Keith Froome

Former NSW halfback with Newcastle Wests captained Newtown's third grade to premiership success in 1943 while serving with the AIF. Froome again played for NSW after the resumption of interstate competition at the end of World War II and made his Test debut against NZ in 1948. A capable goal-kicker with an effective, short-kicking game, Froome played 16 matches on the 1948-49 Kangaroo Tour, including three Tests against Great Britain and France. In 1949 he was named inaugural ‘Sun Herald’ Player of the Year’ and was selected as Australian captain-coach on the tour of NZ at the end of the year. Froome scored a try and landed a goal in Australia's 13-10 win in the Second Test that tied that series. Injured for much of the 1950 season he did not play a role in Australia's historic Ashes win over Great Britain - his place as Test captain taken by Clive Churchill. After Newtown was knocked out of the 1950 semi-final series Froome accepted a captain-coach position with Gunnedah in north-western NSW. He retired as a player after just a handful of matches but remained on as a coach. Froome passed away suddenly from cancer in 1978, aged 57.