Greg Alexander
Encyclopedia
Gregory Peter Stephen "Greg" Alexander (born 4 March 1965) is a former professional rugby league
footballer of the 1980s and 90s who has since become a commentator. A goal-kicking half-back, in his career he played for and captained the Penrith Panthers
and the Auckland Warriors clubs and also represented his country and state on several occasions. Alexander's position for the majority of his career was at half-back, however early in his career – particularly in representative sides – he was moved to fullback. It was this ability to play different positions with great success that saw Alexander make both the 1986
and the 1990
Kangaroo Tour
's. Other than being one of the games best halfback's and good enough for rep football at fullback, Brandy actually played a test on the 1990 Tour against France
on the wing. This was also his last test appearance.
.
At the end of the 1986 NSWRL season, he went on the 1986 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France
. 1989 saw him rise to Test selection in New Zealand, but he was regarded as a disappointment after his exceptional form for Penrith earlier in the year: his pace and skill had made Penrith the second most dangerous attacking team in the competition (after Canberra
) and Alexander was the leading try-scorer for much of the year – scoring ten tries in eight games at one point. At the end of the 1990 NSWRL season, he went on the 1990 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France
.
He captained the Panthers in 1991 to a premiership title and was also rewarded by being called up to both his state and national side. Following the grand final victory he travelled with the Panthers to England for the 1991 World Club Challenge
which was lost to Wigan.
In June 1992 his younger brother and fellow Panthers team-mate Ben Alexander
was killed in a car accident. Alexander missed the majority of fixtures that year and continually fell beyond his usual playing weight and ended the season ten kilograms lighter.
, Stacey Jones
, Phil Blake
and Frano Botica
all spending some time at halfback or five-eighth. In his second season with the club, he was awarded the captaincy after Dean Bell
retired, and again began the season at halfback. However, after he was injured in Round 10, New Zealand halfback Stacey Jones
regained the half back role, and upon returning to the side Alexander was moved to the fullback position - where he would remain for most of the remaining season.
's Fox Sports
station. He also hosts the nightly Sports Today
program with John Gibbs on Sydney radio station 2UE
.
Alexander is a member of the Penrith Panthers board of directors. He also had a small coaching role for the Panthers in 2003 when they won the premiership title.
, the brother-in-law of former Penrith, Perth Reds and Newcastle Second Rower, Peter Shiels
and the uncle of St. George Illawarra Dragons hooker Cameron King.
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 of the 1980s and 90s who has since become a commentator. A goal-kicking half-back, in his career he played for and captained 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...
and the Auckland Warriors clubs and also represented his country and state on several occasions. Alexander's position for the majority of his career was at half-back, however early in his career – particularly in representative sides – he was moved to fullback. It was this ability to play different positions with great success that saw Alexander make both the 1986
1986 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain and France
The 1986 Kangaroo tour was the sixteenth Kangaroo Tour where the Australian side plays a number of matches against British and French rugby league teams, in additions to the Test matches...
and the 1990
1990 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain and France
The 1990 Kangaroo Tour was the seventeenth Kangaroo Tour, where the Australian national rugby league team travelled to Europe and played eighteen matches against British and French rugby league teams, in addition to three Test matches...
Kangaroo Tour
Kangaroo Tour
Kangaroo Tour is the name given to Australian national rugby league team tours of Great Britain and France. The first Kangaroo Tour was in 1908. Traditionally, Kangaroo Tours took place every four years and involved a three-Test Ashes series against Great Britain and a number of tour matches...
's. Other than being one of the games best halfback's and good enough for rep football at fullback, Brandy actually played a test on the 1990 Tour against France
France national rugby league team
The France national rugby league team represent France in international rugby league tournaments. They are also sometimes referred to as "Les Tricolores" or more commonly "Les Chanticleers"...
on the wing. This was also his last test appearance.
Playing career
Alexander began his career at schoolboy level where he quickly established himself as a star player for his side. He attended Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield he played for the Australian schoolboys team in 1983. He was later signed on as a junior to his local club side 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...
.
Penrith Panthers
Alexander made his first grade debut for the Panthers in the 1984 season as an elusive and quick thinking half-back. His talent quickly became clear and by the end of the season he took out the Rookie of the Year award. The following year Greg continued his good form throughout the season tallying up 194 points (a club record at the time) and earning himself the 1985 Dally M. player of the year award. Greg continued playing with the Panthers for the next several years and become known for his unique ability to score and set up tries, his excellent attacking kicking and his solid defence.At the end of the 1986 NSWRL season, he went on the 1986 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France
1986 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain and France
The 1986 Kangaroo tour was the sixteenth Kangaroo Tour where the Australian side plays a number of matches against British and French rugby league teams, in additions to the Test matches...
. 1989 saw him rise to Test selection in New Zealand, but he was regarded as a disappointment after his exceptional form for Penrith earlier in the year: his pace and skill had made Penrith the second most dangerous attacking team in the competition (after Canberra
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
) and Alexander was the leading try-scorer for much of the year – scoring ten tries in eight games at one point. At the end of the 1990 NSWRL season, he went on the 1990 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France
1990 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain and France
The 1990 Kangaroo Tour was the seventeenth Kangaroo Tour, where the Australian national rugby league team travelled to Europe and played eighteen matches against British and French rugby league teams, in addition to three Test matches...
.
