 He broke his leg in the 1928 NSWRFL season and his first grade career was over.After playing, Buckley joined the New South Wales Rugby Football League General Committee as delegate of Newtown in 1940.When NSWRFL president Jersey Flegg died in 1960, Buckley replaced him and also became Chairman of the Australian Rugby League, a position he remained in from 1960 until his death in 1973.