Gary Belcher
Encyclopedia
Gary Belcher is an Australian rugby league
football commentator and former player of the 1980s and '90s. An Australian international and Queensland
State of Origin
representative goal-kicking fullback, he played club football in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership for Souths (winning the 1982 and 1985 Grand Finals) and in the NSWRL Premiership for the Canberra Raiders
(winning the 1989 and 1990 Grand Finals).
, signed with the Canberra Raiders
and this was also the year he was first called up to the Queensland State of Origin side. Belcher won the club's 1986 player of the year award as well as being selected for the 1986 Kangaroo tour. However, he was the understudy to Garry Jack
and as a result he played no test matches on the tour, although he did however play in ten matches on the tour.
In 1987 Belcher again won the Raiders' player of the year award and played in the Grand Final against Manly, although Canberra were defeated 18-8. In 1988 he played in the Queensland side that demolished the New South Wales side by three games to nil. In the 1988 Winfield Cup he was the League's top point scorer and also broke the Raiders' club record for the most points, scoring 218 (this record stood for almost thirteen years before being broken by Clinton Schifcofske
in 2001). Also in 1988, after impressing for his club as well as in Queensland's clean-sweep Origin series, Belcher was called up to the Australian squad again to play in the Centenary Test match against Great Britain. He also played 11 matched for English side Castleford in the 1988-89 season. Back in Australia, in NSWRL season 1989, Belcher was part of the 19-14 Grand Final victory over Balmain in which he helped in his side's fightback by scoring a try. 1989 was also the year that Belcher broke the record for the most tries in a season for a fullback, scoring 17 tries in total, topping the League's try-scorers list.
. In 1991, he was involved in his side's 19-12 Grand Final loss to Penrith. Injury ruled Belcher out of that year's test series against New Zealand, but he regained his number one spot in the Australian squad for the fullback position on the tour of Papua New Guinea, where he played in all five matches and top scored with 32 points.
1992 proved to be one of the low points of Belcher's career, with a knee reconstruction ruling him out for the season. In 1993, Belcher was re-selected for the Queensland State of Origin side, although he was dropped after the 14-10 defeat in the first match of the series. After his contract with the Raiders had expired, Canberra failed to offer him a new contract. As a result, he announced his retirement from the game on a Canberra television news program. During his career at the Raiders, Belcher won two New South Wales Rugby League premiership
s as well as being twice runner-up of the competition. He also scored 69 tries and scored 148 goals in his 148 games for the Raiders, which was a total of 572 points.
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...
football commentator and former player of the 1980s and '90s. An Australian international and Queensland
Queensland rugby league team
The Queensland rugby league team have represented the Australian state of Queensland in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1908...
State of Origin
State of Origin
State of Origin is the name used in Australia for one existing sporting event which involves domestic representative teams. The term, when used in isolation, usually refers to rugby league football, and occassionally Australian Football matches, in which players are selected for the Australian...
representative goal-kicking fullback, he played club football in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership for Souths (winning the 1982 and 1985 Grand Finals) and in the NSWRL Premiership for 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...
(winning the 1989 and 1990 Grand Finals).
1980s
Belcher played for Souths Magpies in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership's 1982 grand final. He was part of the Souths team that won the 1985 Brisbane Rugby League premiership title. The following year he, along with Souths team-mate Mal MeningaMal 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...
, signed with 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 this was also the year he was first called up to the Queensland State of Origin side. Belcher won the club's 1986 player of the year award as well as being selected for the 1986 Kangaroo tour. However, he was the understudy to Garry Jack
Garry Jack
Garry Jack is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He was a representative in the Australian national team and star player with the Balmain Tigers. Jack was a for the Tigers during the late 1980s and early 1990s, under the captaincy of Wayne Pearce and the coaching of Warren Ryan...
and as a result he played no test matches on the tour, although he did however play in ten matches on the tour.
In 1987 Belcher again won the Raiders' player of the year award and played in the Grand Final against Manly, although Canberra were defeated 18-8. In 1988 he played in the Queensland side that demolished the New South Wales side by three games to nil. In the 1988 Winfield Cup he was the League's top point scorer and also broke the Raiders' club record for the most points, scoring 218 (this record stood for almost thirteen years before being broken by Clinton Schifcofske
Clinton Schifcofske
Clinton Schifcofske is an Australian rugby league footballer for the Crusaders in the European Super League. He has previously played for Irish rugby union club Ulster in the Magners League competition and also he spent a year with Queensland Reds in the Super 14...
in 2001). Also in 1988, after impressing for his club as well as in Queensland's clean-sweep Origin series, Belcher was called up to the Australian squad again to play in the Centenary Test match against Great Britain. He also played 11 matched for English side Castleford in the 1988-89 season. Back in Australia, in NSWRL season 1989, Belcher was part of the 19-14 Grand Final victory over Balmain in which he helped in his side's fightback by scoring a try. 1989 was also the year that Belcher broke the record for the most tries in a season for a fullback, scoring 17 tries in total, topping the League's try-scorers list.
1990s
More success followed Belcher in 1990 when he was again part of the victorious Canberra team, defeating Penrith 18-14 in the grand final. Belcher was called up for the 1990 Kangaroo tour, in which he played all five test matches despite the challenge from other players such as Greg AlexanderGreg Alexander
Gregory Peter Stephen "Greg" Alexander is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s who has since become a commentator. A goal-kicking half-back, in his career he played for and captained the Penrith Panthers and the Auckland Warriors clubs and also represented his country...
. In 1991, he was involved in his side's 19-12 Grand Final loss to Penrith. Injury ruled Belcher out of that year's test series against New Zealand, but he regained his number one spot in the Australian squad for the fullback position on the tour of Papua New Guinea, where he played in all five matches and top scored with 32 points.
1992 proved to be one of the low points of Belcher's career, with a knee reconstruction ruling him out for the season. In 1993, Belcher was re-selected for the Queensland State of Origin side, although he was dropped after the 14-10 defeat in the first match of the series. After his contract with the Raiders had expired, Canberra failed to offer him a new contract. As a result, he announced his retirement from the game on a Canberra television news program. During his career at the Raiders, Belcher won two New South Wales Rugby League premiership
New South Wales Rugby League premiership
The New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the first rugby league football club competition established in Australia. Run by the New South Wales Rugby League from 1908 until 1994, the premiership was the state's and later the country's elite rugby league competition...
s as well as being twice runner-up of the competition. He also scored 69 tries and scored 148 goals in his 148 games for the Raiders, which was a total of 572 points.