Peter Mulholland
Encyclopedia
Peter Mulholland is an Australian former rugby league football coach and current recruitment manager of the NRL's Bulldogs RLFC. He coached ARL premiership expansion club Western Reds in their first two seasons before moving to France to take up the coaching position of Super League
expansion team, Paris Saint-Germain. Before moving to the Bulldogs, Mulholland was Assistant Coach from 1999–2001 and Director of Recruitment (2002–2008) at the Penrith Panthers
.
Playing in the Group 6 Rugby League
competition, Mulholland had stints at Camden Rams RLFC, Oakdale Workers RLFC, Campbelltown City Kangaroos RLFC and Narellan Jets RLFC.
Mulholland was instrumental in the Camden Rams 1978 Group 6 premiership victory over the Campbelltown RSL Warriors.
. Over a period of 14 years from 1979–1993, Mulholland would establish 'St Gregs' as Australia's pre-eminent Rugby League school. Indeed
St Gregory's Campbelltown still hold the record for national schoolboy Rugby League championships with 9 title victories.
Peter Mulholland Schoolboy Rugby League Coaching Record
Mulholland is still regarded as the doyen of schoolboy Rugby League coaches. St Gregs has waned as a schoolboy Rugby League power since 1993. So immediate was the effect of Mulholland's departure upon the school's fortunes, St Gregory's were defeated by local minnows Eaglevale High in the 1st Round of the 1994 Commonwealth Bank Cup, despite boasting a team studded with future NRL players like Trent Barrett
, Peter Cusack
, Simon Bonnetti, Trent Robinson
and Russell Richardson
.
and Michael Potter
. Mulholland also oversaw the development of many future 1st Graders like Matt Fuller
, Michael Francis, Wayne Evans
, Tim Horan
, Damien Chapman
.
U-21 team for the 1988 season, under head coach Laurie Freier
.
Mulholland would coach lower grades with the Magpies until the end of the 1992 season, achieving mixed success.
Mulholland was poached by the North Sydney Bears
to coach that club's Reserve Grade team for the 1993 season. Mulholland would take the next step with this team, winning the 1993 NSWRL Reserve Grade premiership with a narrow 5-4 victory over an Andrew Johns
-led Newcastle Knights
team.
and North Queensland Cowboys
.
Mulholland was soon head-hunted by Reds CEO Gordon Allen to be the Western Reds foundation coach. Agreeing to terms mid-way through the 1993 season, Mulholland launched an audacious recruitment drive, luring Australian Kangaroos Brad Mackay
and Mark Geyer
to the golden west. With All Black test centre Craig Innes
, Norwich Rising Star Matthew Rodwell
and emerging test prop Rodney Howe
in the depth chart, the Reds set a strong base for their debut season.
The Western Reds would win their first ever ARL match with a 28-16 victory over the St George Dragons in front of a sellout crowd at the WACA Ground. Ironically, former St Gregs prodigy Matt Fuller
would score the Reds first try. Mulholland would make the famous quote post match: "we had 18 months to prepare for this game. Now we only have 7 days to prepare for the next." The Skull's words would come back to haunt him in Newcastle a week later when
David Waite
's Knights buckled the Reds by 48-6, in a battle of the schoolboy master coaches.
during the period when they won the 2003 NRL Premiership. He started working for the Bulldogs' coaching staff in 2008. In August 2010 it was reported that Mulholland would be leaving Canterbury-Bankstown to spend the 2011 NRL season
working as Wayne Bennett's recruitment manager when he moved to Nathan Tinkler
's newly-acquired Newcastle Knights
.
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...
expansion team, Paris Saint-Germain. Before moving to the Bulldogs, Mulholland was Assistant Coach from 1999–2001 and Director of Recruitment (2002–2008) at the Penrith Panthers
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...
.
Playing career
A clever hooker with an uncanny knack for winning scrum possession, Mulholland had a brief stint for the Canterbury Bulldogs in 1973.Playing in the Group 6 Rugby League
Group 6 Rugby League
Group 6 is a senior Rugby League competition in New South Wales, Australia, run under the auspices of the Country Rugby League.The geographical area covered by Group 6 takes in much of the Southern Highlands and southern Macarthur regions of New South Wales, extending from Moss Vale, New South...
competition, Mulholland had stints at Camden Rams RLFC, Oakdale Workers RLFC, Campbelltown City Kangaroos RLFC and Narellan Jets RLFC.
