Paul Harragon
Encyclopedia
Paul "The Chief" Harragon OAM
(born 12 October 1968) is an Australian rugby league football identity. A retired Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative forward, he played his club football for the Newcastle Knights
whom he captained to the 1997 ARL premiership. Harragon has since maintained a presence in the rugby league media as a regular presenter of The Footy Show
.
town of Kurri Kurri
, and played for Lakes United
in the Newcastle competition
. He joined the Newcastle Knights
in 1988 and made his first grade debut in 1989 against the Balmain Tigers
.
Harragon was one of the most imposing players of the 1990s, weighing in at around 111 kg and standing at 193 cm, perfect for his position in the front or second rows. He represented and captained Country, New South Wales
and Australia
. He was named man-of-the-match in the second game of the 1994 State of Origin series. At the end of the 1994 NSWRL season, he went on the 1994 Kangaroo tour
.
Harragon captained the Knights to the 1997 ARL premiership title in a thrilling grand final against Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
, despite suffering from serious headaches and seizures throughout most of the season.
Harragon excelled at the State of Origin
level, making 20 consecutive appearances for New South Wales
between Game I 1992 and Game II 1998 and is considered one of the toughest, most passionate men to ever grace that arena. He holds the record for the second most consecutive Origin games by a New South Welshman (Danny Buderus played 21 consecutive State of Origin games between game I 2002 and game III 2008), and most appearances by a NSW forward. A devastating runner of the football, he was famous for throwing himself at the defensive line in fearsome displays of determination. He is remembered for his ongoing fiery attacking and defensive clashes with Queensland hardman Trevor Gillmeister
and Manly prop Mark Carroll
.
Between 1992 & 1998, Harragon was a frequent choice to play for the Kangaroos. During the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand, he helped Australia retain The Ashes. All up he scored three tries while representing his country. In 1996, he captained the team in a World Cup Test against South Africa, and in 1997 he played in a match against the "Rest of the World
".
In 1999, Harragon participated in the first rugby league game to be played at Stadium Australia. Later that year, after playing 169 first grade games in a career lasting ten years, Harragon retired due to an ongoing knee injury mid-season.
, before joining Channel 9
as a member of The Footy Show
panel (on which his "That's Gold" segment has become immensely popular), and as a football commentator. Following format changes to the programme before the 2009 season, Harragon decided to leave the production.
On Saturday 1 September 2007, his single "That's Gold" debuted at #8 on the ARIA Singles chart and #2 on the ARIA Physical Singles Chart. The song was distributed by Destra Entertainment/MRA Records. "That's Gold" is a parody of Spandau Ballet
's 80s hit "Gold".
Harragon was also a director of and is a life member of the Newcastle Knights, and is spokesman for NIB Health Funds and Subway
.
Paul Harragon lives in Newcastle with his wife Pam, his daughter and two sons.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 12 October 1968) is an Australian rugby league football identity. A retired Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative forward, he played his club football for the Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
whom he captained to the 1997 ARL premiership. Harragon has since maintained a presence in the rugby league media as a regular presenter of The Footy Show
The NRL Footy Show
The Footy Show is a Logie Award-winning Australian sports variety television programme, shown on the Nine Network and its affiliates. Following the success of the AFL program of the same name, the Nine Network quickly developed a version for the rugby league market. The rugby league version has...
.
Playing career
Harragon was raised in the New South WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
town of Kurri Kurri
Kurri Kurri, New South Wales
Kurri Kurri is a small town in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia, in the Cessnock LGA. At the 2006 census its population was 5,644...
, and played for Lakes United
Lakes United
Lakes United is a rugby league club based in the Newcastle, New South Wales region of Australia.Known as The Seagulls and wearing Royal blue and Gold, they have been a member of the Newcastle Rugby League since 1947.-History:...
in the Newcastle competition
Newcastle Rugby League
The Newcastle Rugby League is a rugby league competition in Newcastle, Australia. It is one of the oldest rugby league competitions in Australia, founded in 1910...
. He joined the Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
in 1988 and made his first grade debut in 1989 against the Balmain Tigers
Balmain Tigers
The Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles...
.
