William Keato (3 November 1918 – 8 October 2012) was an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership for Sydney' Western Suburbs from 1938 till 1950. A goal-kicking fullback he played over one hundred first grade games for the Magpies. He scored over 770 points to become Wests' all-time top point-scorer and goal-kicker. Roy Masters said of Keato, "A prodigious goalkicker, Keato booted what were called "flag waggers" from the sideline and halfway, often in the mud and against the wind, in the 1938-to-1950 era, when goals, rather than tries, decided games." He also said Keato, "won more matches for the Magpies than any other player."[3]
Keato made his debut in the 1938 NSWRFL season without ever having played any junior rugby league. Soon after, he gained attention for a tackle he made on Easts' international centre Dave Brown that left Brown sidelined with a broken collarbone.[3] He said that his "first playing bonus for the season was £13",[4] £3 of which was spent on boots. He was known to take great care with his boots, referring to the right as his "tradesman," and the left as the "labourer's boot."[3] He would sometimes change boots at half time and for certain games, such as the 1950 semi-final, he would bring 3 right boots to the match.[5] He played just four games from 1943 to 1945. His younger brother Alan also played for Wests and later died in World War II.[6]
Keato returned to Sydney in early 1946 after being released from the services.[7] The next year he was forced to appeal against a decision that he should be playing for Parramatta as he lived in that area. He successfully argued that he would have played 100 games (players who had reached 100 games were allowed to play for any team, regardless of where they lived) if it were not for his service record.[8] He played in the 1948 premiership-winning side, kicking a goal.[9] The victory denied Balmain a third straight premiership. He twice scored the most points in the League for a season, in 1949 (163 points) and 1950 (180 points, at the time a club record).[10] In one game at the SCG he kicked 10 goals.[11] He was the Magpies highest scorer in seven seasons.[12] 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. His career totals might have been much higher had it not been for the period serving in the Australian Army. Keato claimed the role of fullback changed during his career, saying, "I was a fullback and all I had to do was catch and kick. But Clive decided it would be fun if fullbacks start running with the ball as well."[11]
Post-playingedit
Following his retirement from playing Keato served as Western Suburbs' secretary and treasurer, commencing as treasurer in 1951.[13] His involvement with Wests lasted over four decades.[14]
Keato was a nominee for the Wests Tigers team of the century,[15] and was made a life member of the Western Suburbs club.[16] He was inducted into the Western Suburbs Magpies Hall of Fame in 2010.[17] Keato became the oldest living Magpies player, before he died in October 2012.
^ abcRoy Masters (12 October 2012). "Missed Keato provided buzz for Wests". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
^Ray Chesterton (8 January 2008). "Stars of yesteryear celebrate centenary of rugby league". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney. Retrieved 11 July 2009.
^"Sleep A "Must" For R.L. Rivals". The Sydney Morning Herald. 7 September 1950. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
^Middleton, David (24 April 2010). "Footy stars taken on battlefield". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
^"Rugby League Stars Return". The Sydney Morning Herald. 7 January 1946. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
^"RETURNING R.L. STAR TO PLAY FOR WEST". The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 February 1947. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
^Ian Collis & Alan Whiticker (2007). 100 Years of Rugby League Volume 1:1907–1966. Hew Holland Publishers(Australia) Pty Ltd. p. 202. ISBN978-1-74110-463-9.
^Alan Clarkson (29 August 1957). "Club Record Chance". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 7. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
^ abChristian Nicolussi (21 April 2008). "A century of emotion". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
^. nswrl.com.au. 10 October 2012. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
^"Club trials". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2 March 1951. p. 5. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
^"Old masters relive glory days at SCG". Cumberland Courier. 9 January 2008. Retrieved 25 July 2009.
^. westsmagpies.net. Archived from the original on 14 September 2009. Retrieved 25 July 2009.
^"2009 Pratten Park Reunion". Noel Kelly's Kids. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
^"VEST, KEATO, COGGER ALL HONOURED". weststigers.com.au. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
Sourcesedit
Referencesedit
Masters, R., "Missed Keato provided buzz for Wests", Sydney Morning Herald, (Friday, 12 October 2102).
