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Mark Coyne (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Mark Coyne is an Australia
n former rugby league
footballer, a state and national representative player. His club career was with the St. George Dragons
and the merged St George Illawarra Dragons
- he captained both sides. He played principally at centre but sometimes as a winger in his notable representative career.
er, Coyne was graded with the Brothers club in Brisbane, playing for them in the Grand Final of the 1987 Brisbane Rugby League Grand Final and scoring a try. He then relocated to the St George Dragons in Sydney in 1988. He made his first grade debut in 1989 and impressed with his trademark right foot step.
In 1992 Coyne played in the Dragons 28-8 Grand Final loss to the Brisbane Broncos
. Coyne played in the 1993 Grand Final for the Dragons where once again they went down to the Broncos 14-6. 1994 saw Coyne take on the role as captain of St. George, a year when the Dragons failed to make the finals.
Coyne's leadership capabilities were fully acknowledged in 1995 when he was captain of St. George, vice captain of Queensland and made his Test debut for the Kangaroos. 1996 saw Coyne lead the Dragons to another Grand Final
, but despite playing a great game himself the Dragons went down controversially to the Manly Sea Eagles 20-8.
In 1998 Coyne was honoured with a testimonial year at St. George and impressively, he chose to donate all the proceeds of that testimonial season to a children's charity.
Coyne hung up his boots in 1999, whilst playing for the St. George Illawarra Dragons (a joint venture of the St. George Dragons and the Illawarra Steelers) and after 12 seasons wearing the Dragons' Big Red V. By the end of his career he had played in 9 Test matches; 19 Origins
and over 200 first grade matches, of which over 100 were as captain.
debut in game II of 1990
for Queensland
, after impressive performances in the centres for his club. Mark had to bide his time and wait another two years before being selected for Queensland in games II and III of 1992
. In game II that year Coyne popped up a great pass to send Billy Moore
over for a try. Queensland went on to win the match 5-4. In 1993 Coyne played in all three games and set up a try for Mal Meninga
in game II.
1994 would ultimately provide the most memorable of Coyne's State of Origin appearances and enabled his entry to the annals of Maroon
and Origin folklore. In game I, with Queensland down 12-10 and 40 seconds left on the clock, from deep in their own half the Maroons started one of the most memorable try-scoring movements. Allan Langer
handled the ball twice in the 11-pass sequence which was finished when Coyne extended his arm in the right corner to thwart the last ditched defensive efforts of Brad Fittler
and Ricky Stuart
, breaking Blues
' hearts in the process and winning the match in a heart-stopping finish.
Loyal to the ARL
during the Super League war
Coyne was one of a handful of senior Queensland players available for representative honours that year and along with Trevor Gillmeister
and Dale Shearer
he brought experience and spirit to the young Queensland side and their novice coach Paul Vautin
. History shows that Queensland won the 1995 Origin series
3-nil.
His ARL loyalty was repaid when he made his Australian representative debut in the 1995 trans-Tasman series against New Zealand
and he played in all three Tests. Later that year he was selected in Australia's 1995 World Cup
squad, played in two pool games, the semi-final and was a member of side that won the final against England 16-8 at Wembley Stadium
.
He was a mainstay of Australian representative sides during the schismatic years of Super League
and made further representative appearances against Papua New Guinea, Fiji and a Rest of the World side in 1997.
's judiciary panel and is Chairman of the NRL RLPA Education and Welfare Committee.
Mark Coyne is now married to Annie and has 3 kids; Elly, Sophie and James and lives in Sydney
15 games for St. George Illawarra
19 games for Queensland (State of Origin)
9 games for the Australian Kangaroos
3 Grand Final appearances: 1992, 1993, 1996 (missed the 1999 Grand Final against the Melbourne Storm
due to injury)
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n former 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, a state and national representative player. His club career was with the St. George Dragons
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,...
and the merged St George Illawarra Dragons
St George Illawarra Dragons
The St George Illawarra Dragons is an Australian professional rugby league football club, representing the St. George and Illawarra regions. They have competed in the National Rugby League since 1999 as a joint venture between Sydney's historic St. George Dragons club and 1982 expansion club, the...
- he captained both sides. He played principally at centre but sometimes as a winger in his notable representative career.
Club career
A QueenslandQueensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
er, Coyne was graded with the Brothers club in Brisbane, playing for them in the Grand Final of the 1987 Brisbane Rugby League Grand Final and scoring a try. He then relocated to the St George Dragons in Sydney in 1988. He made his first grade debut in 1989 and impressed with his trademark right foot step.
In 1992 Coyne played in the Dragons 28-8 Grand Final loss to the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
. Coyne played in the 1993 Grand Final for the Dragons where once again they went down to the Broncos 14-6. 1994 saw Coyne take on the role as captain of St. George, a year when the Dragons failed to make the finals.
Coyne's leadership capabilities were fully acknowledged in 1995 when he was captain of St. George, vice captain of Queensland and made his Test debut for the Kangaroos. 1996 saw Coyne lead the Dragons to another 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...
, but despite playing a great game himself the Dragons went down controversially to the Manly Sea Eagles 20-8.
In 1998 Coyne was honoured with a testimonial year at St. George and impressively, he chose to donate all the proceeds of that testimonial season to a children's charity.
