ball for two points.Bit of an insult to the goalkicker,
one of the more bizarre things i ve seen in a game of footy.
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I had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with Keith Holman when I was a kid. A wonderful, happy and exuberant man, who will be greatly missed - RIP ‘Yappy’
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Very sad.A real legend who played 32 Tests at a time they played less games.
Only ever played with Wests.