Whiticker, Alan and Hudson, Glen; The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players; published 2005 by BAS publishing, f16/171 Collins St, Melbourne, Vic., 3000
December 15, 2023
bill, keato, william, keato, november, 1918, october, 2012, australian, rugby, league, footballer, played, south, wales, rugby, football, league, premiership, sydney, western, suburbs, from, 1938, till, 1950, goal, kicking, fullback, played, over, hundred, fir. William Keato 3 November 1918 8 October 2012 was an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership for Sydney Western Suburbs from 1938 till 1950 A goal kicking fullback he played over one hundred first grade games for the Magpies He scored over 770 points to become Wests all time top point scorer and goal kicker Roy Masters said of Keato A prodigious goalkicker Keato booted what were called flag waggers from the sideline and halfway often in the mud and against the wind in the 1938 to 1950 era when goals rather than tries decided games He also said Keato won more matches for the Magpies than any other player 3 Bill KeatoPersonal informationFull nameWilliam Townshend KeatoBorn3 November 1918Alexandria New South WalesDied8 October 2012 2012 10 08 aged 93 Bayview New South WalesPlaying informationPositionFullbackClubYears Team Pld T G FG P1938 50 Western Suburbs 119 6 379 0 776Source 1 2 As of 7 January 2012 Contents 1 Playing career 2 Post playing 3 Footnotes 4 Sources 5 ReferencesPlaying career editKeato made his debut in the 1938 NSWRFL season without ever having played any junior rugby league Soon after he gained attention for a tackle he made on Easts international centre Dave Brown that left Brown sidelined with a broken collarbone 3 He said that his first playing bonus for the season was 13 4 3 of which was spent on boots He was known to take great care with his boots referring to the right as his tradesman and the left as the labourer s boot 3 He would sometimes change boots at half time and for certain games such as the 1950 semi final he would bring 3 right boots to the match 5 He played just four games from 1943 to 1945 His younger brother Alan also played for Wests and later died in World War II 6 Keato returned to Sydney in early 1946 after being released from the services 7 The next year he was forced to appeal against a decision that he should be playing for Parramatta as he lived in that area He successfully argued that he would have played 100 games players who had reached 100 games were allowed to play for any team regardless of where they lived if it were not for his service record 8 He played in the 1948 premiership winning side kicking a goal 9 The victory denied Balmain a third straight premiership He twice scored the most points in the League for a season in 1949 163 points and 1950 180 points at the time a club record 10 In one game at the SCG he kicked 10 goals 11 He was the Magpies highest scorer in seven seasons 12 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 His career totals might have been much higher had it not been for the period serving in the Australian Army Keato claimed the role of fullback changed during his career saying I was a fullback and all I had to do was catch and kick But Clive decided it would be fun if fullbacks start running with the ball as well 11 Post playing editFollowing his retirement from playing Keato served as Western Suburbs secretary and treasurer commencing as treasurer in 1951 13 His involvement with Wests lasted over four decades 14 Keato was a nominee for the Wests Tigers team of the century 15 and was made a life member of the Western Suburbs club 16 He was inducted into the Western Suburbs Magpies Hall of Fame in 2010 17 Keato became the oldest living Magpies player before he died in October 2012 Footnotes edit Bill Keato at Yesterday s hero RLP a b c Roy Masters 12 October 2012 Missed Keato provided buzz for Wests The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 12 October 2012 Ray Chesterton 8 January 2008 Stars of yesteryear celebrate centenary of rugby league The Daily Telegraph Sydney Retrieved 11 July 2009 Sleep A Must For R L Rivals The Sydney Morning Herald 7 September 1950 Retrieved 19 October 2012 Middleton David 24 April 2010 Footy stars taken on battlefield The Daily Telegraph Sydney Retrieved 3 January 2012 Rugby League Stars Return The Sydney Morning Herald 7 January 1946 Retrieved 22 September 2010 RETURNING R L STAR TO PLAY FOR WEST The Sydney Morning Herald 8 February 1947 Retrieved 23 October 2012 Ian Collis amp Alan Whiticker 2007 100 Years of Rugby League Volume 1 1907 1966 Hew Holland Publishers Australia Pty Ltd p 202 ISBN 978 1 74110 463 9 Alan Clarkson 29 August 1957 Club Record Chance The Sydney Morning Herald p 7 Retrieved 7 January 2012 a b Christian Nicolussi 21 April 2008 A century of emotion The Daily Telegraph Sydney Retrieved 7 January 2012 VALE Bill Keato nswrl com au 10 October 2012 Archived from the original on 21 October 2012 Retrieved 12 October 2012 Club trials The Sydney Morning Herald 2 March 1951 p 5 Retrieved 7 January 2012 Old masters relive glory days at SCG Cumberland Courier 9 January 2008 Retrieved 25 July 2009 WESTS TIGERS TEAM OF THE CENTURY westsmagpies net Archived from the original on 14 September 2009 Retrieved 25 July 2009 2009 Pratten Park Reunion Noel Kelly s Kids Retrieved 3 May 2010 VEST KEATO COGGER ALL HONOURED weststigers com au Archived from the original on 30 December 2012 Retrieved 30 June 2010 Sources editBill Keato at yesterdayshero com au Bill Keato at nrlstats comReferences editMasters R Missed Keato provided buzz for Wests Sydney Morning Herald Friday 12 October 2102 Whiticker Alan and Hudson Glen The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players published 2005 by BAS publishing f16 171 Collins St Melbourne Vic 3000 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bill Keato amp oldid 1164114525, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
