Jump to content

John Kolc: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m Confirm {{Use dmy dates}} from 2013; WP:GenFixes & cleanup on
 
(40 intermediate revisions by 21 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Australia international rugby league footballer}}
'''John Kolc''' is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. An [[Australia national rugby league team|Australian international]] representative half back, he played in Sydney's [[NSWRFL Premiership]] for the [[Parramatta Eels|Parramatta club]].
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = John Kolc
|fullname = John Joseph Kolc
|nickname =
|image =
|image_size =
|caption =
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1950|9|7|df=y}}
|birth_place = [[Adelaide]], [[South Australia]], Australia
|death_date =
|death_place =
|height = {{convert|5|ft|3|in|cm|abbr=on}}
|weight = {{convert|10|st|8|lb|kg lb|abbr=on}}
|retired = yes
|position = {{rlp|HB}}
|club1 = [[Parramatta Eels|Parramatta]]
|year1start = 1972
|year1end = 81
|appearances1 = 112
|tries1 = 14
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 42
|teamA = [[Australia national rugby league team|Australia]]
|yearAstart = [[1977 Rugby League World Cup|1977]]
|yearAend =
|appearancesA = 1
|triesA = 1
|goalsA = 0
|fieldgoalsA = 0
|pointsA = 3
|updated =
|source = [https://web.archive.org/web/20120414034651/http://www.nrlstats.com/archive/players.cfm?PlayerID=5865 nrlstats.com], [https://web.archive.org/web/20140716142845/http://stats.rleague.com/rl/scorers/players/J/John_Kolc.html stats.rleague.com]
}}


'''John Joseph Kolc''' (born 7 September 1950) is an Australian former professional [[rugby league]] footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. An [[Australia national rugby league team|Australia]] international representative halfback, he played in [[National Rugby League|Sydney's NSWRFL premiership]] for the [[Parramatta Eels|Parramatta club]]. Kolc was one of the smallest international rugby league players: only late 1920s St. George hooker [[Arthur Justice|“Snowy” Justice]] is believed to have played for Australia at a lighter weight, although 1950s backs [[Darcy Henry]] and [[Johnny Hunt (rugby league)|Johnny Hunt]] are believed to have been similarly small.
A [[Parramatta]] junior, Kolc commenced his first-grade NSWRFL playing career with the [[Parramatta Eels|Parramatta club]] in 1972.<ref>{{cite web|title=John Kolc|url=http://www.yesterdayshero.com.au/PlayerProfile_John-Kolc_4683.aspx|work=yesterdayshero.com.au|publisher=SmartPack International Pty Ltd|accessdate=25 September 2012}}</ref> At the end of the [[1976 NSWRFL season]] He played for Parramatta at halfback in the club's first [[grand final]] against [[Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles|Manly-Warringah]].


==Playing career==
⚫
Kolc gained selection for the Australian team's [[1977 Rugby League World Cup]] campaign, becoming Kangaroo No. 502 in his sole international.<ref>{{cite web|last=[[Australian Rugby League]]|title=Australian Players Register|url=https://secure.ausport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/98638/Australian_Rugby_League_2005.pdf|work=Australian Rugby League - Annual Report 2005|publisher=secure.ausport.gov.au|accessdate=16 June 2012}}</ref> It was the final and he scored a try in the 1-point win over [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]] in Sydney. At the end of the [[1977 NSWRFL season]], Kolc played at halfback in the drawn grand final against [[St. George Dragons|St. George]] as well as the re-play.<ref>{{cite web|last=Whiticker|first=Alan|title=John Kolc|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/john-kolc/summary.html|work=rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson and Bill Bates|accessdate=25 September 2012}}</ref>
A [[Parramatta]] junior from Hills District,<ref>‘Eels Tame Tigers’; ''[[Sydney Morning Herald]]''; 19 June 1972, p. 11</ref> Kolc was graded with Parramatta for the 1971 season<ref>[http://www.1eyedeel.com/forum/topics/q-a-with-john-kolc?commentId=500401%3AComment%3A1296831 Q & A with John Kolc]</ref> and made his first-grade debut [[1972 NSWRFL season|the following season]].<ref>{{cite web|title=John Kolc|url=http://www.yesterdayshero.com.au/PlayerProfile_John-Kolc_4683.aspx|work=yesterdayshero.com.au|publisher=SmartPack International Pty Ltd|accessdate=25 September 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20121231034725/http://www.yesterdayshero.com.au/PlayerProfile_John-Kolc_4683.aspx|archivedate=31 December 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref> He showed great promise with his sharp dashes around the rucks and superb low tackling: early in 1973 Kolc was already widely viewed as a future representative player;<ref>‘League Awards: Young Players Press Sullivan’; ''Sydney Morning Herald'', 23 April 1973, p. 25</ref> however, a broken ankle ligament<ref>Christiansen, Phillip; ‘Two Return’; ''Sydney Morning Herald'', 20 June 1973, p. 17</ref> (which was to affect Kolc's career and reduce his speed off the mark) and competition with former State halfback [[Terry Reynolds]] meant that Kolc missed the second half of 1973, and was in and out of first grade throughout 1974 and 1975.


