Michael Potter
Encyclopedia
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. George Dragons
and Western Reds as well as representing New South Wales
in the State of Origin
.
their 6–4 win over Parramatta
. A second premiership followed when Canterbury defeated St. George, 7–6 in the 1985 Grand Final.
Potter broke his leg in 1986 and struggled to regain his form at Canterbury. He signed with St. George in 1989 and later became team captain. In 1991, Potter won his second Dally M Player of the Year award. Potter captained St. George in their 1993 loss to the Brisbane Broncos
in the Grand Final. He retired at the end of the 1993 season but returned to play for the Western Reds in their debut season in 1995.
team, Bradford Bulls
, alongside Matthew Elliot. He remained there until 1999 when he took over the coaching position for the New South Wales Under-17 squad, coaching them to consecutive wins over Queensland.
Potter coached St. George Illawarra's Premier League side for four years before being appointed in February 2006 as Head Coach for the French
rugby league team Catalans Dragons
, succeeding Steve Deakin. Potter coached the team to the 2007 Challenge Cup Final
and in 2008 was named Super League coach of the year.
Potter succeeded Daniel Anderson
as head coach of St Helens at the beginning of the 2009 season.
In May 2010 he announced that he is to leave St. Helens at the end of the 2010 season. In July 2010 Potter signed a 3 year contract to return to Bradford Bulls, this time as head coach, commencing 2011.
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...
club Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
. Potter played in the Australian club competition for the Canterbury Bulldogs
Canterbury Bulldogs
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League junior competitions...
, St. George Dragons
St. George Dragons
The St George Dragons was an Australian Rugby league football club in St George, Sydney, New South Wales that played in Australia's top-level Rugby league competition from New South Wales Rugby Football League in 1921 until 1998; in 1999 they formed a joint venture with the Illawarra Steelers,...
and Western Reds as well as representing New South Wales
New South Wales Rugby League team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
in the State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
.
Playing career
Canterbury signed Potter while he was still a student at St. Gregory's, Campbelltown. In only his second year of first-grade, Potter became the first fullback to win the Dally M Player of the Year award. He is a member of Canterburys' 1984 Premiership winning team intheir 6–4 win over Parramatta
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
. A second premiership followed when Canterbury defeated St. George, 7–6 in the 1985 Grand Final.
Potter broke his leg in 1986 and struggled to regain his form at Canterbury. He signed with St. George in 1989 and later became team captain. In 1991, Potter won his second Dally M Player of the Year award. Potter captained St. George in their 1993 loss to 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...
in the Grand Final. He retired at the end of the 1993 season but returned to play for the Western Reds in their debut season in 1995.
Coaching career
Following his retirement as a player in 1996, Potter started his coaching career as assistant coach for the English Super LeagueSuper 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...
team, Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
, alongside Matthew Elliot. He remained there until 1999 when he took over the coaching position for the New South Wales Under-17 squad, coaching them to consecutive wins over Queensland.
Potter coached St. George Illawarra's Premier League side for four years before being appointed in February 2006 as Head Coach for the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
rugby league team Catalans Dragons
Catalans Dragons
The Catalans Dragons are a French professional rugby league club based in Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales. They currently play in the Super League, and are the only team in the competition from outside of the United Kingdom...
, succeeding Steve Deakin. Potter coached the team to the 2007 Challenge Cup Final
2007 Challenge Cup Final
The 2007 Carnegie Challenge Cup featured teams from across Europe including England, Scotland, Wales, France and Russia. The final was played by the holders St Helens and Catalans Dragons at the new Wembley Stadium on the 25 August 2007. The Dragons were the first French club ever to take part in...
and in 2008 was named Super League coach of the year.
Potter succeeded Daniel Anderson
Daniel Anderson (rugby league)
Daniel Anderson is an Australian rugby league football coach. Anderson previously coached in Australia, New Zealand and England and is particularly noted for his work with the development of younger players.-Early years:...
as head coach of St Helens at the beginning of the 2009 season.
In May 2010 he announced that he is to leave St. Helens at the end of the 2010 season. In July 2010 Potter signed a 3 year contract to return to Bradford Bulls, this time as head coach, commencing 2011.