Mark Graham (rugby league)
Encyclopedia
Mark Kerry Graham is a New Zealand retired rugby league
footballer and coach. A back-rower and former captain of the New Zealand national rugby league team
, he has been named as the greatest player the country has produced in the century from 1907 to 2006.
junior, Graham played in 29 tests, captaining the Kiwis side in 18 of them and scoring 7 tries from 1977 to 1988. In 1980, in a test at Lang Park, Brisbane
, Graham put a hit on Australian captain Wally Lewis
that crushed his oesophagus. In another trans-Tasman test at Lang Park on 18 June 1985,http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=I9oqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UOgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1341%2C2016486 he served as Kiwi captain and was deliberately taken out of the game by a high shot from Noel "Crusher" Cleal
while playing brilliantly and inspirationally.http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JtoqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UOgDAAAAIBAJ&dq=mark-graham%20and%20lang%20and%20league&pg=2060%2C5797163 After winning premierships with his club in New Zealand he played eight seasons in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership with the Norths
club under coach Graham Lowe, as well as the New South Wales Rugby League premiership
for the North Sydney Bears
between 1981 and 1988. He also captained the Bears.
At the end of the 1988 Winfield Cup season, Graham travelled to England to captain the newly promoted Wakefield Trinity
club in the 1988–89 Rugby Football League season. In 1989 his biography Mark my words: The Mark Graham Story was published.
In 1995 Graham was one of the initial inductees of the NZRL Legends of League. The following year he was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame
. He went on to coach the Auckland Warriors in the National Rugby League
for two seasons in 1999 and 2000. He later became defensive coach for the Japanese rugby union
club, Kintetsu
.
In August, 2006 Graham was named at second-row in the North Sydney Bears' Team of the Century. In 2007, he was named at second row in the New Zealand Kiwis Team of the Century and also further honoured as New Zealand's rugby league Player of the Century. He is an Auckland Rugby League
Immortal. In 2008, Graham was also named at second-row in a Norths Devils
all-time greatest team.
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. A back-rower and former captain of the New Zealand national rugby league team
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...
, he has been named as the greatest player the country has produced in the century from 1907 to 2006.
Playing career
An OtahahuOtahuhu Leopards
The Otahuhu Leopards are a rugby league club based in Otahuhu, New Zealand. The club competes in the Fox Memorial competition run by the Auckland Rugby League. They are coached by Peter Caccioppoli. Between 2000 and 2003 they also competed in the Bartercard Cup.The team are the current holders of...
junior, Graham played in 29 tests, captaining the Kiwis side in 18 of them and scoring 7 tries from 1977 to 1988. In 1980, in a test at Lang Park, Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Graham put a hit on Australian captain Wally Lewis
Wally 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...
that crushed his oesophagus. In another trans-Tasman test at Lang Park on 18 June 1985,http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=I9oqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UOgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1341%2C2016486 he served as Kiwi captain and was deliberately taken out of the game by a high shot from Noel "Crusher" Cleal
Noel Cleal
Noel Harvey "Crusher" Cleal is an Australian former rugby league footballer who also had a successful coaching career...
while playing brilliantly and inspirationally.http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JtoqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UOgDAAAAIBAJ&dq=mark-graham%20and%20lang%20and%20league&pg=2060%2C5797163 After winning premierships with his club in New Zealand he played eight seasons in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership with the Norths
Norths Devils
The Northern Suburbs Devils, Norths for short, are a rugby league club representing the northern suburbs of Brisbane, Australia. The team colours are sky blue, navy blue and gold. They play in the Queensland Wizard Cup, and, through their predecessors, are one of the oldest clubs in...
club under coach Graham Lowe, as well as the 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...
for the North Sydney Bears
North Sydney Bears
The North Sydney Bears are an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales. They currently compete in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League following the 1999 NRL season after 92 years of top-grade competition. The Bears are based on...
between 1981 and 1988. He also captained the Bears.
At the end of the 1988 Winfield Cup season, Graham travelled to England to captain the newly promoted 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...
club in the 1988–89 Rugby Football League season. In 1989 his biography Mark my words: The Mark Graham Story was published.
In 1995 Graham was one of the initial inductees of the NZRL Legends of League. The following year he was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame
New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame
The New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame is an organisation commemorating New Zealand's greatest sporting triumphs. It was inaugurated as part of the New Zealand sesquicentenary celebrations in 1990. Some 160 members have been inducted into the Hall of Fame since its inception representing a wide...
. He went on to coach the Auckland Warriors in 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...
for two seasons in 1999 and 2000. He later became defensive coach for the Japanese rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
club, Kintetsu
Kintetsu Liners
Kintetsu Liners rugby team are a Japanese rugby union team owned by Kintetsu Corporation which was founded in 1929. They have won the All-Japan Championship three times as an amateur team...
.
In August, 2006 Graham was named at second-row in the North Sydney Bears' Team of the Century. In 2007, he was named at second row in the New Zealand Kiwis Team of the Century and also further honoured as New Zealand's rugby league Player of the Century. He is an Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
Immortal. In 2008, Graham was also named at second-row in a Norths Devils
Norths Devils
The Northern Suburbs Devils, Norths for short, are a rugby league club representing the northern suburbs of Brisbane, Australia. The team colours are sky blue, navy blue and gold. They play in the Queensland Wizard Cup, and, through their predecessors, are one of the oldest clubs in...
all-time greatest team.