John Harvey (rugby league)
Encyclopedia
John Harvey is an Australian former professional rugby league
footballer of the 1970s and 80s and coach of the 1990s. He played for Manly-Warringah
and Eastern Suburbs
and coached the Gold Coast Seagulls and Salford City Reds
. Harvey primarily played at prop.
and the 1978 draw and subsequent win over Cronulla-Sutherland
.
After receiving an offer which doubled his Manly pay-packet, Harvey signed with Easts in 1979. He played in Easts losing 1980 grand final side and remained with the club until the end of 1982 when he "went bush". In 1983, Harvey captain-coached the Tweed Heads Seagulls
for a season, winning the Group 18
premiership as well as the Country Rugby League
's Clayton Cup
.
Bob Fulton
made Harvey an offer to return to Manly in 1984 but his playing contract wasn't extended for the following season and Harvey returned to country football once more.
Harvey continued to play in NSW country leagues until 1992, with seasons at Forster-Tuncurry Hawks, Gold Coast Seagulls and Wee Waa. Harvey finished his playing career at Wee Waa, leading the team to a grand final victory in the Group 4
competition at the age of 37.
but spent the whole game on the interchange bench. Harvey had a further chance that year to play in an international when he was selected for the 1978 Kangaroo tour, but he created some controversy when he declined the selection due to personal reasons.
. The club was rebranded and became the Gold Coast Chargers in 1996 and Phil Economidis
took over from John Harvey as coach.
In May 1999, Harvey replaced Andy Gregory
as head coach at Salford City Reds
in the English Super League
. After the club avoided relegation at the end of the 1999 season, Harvey was given a contract for a further season.
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 and coach of the 1990s. He played for 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 Eastern Suburbs
Sydney Roosters
The 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...
and coached the Gold Coast Seagulls and Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...
. Harvey primarily played at prop.
Club career
Harvey was a Manly junior who grew into a hard-hitting prop with a reputation for a high-arm action when making a shoulder charge. Harvey played in two grand-finals while at Manly, in the 1976 win over 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...
and the 1978 draw and subsequent win over Cronulla-Sutherland
Cronulla Sharks
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales...
.
After receiving an offer which doubled his Manly pay-packet, Harvey signed with Easts in 1979. He played in Easts losing 1980 grand final side and remained with the club until the end of 1982 when he "went bush". In 1983, Harvey captain-coached the Tweed Heads Seagulls
Tweed Heads Seagulls
The Tweed Heads Seagulls, often referred to simply as Tweed or Seagulls, is a rugby league club based in Tweed Heads, New South Wales, and is the only non-Queensland team to play in the Queensland Cup.-History:...
for a season, winning the Group 18
Group 18 Rugby League
Group 18 is the name of a rugby league competition on the far north coast of New South Wales, Australia. Currently, the group has no senior competition. Prior to 2005, there was a joint Gold Coast-Group 18 competition which fielded teams from both the Queensland and New South Wales sides of the...
premiership as well as the Country Rugby League
New South Wales Country Rugby League
-2011 Tier 2 Championships:-History:Newcastle was the first city outside Sydney to start a league competition, being involved in the Sydney Premiership in 1908-09 and then starting their own competition in 1910....
's Clayton Cup
Clayton Cup
The Clayton Cup is a trophy awarded by the Country Rugby League to the NSW country rugby league team with the best overall record for that season. To be eligible, the team must win the highest level of competition in its region. Usually the winner of the Clayton Cup goes through the season undefeated...
.
Bob Fulton
Bob Fulton
Robert "Bob" Fulton AM is an Australian rugby league football identity. Fulton played, coached, selected for and has commentated on the game with great success at the highest levels and has been named amongst Australia's greatest rugby league players of the 20th century.As a player Fulton won...
made Harvey an offer to return to Manly in 1984 but his playing contract wasn't extended for the following season and Harvey returned to country football once more.
Harvey continued to play in NSW country leagues until 1992, with seasons at Forster-Tuncurry Hawks, Gold Coast Seagulls and Wee Waa. Harvey finished his playing career at Wee Waa, leading the team to a grand final victory in the Group 4
Group 4 Rugby League
Group 4 is a rugby league competition in the New England and north west area of New South Wales, run under the auspices of the Country Rugby League.-Structure:...
competition at the age of 37.
Representative career
Harvey was selected to represent Australia for one Test in 1978 against New ZealandNew Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
but spent the whole game on the interchange bench. Harvey had a further chance that year to play in an international when he was selected for the 1978 Kangaroo tour, but he created some controversy when he declined the selection due to personal reasons.
Coaching career
Harvey returned to the Gold Coast as a coach in 1994, succeeding Wally LewisWally Lewis
Walter James "Wally" Lewis AM is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach. Currently a commentator of the sport, he is widely regarded as the greatest rugby league player of all time...
. The club was rebranded and became the Gold Coast Chargers in 1996 and Phil Economidis
Phil Economidis
Phil Economidis is a Rugby League coach currently coaching the Souths Logan Magpies club in the Queensland Cup. He is perhaps best remembered for his stint as coach of the now defunct Gold Coast Chargers in the old Australian Rugby League....
took over from John Harvey as coach.
In May 1999, Harvey replaced Andy Gregory
Andy Gregory
Andrew "Andy" Gregory is an English former rugby league footballer. A Great Britain international representative /, he is an inductee of the Wigan Hall of Fame...
as head coach at Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...
in the English 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...
. After the club avoided relegation at the end of the 1999 season, Harvey was given a contract for a further season.