At the end of the 1975 season, Kolc played in Parramatta's first-ever reserve grade premiership team – scoring a try in the Grand Final win over Cronulla<ref>‘Spirited Blast’; ''The Sun-Herald'', 21 September 1975, p. 49</ref> – and with Reynolds retiring Kolc was chosen over Johnny Wilson as the regular first-grade halfback for [[1976 NSWRFL season|the 1976 season]].<ref>Clarkson, Alan; ‘Balmain Call Up Teenager’; ''Sydney Morning Herald''; 24 March 1976, p. 25</ref> The season saw Kolc play for Parramatta in the club's maiden first-grade [[grand final]], which was lost to [[Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles|Manly-Warringah]].
The [[1981 NSWRFL season]] was Kolc's last in first grade.

⚫
With the Eels dominating the NSWRFL during the first half of [[1977 NSWRFL season|1977]], Kolc gained selection for the Australian national team in the [[1977 Rugby League World Cup]] Final, his sole international game, becoming Kangaroo No. 502.<ref>{{cite web|last=[[Australian Rugby League]] |title=Australian Players Register |url=https://secure.ausport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/98638/Australian_Rugby_League_2005.pdf |work=Australian Rugby League - Annual Report 2005 |publisher=secure.ausport.gov.au |accessdate=16 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090705170103/https://secure.ausport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/98638/Australian_Rugby_League_2005.pdf |archivedate= 5 July 2009 }}</ref> He scored the match-winning [[Try (rugby)|try]] in the one-point win over [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]] at the [[Sydney Cricket Ground]]. After this, Kolc missed a number of games due to the return of his old ankle ligament problems,<ref>Clarkson, Alan; ‘Eels Hope for Kolc’s Fitness’; ''Sydney Morning Herald''; 20 July 1977, p. 48</ref> but he came back – though lacking his old sharp pace – to play at halfback in the drawn grand final and replay against [[St. George Dragons|St. George]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Whiticker|first=Alan|title=John Kolc|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/john-kolc/summary.html|work=rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson and Bill Bates|accessdate=25 September 2012}}</ref>

The year [[1978 NSWRFL season|1978]], however, saw [[Graham Murray]] take over from Kolc as the Eels’ regular first-grade halfback, and the former international only regained his first-grade berth – as a five-eighth – when [[John Peard]] was injured late in July.<ref>Clarkson, Alan; ‘Wests Return to Square One’; ''Sydney Morning Herald'', 19 July 1978, p. 44</ref> With the emergence of future champion [[Peter Sterling (rugby league commentator)|Peter Sterling]] and pivot Mick Pattison, it was clear by 1979 that Kolc's days in first grade were numbered, although he did manage to participate in a second reserve grade premiership at the end of 1979.

Kolc made occasional first-grade appearances during the 1980 and 1981 seasons. A lowlight of this period was when Kolc was sent off in his 100th game, for a high tackle on South Sydney fullback [[John Sellar]]. Kolc suffered a four-match ban; but when new video evidence was supplied, the suspension was overturned<ref>Curran, Brain and MacDonald, John; ‘[[Brett Kenny|Kenny]] Out for 1 Match; [[Gary Freeman (rugby league)|Freeman]] Gets His Appeal’; ''Sydney Morning Herald''; 11 April 1989, p. 50</ref> – an extreme rarity in the history of rugby league in Australia.

==Post-playing career==
Over a decade after retiring as a player, Kolc was appointed President's Cup coach by a Parramatta board looking for a return to the glory days by a club that had lost its way since 1986.<ref>Cadogan, Neil; ''The Parramatta Eels: March of the Blue and Golds''; p. 156 {{ISBN|9780980666670}}</ref> The Eels’ under-21 team finished seventh in Kolc's only year in charge with nine wins and nine losses;<ref>Middleton, David (editor); ''Rugby League 1995'', p. 238 {{ISBN|0732251370}}</ref> a satisfactory record but one of little significance because of the restructuring of the competition for the following season. Kolc then obtained a place on the Eels’ board under long-time teammate [[Denis Fitzgerald]], and remained there – ultimately becoming the president of the lucrative Leagues Club – until the fallout from two consecutive last-place finishes in [[2012 NRL season|2012]] and [[2013 NRL season|2013]] caused a complete shake-up.


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist|3}}


{{Australia 1977 Rugby League World Cup Final squad}}
{{Australia 1977 Rugby League World Cup final squad}}


{{DEFAULTSORT: Kolc, John}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kolc, John}}
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Australia national rugby league team players]]
[[Category:Australian rugby league coaches]]
[[Category:Australian rugby league administrators]]
[[Category:Australian rugby league players]]
[[Category:Australian rugby league players]]
[[Category:Parramatta Eels players]]
[[Category:Parramatta Eels players]]
[[Category:Australia national rugby league team players]]
[[Category:Rugby league halfbacks]]
[[Category:Rugby league players from South Australia]]

Latest revision as of 13:59, 19 January 2024

John Kolc
Personal information
Full nameJohn Joseph Kolc
Born (1950-09-07) 7 September 1950 (age 74)
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Playing information
Height5 ft 3 in (160 cm)
Weight10 st 8 lb (67 kg; 148 lb)
PositionHalfback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1972–81 Parramatta 112 14 0 0 42
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1977 Australia 1 1 0 0 3

John Joseph Kolc (born 7 September 1950) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. An Australia international representative halfback, he played in Sydney's NSWRFL premiership for the Parramatta club. Kolc was one of the smallest international rugby league players: only late 1920s St. George hooker “Snowy” Justice is believed to have played for Australia at a lighter weight, although 1950s backs Darcy Henry and Johnny Hunt are believed to have been similarly small.

