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 A Parramatta junior from Hills District,‘Eels Tame Tigers’; Sydney Morning Herald; 19 June 1972, p. 11 Kolc was graded with Parramatta for the 1971 seasonQ & A with John Kolc and made his first-grade debut the following season. 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;‘League Awards: Young Players Press Sullivan’; Sydney Morning Herald, 23 April 1973, p. 25 however, a broken ankle ligamentChristiansen, Phillip; ‘Two Return’; Sydney Morning Herald, 20 June 1973, p. 17 (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‘Spirited Blast’; The Sun-Herald, 21 September 1975, p. 49 – and with Reynolds retiring Kolc was chosen over Johnny Wilson as the regular first-grade halfback for the 1976 season.Clarkson, Alan; ‘Balmain Call Up Teenager’; Sydney Morning Herald; 24 March 1976, p. 25 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. 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,Clarkson, Alan; ‘Eels Hope for Kolc’s Fitness’; Sydney Morning Herald; 20 July 1977, p. 48 but he came back – though lacking his old sharp pace – to play at halfback in the drawn grand final and replay against St. George.
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.Clarkson, Alan; ‘Wests Return to Square One’; Sydney Morning Herald, 19 July 1978, p. 44 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 overturnedCurran, Brain and MacDonald, John; ‘Kenny Out for 1 Match; Freeman Gets His Appeal’; Sydney Morning Herald; 11 April 1989, p. 50 – 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.Cadogan, Neil; The Parramatta Eels: March of the Blue and Golds; p. 156 The Eels’ under-21 team finished seventh in Kolc's only year in charge with nine wins and nine losses;Middleton, David (editor); Rugby League 1995, p. 238 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.
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