Harragon was one of the most imposing players of the 1990s, weighing in at around 111 kg and standing at 193 cm, perfect for his position in the front or second rows. He represented and captained Country, 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...
and Australia
Australian national rugby league team
The Australian national rugby league team have represented Australia in senior men's rugby league football competition since the establishment of the game in Australia in 1908. Administered by the Australian Rugby League, the Kangaroos' are ranked number one in the RLIF World Rankings...
. He was named man-of-the-match in the second game of the 1994 State of Origin series. At the end of the 1994 NSWRL season, he went on the 1994 Kangaroo tour
1994 Kangaroo Tour
The 1994 Kangaroo Tour was the last played in the conventional format, where the Australian side plays a number of matches against British and French clubs or provincial outfits, in additions to the Test matches...
.
Harragon captained the Knights to the 1997 ARL premiership title in a thrilling grand final against Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
, despite suffering from serious headaches and seizures throughout most of the season.
Harragon excelled at 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...
level, making 20 consecutive appearances for 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...
between Game I 1992 and Game II 1998 and is considered one of the toughest, most passionate men to ever grace that arena. He holds the record for the second most consecutive Origin games by a New South Welshman (Danny Buderus played 21 consecutive State of Origin games between game I 2002 and game III 2008), and most appearances by a NSW forward. A devastating runner of the football, he was famous for throwing himself at the defensive line in fearsome displays of determination. He is remembered for his ongoing fiery attacking and defensive clashes with Queensland hardman Trevor Gillmeister
Trevor Gillmeister
Trevor Gillmeister is an Australian former rugby league player who is currently signed on as an assistant coach at the Gold Coast Titans. During his playing days Gillmeister played for the Sydney Roosters, Brisbane Broncos, Penrith Panthers and the South Queensland Crushers as well as...
and Manly prop Mark Carroll
Mark Carroll (rugby league)
Mark Carroll is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. A prop-forward, he represented Australia internationally and New South Wales in State of Origin and played club football for the Penrith Panthers, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and...
.
Between 1992 & 1998, Harragon was a frequent choice to play for the Kangaroos. During the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand, he helped Australia retain The Ashes. All up he scored three tries while representing his country. In 1996, he captained the team in a World Cup Test against South Africa, and in 1997 he played in a match against the "Rest of the World
Rest of the world
The Rest of the World within sports and games played at the international competitive level, refers to a team of players from many countries of origin who compete against a single individual or a team from a single group, such as a club or country.-Overview:...
".
In 1999, Harragon participated in the first rugby league game to be played at Stadium Australia. Later that year, after playing 169 first grade games in a career lasting ten years, Harragon retired due to an ongoing knee injury mid-season.
Post-playing
Harragon has since become a media personality, working for local Newcastle station NBN TelevisionNBN Television
NBN Television is a television station based in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. The station was inaugurated on 4 March 1962 as the first regional commercial television station in New South Wales, and has since expanded to 39 transmitters throughout the northern half of New South Wales and...
, before joining Channel 9
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
as a member of The Footy Show
The NRL Footy Show
The Footy Show is a Logie Award-winning Australian sports variety television programme, shown on the Nine Network and its affiliates. Following the success of the AFL program of the same name, the Nine Network quickly developed a version for the rugby league market. The rugby league version has...
panel (on which his "That's Gold" segment has become immensely popular), and as a football commentator. Following format changes to the programme before the 2009 season, Harragon decided to leave the production.
On Saturday 1 September 2007, his single "That's Gold" debuted at #8 on the ARIA Singles chart and #2 on the ARIA Physical Singles Chart. The song was distributed by Destra Entertainment/MRA Records. "That's Gold" is a parody of Spandau Ballet
Spandau Ballet
Spandau Ballet are a British band formed in London in the late 1970s. Initially inspired by, and an integral part of, the New Romantic fashion, their music has featured a mixture of funk, jazz, soul and synthpop. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s, achieving ten Top Ten singles...
's 80s hit "Gold".
Harragon was also a director of and is a life member of the Newcastle Knights, and is spokesman for NIB Health Funds and Subway
Subway (restaurant)
Subway is an American restaurant franchise that primarily sells submarine sandwiches and salads. It is owned and operated by Doctor's Associates, Inc. . Subway is one of the fastest growing franchises in the world with 35,519 restaurants in 98 countries and territories as of October 25th, 2011...
.
Paul Harragon lives in Newcastle with his wife Pam, his daughter and two sons.