Playing career

[edit]

A Parramatta junior from Hills District,[1] Kolc was graded with Parramatta for the 1971 season[2] and made his first-grade debut the following season.[3] He showed great promise with his sharp dashes around the rucks and superb low tackling: early in 1973 Kolc was already widely viewed as a future representative player;[4] however, a broken ankle ligament[5] (which was to affect Kolc's career and reduce his speed off the mark) and competition with former State halfback Terry Reynolds meant that Kolc missed the second half of 1973, and was in and out of first grade throughout 1974 and 1975.

At the end of the 1975 season, Kolc played in Parramatta's first-ever reserve grade premiership team – scoring a try in the Grand Final win over Cronulla[6] – and with Reynolds retiring Kolc was chosen over Johnny Wilson as the regular first-grade halfback for the 1976 season.[7] The season saw Kolc play for Parramatta in the club's maiden first-grade grand final, which was lost to Manly-Warringah.

With the Eels dominating the NSWRFL during the first half of 1977, Kolc gained selection for the Australian national team in the 1977 Rugby League World Cup Final, his sole international game, becoming Kangaroo No. 502.[8] He scored the match-winning try in the one-point win over Great Britain at the Sydney Cricket Ground. After this, Kolc missed a number of games due to the return of his old ankle ligament problems,[9] but he came back – though lacking his old sharp pace – to play at halfback in the drawn grand final and replay against St. George.[10]

The year 1978, however, saw Graham Murray take over from Kolc as the Eels’ regular first-grade halfback, and the former international only regained his first-grade berth – as a five-eighth – when John Peard was injured late in July.[11] With the emergence of future champion Peter Sterling and pivot Mick Pattison, it was clear by 1979 that Kolc's days in first grade were numbered, although he did manage to participate in a second reserve grade premiership at the end of 1979.

Kolc made occasional first-grade appearances during the 1980 and 1981 seasons. A lowlight of this period was when Kolc was sent off in his 100th game, for a high tackle on South Sydney fullback John Sellar. Kolc suffered a four-match ban; but when new video evidence was supplied, the suspension was overturned[12] – an extreme rarity in the history of rugby league in Australia.

Post-playing career

[edit]

Over a decade after retiring as a player, Kolc was appointed President's Cup coach by a Parramatta board looking for a return to the glory days by a club that had lost its way since 1986.[13] The Eels’ under-21 team finished seventh in Kolc's only year in charge with nine wins and nine losses;[14] a satisfactory record but one of little significance because of the restructuring of the competition for the following season. Kolc then obtained a place on the Eels’ board under long-time teammate Denis Fitzgerald, and remained there – ultimately becoming the president of the lucrative Leagues Club – until the fallout from two consecutive last-place finishes in 2012 and 2013 caused a complete shake-up.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ ‘Eels Tame Tigers’; Sydney Morning Herald; 19 June 1972, p. 11
  2. ^ Q & A with John Kolc
  3. ^ "John Kolc". yesterdayshero.com.au. SmartPack International Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 31 December 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  4. ^ ‘League Awards: Young Players Press Sullivan’; Sydney Morning Herald, 23 April 1973, p. 25
  5. ^ Christiansen, Phillip; ‘Two Return’; Sydney Morning Herald, 20 June 1973, p. 17
  6. ^ ‘Spirited Blast’; The Sun-Herald, 21 September 1975, p. 49
  7. ^ Clarkson, Alan; ‘Balmain Call Up Teenager’; Sydney Morning Herald; 24 March 1976, p. 25
  8. ^ Australian Rugby League. "Australian Players Register" (PDF). Australian Rugby League - Annual Report 2005. secure.ausport.gov.au. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 July 2009. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
  9. ^ Clarkson, Alan; ‘Eels Hope for Kolc’s Fitness’; Sydney Morning Herald; 20 July 1977, p. 48
  10. ^ Whiticker, Alan. "John Kolc". rugbyleagueproject.org. Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson and Bill Bates. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  11. ^ Clarkson, Alan; ‘Wests Return to Square One’; Sydney Morning Herald, 19 July 1978, p. 44
  12. ^ Curran, Brain and MacDonald, John; ‘Kenny Out for 1 Match; Freeman Gets His Appeal’; Sydney Morning Herald; 11 April 1989, p. 50
  13. ^ Cadogan, Neil; The Parramatta Eels: March of the Blue and Golds; p. 156 ISBN 9780980666670
  14. ^ Middleton, David (editor); Rugby League 1995, p. 238 ISBN 0732251370
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=John_Kolc&oldid=1197183331"