Dean Lance
Encyclopedia
Dean Lance is an Australian former rugby league
footballer and coach, and current football manager at the North Queensland Cowboys
of the NRL. He played in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership in the 1980s for the Newtown
and Canberra
clubs, captaining the Raiders for almost 5 years and winning two premierships with them. After playing he coached Super League clubs in Australia (Western Reds and Adelaide Rams
) and in England (Leeds Rhinos
).
, Lance played representative rugby league for Newcastle in their comprehensive 29-0 victory over France
in 1977 before playing in the NSWRFL. He started playing first grade in the Sydney premiership in 1982 for the Newtown Jets, eventually moving to the back row, but at the end of the following year the club exited the competition. Lance moved to the Canberra Raiders
and was named captain of the club in his second year there. He played in his first Grand Final for the Raiders in 1987 and in 1989 the captaincy of the club was handed over to Mal Meninga
. That year Lance played in his second grand final, this time winning the premiership. The following year was to be his last with Canberra, but he went out on a high note, with a second consecutive premiership victory.
at the Perth Reds in the 1997 Super League season
. The club was shut down at the end of that season so he signed as coach of the Adelaide Rams
in the first year of the National Rugby League
competition following Rod Reddy
's dismissal. That was to be the final season for the Adelaide club as well, so again Lance was left without a team to coach. He moved to England and became coach of the Leeds Rhinos
club in the European Super League
in November 1999, succeeding fellow Australian Graham Murray
. He served there for three seasons, achieving mixed results and having a less than perfect relationship with the club. Just four matches into the 2001 season, Lance parted from the Rhinos "by mutual consent".
After returning to Australia, Lance took on a football manager's role at the Melbourne Storm
club, working with coach and former Canberra teammate, Craig Bellamy. Following the Storm's premiership victory in 2007, Lance moved to the North Queensland Cowboys
club, also as football manager.
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 and coach, and current football manager at the North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
of the NRL. He played in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership in the 1980s for the Newtown
Newtown Jets
The Newtown Jets are an Australian rugby league football club based in Newtown, a suburb of Sydney's inner west. They currently compete in the NSWRL Premier League competition, having left the top grade after the 1983 NSWRFL season...
and Canberra
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
clubs, captaining the Raiders for almost 5 years and winning two premierships with them. After playing he coached Super League clubs in Australia (Western Reds and Adelaide Rams
Adelaide Rams
The Adelaide Rams were an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Adelaide, South Australia. The team was formed in 1995 for the planned rebel Super League competition, which eventually ran parallel to the rival Australian Rugby League competition in 1997...
) and in England (Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
).
Playing career
A centre/five-eighth hailing from Narrabri, New South WalesNarrabri, New South Wales
Narrabri is a town and seat of Narrabri Shire Council Local Government Area in the North West Slopes, New South Wales, Australia. Narrabri is situated on the Namoi River and lies northwest of Sydney. It sits on the junction of the Kamilaroi Highway and the Newell Highway...
, Lance played representative rugby league for Newcastle in their comprehensive 29-0 victory over France
France national rugby league team
The France national rugby league team represent France in international rugby league tournaments. They are also sometimes referred to as "Les Tricolores" or more commonly "Les Chanticleers"...
in 1977 before playing in the NSWRFL. He started playing first grade in the Sydney premiership in 1982 for the Newtown Jets, eventually moving to the back row, but at the end of the following year the club exited the competition. Lance moved to the Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
and was named captain of the club in his second year there. He played in his first Grand Final for the Raiders in 1987 and in 1989 the captaincy of the club was handed over to Mal Meninga
Mal Meninga
Malcolm Norman Meninga AM is an Australian former rugby league test captain and current coach of Queensland's State of Origin team. As a player he was a legendary goal-kicking centre, counted amongst the finest footballers of the 20th century...
. That year Lance played in his second grand final, this time winning the premiership. The following year was to be his last with Canberra, but he went out on a high note, with a second consecutive premiership victory.
Coaching career
Lance's coaching career began as reserve grade coach at Canberra in 1992, later being promoted to assistant coach. He took over from Peter MulhollandPeter Mulholland
Peter Mulholland is an Australian former rugby league football coach and current recruitment manager of the NRL's Bulldogs RLFC. He coached ARL premiership expansion club Western Reds in their first two seasons before moving to France to take up the coaching position of Super League expansion team,...
at the Perth Reds in the 1997 Super League season
Super League (Australia) season 1997
The 1997 Super League season was the 90th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the first and only to be run by the News Limited-controlled Super League organisation...
. The club was shut down at the end of that season so he signed as coach of the Adelaide Rams
Adelaide Rams
The Adelaide Rams were an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Adelaide, South Australia. The team was formed in 1995 for the planned rebel Super League competition, which eventually ran parallel to the rival Australian Rugby League competition in 1997...
in the first year of the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
competition following Rod Reddy
Rod Reddy
Rod "Rocket" Reddy is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He played for the St. George Dragons between 1972 and 1983 and the Illawarra Steelers between 1984 and 1985...
's dismissal. That was to be the final season for the Adelaide club as well, so again Lance was left without a team to coach. He moved to England and became coach of the Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
club in the European Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
in November 1999, succeeding fellow Australian Graham Murray
Graham Murray
Graham Murray is an Australian rugby league player and coach. Murray is currently the High Performance Unit Director of Coaching at the Newcastle Knights.-Playing career:...
. He served there for three seasons, achieving mixed results and having a less than perfect relationship with the club. Just four matches into the 2001 season, Lance parted from the Rhinos "by mutual consent".
After returning to Australia, Lance took on a football manager's role at the Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
club, working with coach and former Canberra teammate, Craig Bellamy. Following the Storm's premiership victory in 2007, Lance moved to the North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
club, also as football manager.