Coyne hung up his boots in 1999, whilst playing for the St. George Illawarra Dragons (a joint venture of the St. George Dragons and the Illawarra Steelers) and after 12 seasons wearing the Dragons' Big Red V. By the end of his career he had played in 9 Test matches; 19 Origins
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
and over 200 first grade matches, of which over 100 were as captain.
Representative career
Coyne made his State of OriginRugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
debut in game II of 1990
1990 Rugby League State of Origin series
Game I at the Sydney Football Stadium was a typical Origin arm-wrestle and resulted in the lowest score in the series' 10 year history to that point. Queensland's Wally Lewis withdrew pre-match due to a hamstring tear , Maroon's hero Gene Miles had retired and Tony Currie, Michael Hancock and...
for Queensland
Queensland State of Origin 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...
, after impressive performances in the centres for his club. Mark had to bide his time and wait another two years before being selected for Queensland in games II and III of 1992
1992 Rugby League State of Origin series
The 1992 Rugby League State of Origin series was the eleventh annual interstate representative rugby league series between New South Wales and Queensland based on "state of origin" selection rules...
. In game II that year Coyne popped up a great pass to send Billy Moore
Billy Moore (rugby league)
Billy Moore is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. Usually playing at lock, he represented Queensland and Australia....
over for a try. Queensland went on to win the match 5-4. In 1993 Coyne played in all three games and set up a try for 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...
in game II.
1994 would ultimately provide the most memorable of Coyne's State of Origin appearances and enabled his entry to the annals of Maroon
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...
and Origin folklore. In game I, with Queensland down 12-10 and 40 seconds left on the clock, from deep in their own half the Maroons started one of the most memorable try-scoring movements. Allan Langer
Allan Langer
Allan "Alfie" Langer AM is an Australian former multi-award-winning rugby league footballer of the 1980s, 90s and 2000s who works as an assistant coach for the Australian national team and Brisbane Broncos...
handled the ball twice in the 11-pass sequence which was finished when Coyne extended his arm in the right corner to thwart the last ditched defensive efforts of Brad Fittler
Brad Fittler
Bradley Scott "Freddie" Fittler AM is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. The current coach of NSW City team in the City vs. Country clash, he coached in the NRL for the Sydney Roosters between 2007 and 2009. As a player, Fittler captained both New South Wales...
and Ricky Stuart
Ricky Stuart
Ricky Stuart is an Australian rugby league football coach and former player of the 1980s and 90s. He is currently the head coach of the New South Wales State of Origin team, having replaced Craig Bellamy following a fifth consecutive failure in the 2010 series...
, breaking Blues
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...
' hearts in the process and winning the match in a heart-stopping finish.
Loyal to the ARL
Australian Rugby League
The Australian Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. It is made up of state bodies, including the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League...
during the Super League war
Super League war
The Super League war is the common name given to the corporate dispute that was fought in and out of court during the mid-1990s between the Rupert Murdoch and News Corporation-backed Super League and the Kerry Packer and Optus Vision-backed Australian Rugby League organisations over broadcasting...
Coyne was one of a handful of senior Queensland players available for representative honours that year and along with Trevor Gillmeister
Trevor Gillmeister
Trevor Gillmeister is an Australian former rugby league player who is currently signed on as an assistant coach at the Gold Coast Titans. During his playing days Gillmeister played for the Sydney Roosters, Brisbane Broncos, Penrith Panthers and the South Queensland Crushers as well as...
and Dale Shearer
Dale Shearer
Dale Shearer is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative winger/fullback of Aboriginal heritage, he played club football in Queensland, New South Wales and England...
he brought experience and spirit to the young Queensland side and their novice coach Paul Vautin
Paul Vautin
Paul Vautin , is an Australian sports television personality and former rugby league footballer and coach. He currently hosts the NRL Footy Show and provides commentary for the Nine Network's coverage of rugby league matches...
. History shows that Queensland won the 1995 Origin series
1995 Rugby League State of Origin series
The 1995 State of Origin series was the 14th year that the annual best-of-three series of interstate rugby league football matches contested between the Queensland and New South Wales representative teams was played under 'State of Origin' selection rules...
3-nil.
His ARL loyalty was repaid when he made his Australian representative debut in the 1995 trans-Tasman series against New Zealand
New 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...
and he played in all three Tests. Later that year he was selected in Australia's 1995 World Cup
Rugby League World Cup
The Rugby League World Cup is an international rugby league competition contested by members of the Rugby League International Federation . It has been held nearly once every 4 years on average since its inaugural tournament in France in 1954...
squad, played in two pool games, the semi-final and was a member of side that won the final against England 16-8 at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
.
He was a mainstay of Australian representative sides during the schismatic years of Super League
Super League (Australia)
Super League was an Australian rugby league football administrative body that conducted professional competition in Australasia for one season in 1997. Along with Super League of Europe, it was created by News Corporation during the Super League war which arose following an unsuccessful attempt to...
and made further representative appearances against Papua New Guinea, Fiji and a Rest of the World side in 1997.
Later years
Coyne is currently part of the National Rugby LeagueNational 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...
's judiciary panel and is Chairman of the NRL RLPA Education and Welfare Committee.
Mark Coyne is now married to Annie and has 3 kids; Elly, Sophie and James and lives in Sydney
Career statistics
207 games for St. George15 games for St. George Illawarra
19 games for Queensland (State of Origin)
9 games for the Australian Kangaroos
3 Grand Final appearances: 1992, 1993, 1996 (missed the 1999 Grand Final against 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....
due to injury)