Tony Gordon (rugby league)
Encyclopedia
Anthony Ralph "Tank" Gordon is a New Zealand former rugby league
and rugby union
player and coach who represented the New Zealand Kiwis
in the 1975 World Cup
and coached them to the 1988 World Cup Final.
PT Instructor, Gordon was the player/coach of the Wairau army side and played rugby union
for King Country
.
in 1975 and joined the Maritime club in the Auckland Rugby League
. He made the New Zealand Kiwis after only 14 rugby league matches. He played in thirteen test matches for the Kiwis, including at the 1975 World Cup
.
before he was convinced to become Central's head coach in the Bay of Plenty Rugby League
competition. He met with immediate success, taking control of the Bay of Plenty and Northern Districts sides. In 1987 he became coach of the New Zealand Kiwis. The Kiwis toured Australia and Papua New Guinea in 1987 and Gordon was involved in an upset win of Australia. The team couldn't repeat the feat in 1988 as the lost the final of the World Cup in front of 47,000 fans at Eden Park
. The Kiwis toured Britain and France in 1989 before Gordon was replaced as Kiwis coach.
Gordon became coach of the London Crusaders in 1993 before joining Hull for the 1994–1995 season.
Halfway through the 1995 Lion Red Cup Neil Joyce resigned as the coach of the Bay of Plenty Stags
. Gordon became a co-coach alongside Lawrence Brydon for the remainder of the season. In 1996 he remained with the Stags as the business Manager while Brydon became the head coach. During the season he was suspended and investigated by the New Zealand Rugby League
over accusations of fraud. He was later cleared of all charges.
Between 1996 and 2001 he coached the Coastline Mariners.
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...
and 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...
player and coach who represented the New Zealand Kiwis
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...
in the 1975 World Cup
1975 Rugby League World Cup
The 1975 Rugby League World Cup was the seventh staging of rugby league football's World Cup tournament...
and coached them to the 1988 World Cup Final.
Early years
A New Zealand ArmyNew Zealand Army
The New Zealand Army , is the land component of the New Zealand Defence Force and comprises around 4,500 Regular Force personnel, 2,000 Territorial Force personnel and 500 civilians. Formerly the New Zealand Military Forces, the current name was adopted around 1946...
PT Instructor, Gordon was the player/coach of the Wairau army side and played 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...
for King Country
King Country Rugby Football Union
The King Country Rugby Football Union is a constituent union in the New Zealand Rugby Union. It is located in the central North Island of New Zealand...
.
Playing career
Gordon then switched to rugby leagueRugby 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...
in 1975 and joined the Maritime club in the 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...
. He made the New Zealand Kiwis after only 14 rugby league matches. He played in thirteen test matches for the Kiwis, including at the 1975 World Cup
1975 Rugby League World Cup
The 1975 Rugby League World Cup was the seventh staging of rugby league football's World Cup tournament...
.
Coaching career
After retirement Gordon turned his attention to coaching. He had a brief spell with Mangere EastMangere East Hawks
The Mangere East Hawks are a rugby league based in Mangere, New Zealand. The Hawks compete in Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition.-History:The club was founded in 1964, before this teams from the area had been attached to the Otahuhu club...
before he was convinced to become Central's head coach in the Bay of Plenty Rugby League
Bay of Plenty Rugby League
Bay of Plenty Rugby League is the local sporting body responsible for the administration of Rugby league in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand...
competition. He met with immediate success, taking control of the Bay of Plenty and Northern Districts sides. In 1987 he became coach of the New Zealand Kiwis. The Kiwis toured Australia and Papua New Guinea in 1987 and Gordon was involved in an upset win of Australia. The team couldn't repeat the feat in 1988 as the lost the final of the World Cup in front of 47,000 fans at Eden Park
Eden Park
Eden Park is the biggest stadium in Auckland, New Zealand. It is used primarily for rugby union in winter and cricket in summer . The ground also occasionally hostts rugby league matches. To accommodate all three sports, the cricket pitch is removable...
. The Kiwis toured Britain and France in 1989 before Gordon was replaced as Kiwis coach.
Gordon became coach of the London Crusaders in 1993 before joining Hull for the 1994–1995 season.
Halfway through the 1995 Lion Red Cup Neil Joyce resigned as the coach of the Bay of Plenty Stags
Bay of Plenty Stags
The Bay of Plenty rugby league team are a New Zealand rugby league team who represents the Bay of Plenty Rugby League in New Zealand Rugby League competitions...
. Gordon became a co-coach alongside Lawrence Brydon for the remainder of the season. In 1996 he remained with the Stags as the business Manager while Brydon became the head coach. During the season he was suspended and investigated by the New Zealand Rugby League
New Zealand Rugby League
The New Zealand Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league football in New Zealand. The NZRL was founded on the 25 April 1910 in preparation for a tour of Great Britain that same year....
over accusations of fraud. He was later cleared of all charges.
Between 1996 and 2001 he coached the Coastline Mariners.