Andrew Gee
Encyclopedia
Andrew Gee is an Australian rugby league
administrator and the current football operations manager at the Brisbane Broncos
of the NRL. A former player with the club, he was a Queensland State of Origin
representative prop forward, and at the time of his retirement, held the Broncos' club record for most appearances of any forward.
He transferred to Brisbane from Beaudesert, Queensland
in 1989 and started his representative career for Queensland the following year.
Gee was rewarded after his strong display in the 1991 State of Origin series with selection on the Australian tour of Papua New Guinea
. Unfortunately, he made just one appearance before being injured and also met a similar fate the following season.
The Brisbane prop played just seven matches and was left out of the starting line up that won the grand final over the St George Dragons. In the weeks following the grand final Gee travelled with the Broncos to England, where he played at prop forward in the 1992 World Club Challenge
against British champions Wigan
, helping Brisbane become the first NSWRL club to win the match in Britain.
Gee was a reserve when the club won the second of its two consecutive premierships in 1993
but overcame a lengthy suspension at the beginning of the 1994 season
to take his place in the side that lost the 1994 World Club Challenge
to Wigan, 20-14, at ANZ Stadium in June.
Gee toiled with the Broncos through the club's domination of the 1997 Super League season
and took his place in the champion Brisbane team that won the 1998 NRL grand final
. In 1998 he also won the club's player of the year award.
He left the club at the end of 1999 to join Warrington
but later returned to the Broncos, along with former captain Allan Langer
, for the 2002 season.
Sometimes criticized for lack of discipline resulting in needless penalties which potentially cost his team victories, Gee finished his playing career in 2003. That year he also made the State of Origin team, some 13 years after his first representative match. He was the first player to play 250+ games for the Broncos.
Early in the 2007 season at the Broncos' 20-year anniversary celebration, the club announced a list of the 20 best players to play for them to date which included Gee.
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...
administrator and the current football operations manager at 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...
of the NRL. A former player with the club, he was a Queensland State of Origin
State of Origin
State of Origin is the name used in Australia for one existing sporting event which involves domestic representative teams. The term, when used in isolation, usually refers to rugby league football, and occassionally Australian Football matches, in which players are selected for the Australian...
representative prop forward, and at the time of his retirement, held the Broncos' club record for most appearances of any forward.
Playing career
While attending Beaudesert High School, Gee played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 1986.He transferred to Brisbane from Beaudesert, Queensland
Beaudesert, Queensland
Beaudesert is a town located on the Mount Lindesay Highway, some 64 km south of Brisbane. It is possibly named after Beau Desert Park, the property of Charles Henry Alexander Paget, 6th Marquess of Anglesey in Staffordshire, England...
in 1989 and started his representative career for Queensland the following year.
Gee was rewarded after his strong display in the 1991 State of Origin series with selection on the Australian tour of Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
. Unfortunately, he made just one appearance before being injured and also met a similar fate the following season.
The Brisbane prop played just seven matches and was left out of the starting line up that won the grand final over the St George Dragons. In the weeks following the grand final Gee travelled with the Broncos to England, where he played at prop forward in the 1992 World Club Challenge
1992 World Club Challenge
The 1992 World Club Challenge match was contested by the 1991–92 Rugby Football League season champions Wigan and the 1992 NSWRL season's premiers, the Brisbane Broncos...
against British champions Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
, helping Brisbane become the first NSWRL club to win the match in Britain.
Gee was a reserve when the club won the second of its two consecutive premierships in 1993
Brisbane Broncos 1993
The 1993 Brisbane Broncos season was the sixth in the club's history. They competed in the NSWRL's 1993 Winfield Cup premiership, finishing the regular season 5th before going on to play in a re-match of the previous year's grand final against the St George Dragons and again win, claiming...
but overcame a lengthy suspension at the beginning of the 1994 season
Brisbane Broncos 1994
The 1994 Brisbane Broncos season was the seventh in the club's history. As defending Premiers the Broncos competed in the NSWRL's 1994 Winfield Cup competition, finishing the regular season 5th...
to take his place in the side that lost the 1994 World Club Challenge
1994 World Club Challenge
The 1994 MMI World Club Challenge was a replay of the 1992 World Club Challenge, with 1993–94 Rugby Football League season champions Wigan facing the 1993 NSWRL season premiers, the Brisbane Broncos, this time in Australia. Wigan were clearly the dominant club in the English game, having won the...
to Wigan, 20-14, at ANZ Stadium in June.
Gee toiled with the Broncos through the club's domination of the 1997 Super League season
Super League (Australia) season 1997
The 1997 Super League season was the 90th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the first and only to be run by the News Limited-controlled Super League organisation...
and took his place in the champion Brisbane team that won the 1998 NRL grand final
1998 NRL grand final
The 1998 NRL grand final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 1998 NRL season. It was the first grand final since the National Rugby League's formation and featured minor premiers and the previous year's Super League premiers, the Brisbane Broncos against the Canterbury Bulldogs,...
. In 1998 he also won the club's player of the year award.
He left the club at the end of 1999 to join Warrington
Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
but later returned to the Broncos, along with former captain 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...
, for the 2002 season.
Sometimes criticized for lack of discipline resulting in needless penalties which potentially cost his team victories, Gee finished his playing career in 2003. That year he also made the State of Origin team, some 13 years after his first representative match. He was the first player to play 250+ games for the Broncos.
Early in the 2007 season at the Broncos' 20-year anniversary celebration, the club announced a list of the 20 best players to play for them to date which included Gee.