Matt Geyer
Encyclopedia
Matt Geyer is an Australian rugby league footballer for the Norths Devils
in the Queensland Cup
. A New South Wales State of Origin representative winger, he played his club football primarily with the Melbourne Storm
of the National Rugby League
competition, winning premierships with them in 1999 and 2007. He also represented City Origin
and played for the Western Reds, making him one of a handful of first-grade players to never have played for a New South Wales, Queensland or New Zealand club. Geyer is also the younger brother of rugby league personality Mark Geyer
.
competition, but then became one of the foundation members of the Melbourne Storm when he signed for the club in 1998. Since then, Geyer has become the most capped Melbourne Storm player, also holding the record for most tries for the club. Most of his career has been played at wing, but he has also played a large utility role at the club, including fullback, centre, five-eighth, halfback and hooker.
He became the first and so far only Storm player to lead the NRL's point-scoring for the season (1999
). That season he also played in all three State of Origin matches for New South Wales, scoring two tries.
Geyer kicked the winning conversion in the 1999 Grand Final to earn the Storm a premiership in only their second year in the NRL competition (in which he was the leading pointscorer for the season). He replaced Craig Smith, who had been knocked out (resulting in the Storm being awarded a penalty try). Geyer became the Storm's first player to make 200 appearances, against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at Melbourne's Olympic Park in 2006. That season he was only player from the 1999 grand final squad to also be a part of the Storm's 2006 NRL Grand Final loss to the Broncos. In 2007 Melbourne again reached the grand final and won against the Sea Eagles.
During the 2008 season, Geyer had been playing off the interchange bench as he had for the 2007 finals series. After Will Chambers
' season-ending injury, Geyer took up his centre position for the remainder of the season. He played in the 2008 NRL Grand Final defeat to Manly and retired at conclusion of the 2008 season.
He has the unusual record of playing the most games without ever playing for a New South Wales, Queensland or New Zealand first grade club, having only ever played for Western Reds and Storm.
In July 2009, Geyer revealed that he had made himself available for the Gold Coast Titans
in the National Rugby League
. However he ended up retiring in Queensland.
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...
in the Queensland Cup
Queensland Cup
The Queensland Cup is the premier rugby league football competition in the State of Queensland, Australia.It is a statewide competition with the majority of teams based in South East Queensland but also including sides based in Cairns, Mackay and Rockhampton.The competition began in 1996 as a...
. A New South Wales State of Origin representative winger, he played his club football primarily with the Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
of 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...
competition, winning premierships with them in 1999 and 2007. He also represented City Origin
City vs Country Origin
City vs Country is an annual Australian rugby league football match that takes place in New South Wales between City and Country representative sides. The City side represents the Sydney metropolitan area...
and played for the Western Reds, making him one of a handful of first-grade players to never have played for a New South Wales, Queensland or New Zealand club. Geyer is also the younger brother of rugby league personality 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...
.
Playing career
Geyer started his career in 1997 for the Western Reds in the Super LeagueSuper League (Australia)
Super League was an Australian rugby league football administrative body that conducted professional competition in Australasia for one season in 1997. Along with Super League of Europe, it was created by News Corporation during the Super League war which arose following an unsuccessful attempt to...
competition, but then became one of the foundation members of the Melbourne Storm when he signed for the club in 1998. Since then, Geyer has become the most capped Melbourne Storm player, also holding the record for most tries for the club. Most of his career has been played at wing, but he has also played a large utility role at the club, including fullback, centre, five-eighth, halfback and hooker.
He became the first and so far only Storm player to lead the NRL's point-scoring for the season (1999
National Rugby League season 1999
The 1999 NRL season was the 92nd season of professional rugby league football in Australia, and the second to be run by the National Rugby League. Seventeen teams competed for the NRL Premiership during the season which culminated in a grand final between the first grand final played at Stadium...
). That season he also played in all three State of Origin matches for New South Wales, scoring two tries.
Geyer kicked the winning conversion in the 1999 Grand Final to earn the Storm a premiership in only their second year in the NRL competition (in which he was the leading pointscorer for the season). He replaced Craig Smith, who had been knocked out (resulting in the Storm being awarded a penalty try). Geyer became the Storm's first player to make 200 appearances, against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at Melbourne's Olympic Park in 2006. That season he was only player from the 1999 grand final squad to also be a part of the Storm's 2006 NRL Grand Final loss to the Broncos. In 2007 Melbourne again reached the grand final and won against the Sea Eagles.
Will Chambers
Will Chambers is an Australian rugby union footballer. He played in the Super 15 for the Queensland Reds and is currently playing for Irish province Munster in the RaboDirect Pro12, as of September 2011....
' season-ending injury, Geyer took up his centre position for the remainder of the season. He played in the 2008 NRL Grand Final defeat to Manly and retired at conclusion of the 2008 season.
He has the unusual record of playing the most games without ever playing for a New South Wales, Queensland or New Zealand first grade club, having only ever played for Western Reds and Storm.
In July 2009, Geyer revealed that he had made himself available for the Gold Coast Titans
Gold Coast Titans
Gold Coast Titans are an Australian professional rugby league football club, based in the Gold Coast, Queensland. The club competes in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership. It is the newest of the sixteen clubs in the league, having commenced its...
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...
. However he ended up retiring in Queensland.