David Gillespie
Encyclopedia
David "Cement" Gillespie (born 22 March 1964 in Narromine, New South Wales
) is an Australian former professional rugby league
footballer of the 1980s and 90s. A sturdy forward, he played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Western Suburbs Magpies
, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
, New South Wales
and for the Australian
national side. He is currently a defensive coach for both the Roosters and the Sharks, being a close friend of Ricky Stuart.
Originally form the central west town of Narromine, Gillespie joined Canterbury in their rebuilding after the 1980 premiership and was soon a success with his powerful tackling which earned him the well-known nickname
"Cement". His defence was critical to Canterbury's retention of the title against a heavily favoured St. George
side in 1985 after having scored a rare try in their powerful 26-nil win over Parramatta
in the preliminary final.
The following year, despite not having played for New South Wales, Gillespie was favoured to tour with the Kangaroos
before a horrible work injury which almost saw his finger severed ended his season. Then, 1987 saw two suspensions (in one of which he was, unusually, sent off on the first tackle of a match against Balmain
) rob Gillespie of over a third of his season. He played for English side Hunslet
during the 1987–88 Rugby Football League season. Returning to Australia "Cement" came back stronger in 1988 and played so well in the grand final that he was chosen for the World Cup final against New Zealand, but in 1989 he was so disappointing as to be briefly relegated to reserve grade before a four-week suspension for a dangerous tackle effectively ended his season.
In 1990 Gillespie finally established himself as a representative player with powerful displays for New South Wales and in the Test against France in Parkes
. At the end of the 1990 NSWRL season, he went on the 1990 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France
and played in all the Tests. He placed himself in the controversial draft and was chosen by Wests, for whom he was to play while an Australian regular. His high workrate was a vital part of two big wins against New Zealand in 1991 and against Great Britain during the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand, helping Australia retain The Ashes – though he was criticised at times for not being so committed at club level. 1993 saw Gillespie fall out with Warren Ryan
and signed with Manly for 1994. However, the quicker 10-metre rule made his play – based on workrate – less effective and he lost in place in the NSW team after one match.
In 1995, despite being an integral part of a Manly team that threatened for a long time to march through the season undefeated – Gillespie was not considered too old and slow for the representative games until late in the year when he played for Australia against New Zealand. He played in Manly's 1996 premiership side but retired after their loss to Newcastle
in the isolated ARL grand final the following year.
Narromine, New South Wales
Narromine is a town located about 40 kilometres west of Dubbo in the Orana region of New South Wales, Australia. It is the centre of Narromine Shire. At the 2006 census, Narromine had a population of 3,599 people...
) is an Australian former professional rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer of the 1980s and 90s. A sturdy forward, he played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Western Suburbs Magpies
Western Suburbs Magpies
The Western Suburbs Magpies are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly referred to, were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia...
, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
, New South Wales
New South Wales Rugby League team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
and for the Australian
Australian national rugby league team
The Australian national rugby league team have represented Australia in senior men's rugby league football competition since the establishment of the game in Australia in 1908. Administered by the Australian Rugby League, the Kangaroos' are ranked number one in the RLIF World Rankings...
national side. He is currently a defensive coach for both the Roosters and the Sharks, being a close friend of Ricky Stuart.
Originally form the central west town of Narromine, Gillespie joined Canterbury in their rebuilding after the 1980 premiership and was soon a success with his powerful tackling which earned him the well-known nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
"Cement". His defence was critical to Canterbury's retention of the title against a heavily favoured St. George
St. George Dragons
The St George Dragons was an Australian Rugby league football club in St George, Sydney, New South Wales that played in Australia's top-level Rugby league competition from New South Wales Rugby Football League in 1921 until 1998; in 1999 they formed a joint venture with the Illawarra Steelers,...
side in 1985 after having scored a rare try in their powerful 26-nil win over Parramatta
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
in the preliminary final.
The following year, despite not having played for New South Wales, Gillespie was favoured to tour with the Kangaroos
Kangaroo Tour
Kangaroo Tour is the name given to Australian national rugby league team tours of Great Britain and France. The first Kangaroo Tour was in 1908. Traditionally, Kangaroo Tours took place every four years and involved a three-Test Ashes series against Great Britain and a number of tour matches...
before a horrible work injury which almost saw his finger severed ended his season. Then, 1987 saw two suspensions (in one of which he was, unusually, sent off on the first tackle of a match against Balmain
Balmain Tigers
The Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles...
) rob Gillespie of over a third of his season. He played for English side Hunslet
Hunslet Hawks
Hunslet Hawks is a professional rugby league club based in Hunslet, West Yorkshire, England. The club, sometimes known as 'the Parksiders' after their former stadium, are currently champions of Championship One.-History:-Early years:...
during the 1987–88 Rugby Football League season. Returning to Australia "Cement" came back stronger in 1988 and played so well in the grand final that he was chosen for the World Cup final against New Zealand, but in 1989 he was so disappointing as to be briefly relegated to reserve grade before a four-week suspension for a dangerous tackle effectively ended his season.
In 1990 Gillespie finally established himself as a representative player with powerful displays for New South Wales and in the Test against France in Parkes
Parkes, New South Wales
- Transport :Parkes has a local bus service provided by Western Road Liners, which acquired Harris Bus Lines in March 2006. The Indian Pacific also stops twice a week, as well as the Broken Hill Outback Xplorer service, run by CountryLink, which heads to Broken Hill on Mondays and Sydney on...
. At the end of the 1990 NSWRL season, he went on the 1990 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France
1990 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain and France
The 1990 Kangaroo Tour was the seventeenth Kangaroo Tour, where the Australian national rugby league team travelled to Europe and played eighteen matches against British and French rugby league teams, in addition to three Test matches...
and played in all the Tests. He placed himself in the controversial draft and was chosen by Wests, for whom he was to play while an Australian regular. His high workrate was a vital part of two big wins against New Zealand in 1991 and against Great Britain during the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand, helping Australia retain The Ashes – though he was criticised at times for not being so committed at club level. 1993 saw Gillespie fall out with Warren Ryan
Warren Ryan
Warren Ryan is former rugby league football coach and player from Sydney, Australia. He is considered as one of the most influential coaches in recent times. Ryan also played 1st Grade Rugby League for the St George Dragons and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks....
and signed with Manly for 1994. However, the quicker 10-metre rule made his play – based on workrate – less effective and he lost in place in the NSW team after one match.
In 1995, despite being an integral part of a Manly team that threatened for a long time to march through the season undefeated – Gillespie was not considered too old and slow for the representative games until late in the year when he played for Australia against New Zealand. He played in Manly's 1996 premiership side but retired after their loss to Newcastle
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
in the isolated ARL grand final the following year.