Mulholland was instrumental in the Camden Rams 1978 Group 6 premiership victory over the Campbelltown RSL Warriors.
Schoolboy Coaching Career
While playing in Group 6, Mulholland cut his coaching teeth under the watchful eye of Brother Silverius at St Gregory's College, CampbelltownSt Gregory's College, Campbelltown
St Gregory's College is a Catholic, secondary, day and boarding school for boys, located in Campbelltown, a south-western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
. Over a period of 14 years from 1979–1993, Mulholland would establish 'St Gregs' as Australia's pre-eminent Rugby League school. Indeed
St Gregory's Campbelltown still hold the record for national schoolboy Rugby League championships with 9 title victories.
Peter Mulholland Schoolboy Rugby League Coaching Record
- 1979
- 1980
- 1981
- 1982
- 1983
- 1984
- 1985
- 1986
- 1987
- 1988 Commonwealth Bank Cup Quarter Finalists (defeated by Parramatta Marist)
- 1989 Commonwealth Bank Cup Champions: St Gregory's d
- 1990 Commonwealth Bank Cup Champions: St Gregory's d
- 1991 Commonwealth Bank Cup Champions: St Gregory's d Fairfield Pats
- 1992 Commonwealth Bank Cup Semi Finalists (defeated by Fairfield Pats)
- 1993 Commonwealth Bank Cup Champions: St Gregory's 27 d Wavell College (QLD) 6
Mulholland is still regarded as the doyen of schoolboy Rugby League coaches. St Gregs has waned as a schoolboy Rugby League power since 1993. So immediate was the effect of Mulholland's departure upon the school's fortunes, St Gregory's were defeated by local minnows Eaglevale High in the 1st Round of the 1994 Commonwealth Bank Cup, despite boasting a team studded with future NRL players like Trent Barrett
Trent Barrett
Trent Barrett is an Australian retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s...
, Peter Cusack
Peter Cusack (rugby league)
Peter Cusack is an Australian professional rugby league footballer with Hull in the European Super League. His position of choice is at prop...
, Simon Bonnetti, Trent Robinson
Trent Robinson
Trent Robinson is an Australian rugby league coach for the Catalans Dragons in Super League. He has previously been a coach/assistant coach at the Sydney Roosters, Toulouse Olympique and Newcastle Knights..-Career:...
and Russell Richardson
Russell Richardson
Russell Richardson is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000...
.
Schoolboy Players Coached
During his tenure as Head Coach of St Gregory's 1st XIII, Mulholland coached future NSWRL stars like Jason Taylor, Ivan HenjakIvan Henjak
Ivan Henjak is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. He was the former head coach for the Brisbane Broncos of the National Rugby League, having taken over from Wayne Bennett in 2009...
and Michael Potter
Michael Potter
Michael "Mick" Potter is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. He is currently coaching English Super League club Bradford Bulls. Potter played in the Australian club competition for the Canterbury Bulldogs, St...
. Mulholland also oversaw the development of many future 1st Graders like Matt Fuller
Matt Fuller
Matthew "Matt" Fuller is a former professional rugby league footballer 1980s and '90s who at club level has played for Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, St. George Dragons, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Western Reds , Wakefield Trinity, and Western Suburbs Magpies, playing at , or /, i.e...
, Michael Francis, Wayne Evans
Wayne Evans (rugby league)
Wayne Evans is a former professional rugby league footballer. He played for the Melbourne Storm of the NRL He also has previously played for the Northern Eagles and Western Reds, as well as for the London Broncos in the European Super League competition.-External links:*...
, Tim Horan
Tim Horan
Tim Horan AM is a former Australian rugby union footballer. He played for the Queensland Reds in the Super 12, and represented Australia, he was one of the best centres in the world throughout the 1990s due to his attacking prowess, formidable defence and playmaking ability.As well as inside...
, Damien Chapman
Damien Chapman
Damien Chapman is a rugby league player.Damien Chapman has previously played for the Western Reds in the ARL premiership and the London Broncos in Europe's Super League.-External links:*...
.
Grade coaching career
Mulholland's unrivalled success as a schoolboy mentor soon brought him to the attention of Sydney clubs competing in the NSWRL. Having fielded offers from Canterbury and Parramatta, Mulholland decided to stay local and assume the reins of the Western Suburbs MagpiesWestern Suburbs Magpies
The Western Suburbs Magpies are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly referred to, were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia...
