Geoff Gerard
Encyclopedia
Geoff Gerard is an Australian former rugby league
footballer of the 1970s and 80s. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative forward, he played his club football with Sydney clubs Parramatta
, Manly-Warringah
and Penrith
, and also spent time with Engish clubs Wakefield Trinity
and Hull FC
. From the time of his retirement in early 1989 to mid-1994 he held the record for the most career New South Wales Rugby League premiership
first-grade games until overtaken by Terry Lamb
.
in 1974 and, in a disappointing side that only just avoided a third wooden spoon in five years, won the club's rookie of the year award. He was a local Parramatta junior graded from the Cabramatta club.
Gerard soon shifted to the forwards and his game developed rapidly as the Eels made a rapid advance to the finals in 1975 and the Grand Final
in 1976. Gerard scored a try in that match but Eadie's
wonderful goalkicking gave Manly a narrow win. The following year, Gerard played strongly throughout, and the Eels won the minor premiership for the first time. An aggressive and powerful St. George
forward pack, however, was far too much in the replay.
1978 saw Gerard begin the most productive period of his career, winning Rugby League Week
s Player of the Year award and being selected for the Kangaroo tour
despite not having played for New South Wales. He played in all five Tests in the second row, but did not stay in representative rugby league on his return to Australia.
and his move to the front row was widely criticised at the time, but he did so well in that role that he was selected for his second Kangaroo tour in 1982 despite a below-par performance in the Grand Final. He did not play any of the Tests, but did play one final Test against New Zealand the following year – besides playing in two Grand Final losses to his former club Parramatta.
and also played for Hull in 1986–87. Often used as a "fresh reserve" after the NSWRL allowed them for the first time (previously all substitutes had to be players who had played reserve grade the same day), continued to play until 1989. During that year, he re-established himself as a regular member of Penrith's starting pack, and surpassed Bob O'Reilly
's first grade record to become the first player to pass the 300 mark (most lists credit him with 303 games but the number is actually much greater because the Penrith club did not count his matches as a replacement player).
Since 2002 the "Geoff Gerard Coach's Award" has been given to the Parramatta Eels' Premier League
player of the year.
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 1970s and 80s. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative forward, he played his club football with Sydney clubs 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...
, Manly-Warringah
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...
and Penrith
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
, and also spent time with Engish clubs Wakefield Trinity
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
and Hull FC
Hull FC
Hull Football Club, commonly referred to as Hull or Hull FC, is a professional rugby league football club established in 1865 and based in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The club plays in the Super League competition...
. From the time of his retirement in early 1989 to mid-1994 he held the record for the most career 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...
first-grade games until overtaken by Terry Lamb
Terry Lamb
Terry Lamb OAM, is an Australian retired professional rugby league footballer and coach. He played 349 games , with Wests , and Canterbury . Lamb was known for his support of the ball-carrier - his ability to be in the right place at the right time netted him 164 tries. This earned him the moniker...
.
Early Years
Gerard attended Liverpool Boys High School and played his junior football with Cabramatta.Parramatta Eels
Gerard began his career as a centre three-quarter with ParramattaParramatta 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 1974 and, in a disappointing side that only just avoided a third wooden spoon in five years, won the club's rookie of the year award. He was a local Parramatta junior graded from the Cabramatta club.
Gerard soon shifted to the forwards and his game developed rapidly as the Eels made a rapid advance to the finals in 1975 and the Grand Final
Grand Final
Grand Final is a predominantly Australian sport term used to describe a match that decides a league champion.It originated in Victoria and South Australia and has become specifically significant Australian culture...
in 1976. Gerard scored a try in that match but Eadie's
Graham Eadie
Graham "Wombat" Eadie , is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s who has been named amongst the nation's finest of the 20th century...
wonderful goalkicking gave Manly a narrow win. The following year, Gerard played strongly throughout, and the Eels won the minor premiership for the first time. An aggressive and powerful 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,...
forward pack, however, was far too much in the replay.
1978 saw Gerard begin the most productive period of his career, winning Rugby League Week
Rugby League Week
Rugby League Week is the second highest selling Australian rugby league magazine, behind major competitor Big League...
s Player of the Year award and being selected for the Kangaroo tour
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...
despite not having played for New South Wales. He played in all five Tests in the second row, but did not stay in representative rugby league on his return to Australia.
Manly-Warringah
In 1981 Gerard shifted to the Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesManly-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...
and his move to the front row was widely criticised at the time, but he did so well in that role that he was selected for his second Kangaroo tour in 1982 despite a below-par performance in the Grand Final. He did not play any of the Tests, but did play one final Test against New Zealand the following year – besides playing in two Grand Final losses to his former club Parramatta.
Penrith
In 1985 he shifted to the Penrith PanthersPenrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
and also played for Hull in 1986–87. Often used as a "fresh reserve" after the NSWRL allowed them for the first time (previously all substitutes had to be players who had played reserve grade the same day), continued to play until 1989. During that year, he re-established himself as a regular member of Penrith's starting pack, and surpassed Bob O'Reilly
Bob O'Reilly
Bob O'Reilly is an Australian former rugby league footballer. A prop forward, he played in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership from the 1960s to the 1980s, mainly for the Parramatta Eels, but also for the Eastern Suburbs Roosters and Penrith Panthers...
's first grade record to become the first player to pass the 300 mark (most lists credit him with 303 games but the number is actually much greater because the Penrith club did not count his matches as a replacement player).
Milestones
- surpassed Bob O'ReillyBob O'ReillyBob O'Reilly is an Australian former rugby league footballer. A prop forward, he played in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership from the 1960s to the 1980s, mainly for the Parramatta Eels, but also for the Eastern Suburbs Roosters and Penrith Panthers...
's record number of first grade games (284, against NewcastleNewcastle KnightsThe 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 round four) - surpassed Max KrilichMax KrilichMax Krilich is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. He was a hooker for the Australia national team, playing in 13 Tests from 1978 to 1983 and as captain on 10 consecutive occasions in 1982 and 1983...
's record number of games in all grades (against EastsSydney RoostersThe Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
in round twelve) - became the first player ever to play 300 first grade games (against his former side Parramatta in round eighteen)
Post-Career
In 1990 Gerard took over as coach of Penrith's reserve grade side. despite taking them to the finals for two seasons, he moved to the Metropolitan Cup for 1992 and his time coaching Parramatta's reserves in 1994 and 1995 was disastrous. In 1998 he joined the NSW state selection panel.Since 2002 the "Geoff Gerard Coach's Award" has been given to the Parramatta Eels' Premier League
NSWRL Premier League
The New South Wales Cup is a rugby league competition for clubs in New South Wales previously known as the NSWRL Premier League. It has a history dating back to the NSWRFL's origins in 1908, starting off as a reserve grade competition. It is now the premier open age competition in the state...
player of the year.
External links
- Geoff Gerard at stateoforigin.com.au
- Geoff Gerard at stats.rleague.com
- Whiticker, Alan and Hudson, Glen; The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players; ISBN 1875169768
- Geoff Gerard stats at rugbyleagueproject.org
- Geoff Gerard at yesterdayshero.com.au
- Geoff Gerard at nrlstats.com