He captained the Panthers in 1991 to a premiership title and was also rewarded by being called up to both his state and national side. Following the grand final victory he travelled with the Panthers to England for the 1991 World Club Challenge
1991 World Club Challenge
The 1991 World Club Challenge was contested by 1990–91 RFL Championship winners, Wigan and 1991 NSWRL season premiers, the Penrith Panthers. The match was played on a dry Wednesday the 2nd of October, 1991 at Anfield, Liverpool...
which was lost to Wigan.
In June 1992 his younger brother and fellow Panthers team-mate Ben Alexander
Ben Alexander (rugby league footballer)
Ben Alexander was an Australian rugby league player for the Penrith Panthers in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership, he was the younger brother of Australian Rugby League international Greg Alexander. His position of choice was at hooker or in the halves.He made his first grade debut in...
was killed in a car accident. Alexander missed the majority of fixtures that year and continually fell beyond his usual playing weight and ended the season ten kilograms lighter.
Auckland Warriors
At the end of the 1994 season, Alexander joined the New Zealand side the Auckland Warriors. He spent most of the first half of his first season for the Warriors at halfback, and began to recapture some of his previous form. In the latter half of the season he moved between fullback, halfback and five-eighth due the depth the Warriors had in the halves - with Gene NgamuGene Ngamu
Gene Robert Ngamu is a New Zealand former rugby league player. He played mainly at Halfback or Five Eighth and is probably best known for his combination with Stacey Jones in the Auckland Warriors and New Zealand Kiwis.-Early years:...
, Stacey Jones
Stacey Jones
Stacey William Jones, ONZM is a professional rugby league footballer, who has been named amongst the greatest New Zealand has ever produced. He currently plays for the Point Chevalier Pirates in the Auckland Rugby League's Phelan Shield...
, Phil Blake
Phil Blake
Phil Blake is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s who represented New South Wales on one occasion. Originally a half back, Blake developed into a utility player and played first grade matches in all the backline positions, as well as at hooker and lock...
and Frano Botica
Frano Botica
Frano Michael Botica is a former rugby union and rugby league player who represented his country at both sports and also played for Croatia in a rugby union world cup qualifying match.-Rugby union:...
all spending some time at halfback or five-eighth. In his second season with the club, he was awarded the captaincy after Dean Bell
Dean Bell
Dean Bell is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer and coach. A New Zealand international representative centre, he played his club football in England, Australia and New Zealand, but most notably with Wigan, with whom he won seven consecutive Challenge Cup finals, a Lance Todd Trophy and a...
retired, and again began the season at halfback. However, after he was injured in Round 10, New Zealand halfback Stacey Jones
Stacey Jones
Stacey William Jones, ONZM is a professional rugby league footballer, who has been named amongst the greatest New Zealand has ever produced. He currently plays for the Point Chevalier Pirates in the Auckland Rugby League's Phelan Shield...
regained the half back role, and upon returning to the side Alexander was moved to the fullback position - where he would remain for most of the remaining season.
Return to the Panthers
Alexander eventually returned to Penrith in 1997 after his stint in New Zealand and stayed on till his retirement in 1999. In total, Alexander played 220 games for the Panthers and scored over one hundred tries, tallying over a thousand career points for the club. To date, he is only the second player ever to accomplish this in Australian rugby league.Life after football
After his retirement from football in 1999, Alexander embarked on a media career in both radio and television. He currently works as a host and commentator for FoxtelFoxtel
Foxtel is an Australian pay television company, operating cable, direct broadcast satellite television and IPTV services. It was formed in 1995 through a joint venture established between Telstra and News Corporation....
's Fox Sports
Fox Sports (Australia)
Fox Sports is an Australia group of sports channels. They are owned by the Premier Media Group, which is in turn owned by News Corporation, and Consolidated Media Holdings. Its main competitors are ESPN, which has little local content and the free-to-air digital channel One HD...
station. He also hosts the nightly Sports Today
Sports Today
Sports Today is a long-running radio show on Melbourne, Australia radio station 3AW.It currently airs on Monday to Thursday between 6 pm – 8 pm and is hosted by Gerard Healy and Dwayne Russell....
program with John Gibbs on Sydney radio station 2UE
2UE
2UE is a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia owned by Fairfax Media. It is Sydney's and Australia's oldest commercial radio station, first broadcasting on 26 January 1925 on 1025 kHz AM before moving to 950 kHz in 1935 when virtually all Australian radio stations were assigned new...
.
Alexander is a member of the Penrith Panthers board of directors. He also had a small coaching role for the Panthers in 2003 when they won the premiership title.
Personal life
Alexander is the brother-in-law of fellow former Penrith, NSW and Australian Rugby League player, Mark GeyerMark 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...
, the brother-in-law of former Penrith, Perth Reds and Newcastle Second Rower, Peter Shiels
Peter Shiels
Peter Shiels , is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played for Penrith, Western Suburbs, Western Reds, Newcastle Knights in Australia and St Helens in the European Super League as a and as a .-Personal life:Peter is married to Linda , the sister of fellow...
and the uncle of St. George Illawarra Dragons hooker Cameron King.
External links
- Australian Associated Press (29 January 2006) "Mourning Mat's biggest battle", Sydney Morning Herald.
- Fox Sports NRL team profiles
- Penrith Panthers Board of Directors
- State of Origin Official website Rugby League Player Stats