U-21 team for the 1988 season, under head coach Laurie Freier
Laurie Freier
Laurie Freier is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach. He played in Sydney's NSWRFL Premiership for the Eastern Suburbs and Manly-Warringah clubs during the 1970s, later coaching Easts as well as the Western Suburbs Magpies during the 1980s...
.
Mulholland would coach lower grades with the Magpies until the end of the 1992 season, achieving mixed success.
Mulholland was poached by 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...
to coach that club's Reserve Grade team for the 1993 season. Mulholland would take the next step with this team, winning the 1993 NSWRL Reserve Grade premiership with a narrow 5-4 victory over an Andrew Johns
Andrew Johns
Andrew Gary "Joey" Johns is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s who is considered by many to be the greatest player of all time. He was heralded as the world's best halfback for a number of years...
-led Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The 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...
team.
The Western Reds
At the conclusion of the 1992 season, the NSWRL announced its intention to admit three new clubs to the 1st Grade competition for 1995- the Western Reds, South Queensland CrushersSouth Queensland Crushers
The South Queensland Crushers were an Australian rugby league football club based in Brisbane, Queensland. In 1992 it was decided that the team would be admitted into the New South Wales Rugby League competition, along with three other teams, as part of the League's expansion plans for professional...
and North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
.
Mulholland was soon head-hunted by Reds CEO Gordon Allen to be the Western Reds foundation coach. Agreeing to terms mid-way through the 1993 season, Mulholland launched an audacious recruitment drive, luring Australian Kangaroos Brad Mackay
Brad Mackay
Brad Mackay is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. A versatile Lock Forward for the St George Dragons, Illawarra Steelers, Western Reds and the merged St...
and Mark Geyer
Mark Geyer
Mark Geyer , is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and '90s. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative second-rower, he is currently a rugby league media identity...
to the golden west. With All Black test centre Craig Innes
Craig Innes
Craig Innes is a New Zealand former rugby league and rugby union footballer of the 1980s and 90s. After a successful rugby union career which saw him represent his country he switched to rugby league, playing in both England and Australia, winning the 1996 ARL Premiership, before playing out the...
, Norwich Rising Star Matthew Rodwell
Matthew Rodwell
Matthew Rodwell is a former rugby league player. He played for the Newcastle Knights, Western Reds, St. George Dragons, St. George Illawarra Dragons, Penrith Panthers and the Warrington Wolves as a half-back....
and emerging test prop Rodney Howe
Rodney Howe
Rodney Howe , is an Australian former rugby league footballer. He played in the forwards for the Newcastle Knights, Western Reds, Melbourne Storm, New South Wales and for the Australian national side....
in the depth chart, the Reds set a strong base for their debut season.
The Western Reds would win their first ever ARL match with a 28-16 victory over the St George Dragons in front of a sellout crowd at the WACA Ground. Ironically, former St Gregs prodigy Matt Fuller
Matt Fuller
Matthew "Matt" Fuller is a former professional rugby league footballer 1980s and '90s who at club level has played for Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, St. George Dragons, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Western Reds , Wakefield Trinity, and Western Suburbs Magpies, playing at , or /, i.e...
would score the Reds first try. Mulholland would make the famous quote post match: "we had 18 months to prepare for this game. Now we only have 7 days to prepare for the next." The Skull's words would come back to haunt him in Newcastle a week later when
David Waite
David Waite
David Waite is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He has also coached Great Britain in the Rugby League Tri-Nations.Waite holds a British passport, courtesy of his father being born in Leicester....
's Knights buckled the Reds by 48-6, in a battle of the schoolboy master coaches.
After coaching
Mulholland worked for NRL team, 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...
during the period when they won the 2003 NRL Premiership. He started working for the Bulldogs' coaching staff in 2008. In August 2010 it was reported that Mulholland would be leaving Canterbury-Bankstown to spend the 2011 NRL season
2011 NRL season
The 2011 NRL season was the 105th season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the fourteenth run by the National Rugby League. The NRL's main championship, called the 2011 Telstra Premiership due to sponsorship from Telstra, was contested by sixteen teams for the...
working as Wayne Bennett's recruitment manager when he moved to Nathan Tinkler
Nathan Tinkler
Nathan Tinkler is a mining magnate and businessman from the Hunter Region, New South Wales, Australia.-Biography:Tinkler was an electrician in a coal mine before starting his own business. His big break came in 2006 when he borrowed $500,000 to buy a mine. He sold his company to Macarthur Coal...
's newly-acquired Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The 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...
.