Adam Muir
Encyclopedia
Adam Muir is an Australian former rugby league
footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative forward, he played his club football with the Newcastle Knights
(with whom he won the 1997 Premiership), North Sydney Bears
, Northern Eagles
, and the South Sydney Rabbitohs
.
.
His two seasons at Norths were plagued with ankle and knee injuries and his cause was not helped when he clashed with coach Peter Louis after being fined for misbehaviour after a pre-season match in Wagga in early 1999. He was a major signing of the merged Northern Eagles in 2000 and made a return to State of Origin
honours following good club form that year. After two seasons in which the Northern Eagles merger was wracked by internal strife and poor team performances, he signed on to captain the South Sydney Rabbitohs
on their return to the NRL
in 2002. Although signed to a two season contract, injury forced him into retirement in 2003.
he first represented for New South Wales at State of Origin
during the troubled 1995 season where he played in all three games. He made his first appearance in the run-on side in game III at second-row. He made nine consecutive appearances for the Blues from game I 1995 to game III of 1997 until his position was challenged by his Northern Eagles club-mate Nik Kosef
and his long-term representative peer and rival David Barnhill
. After a two year absence from Origin he returned to the Blues side for games II and III of both the 2001 and 2002 series.
Muir made his international representative debut as a reserve in the opening match of the 1995 trans-Tasman series against New Zealand
. He was a late withdrawal from the second Test line-up because of illness, but was selected in Australia's World Cup
squad at the end of year. In that tournament in England he played in one Test, against South Africa. His final international Test appearance was against Fiji in 1996 which Australia won 84-14.
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 1990s and 2000s. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative forward, he played his club football with 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...
(with whom he won the 1997 Premiership), North Sydney Bears
North Sydney Bears
The North Sydney Bears are an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales. They currently compete in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League following the 1999 NRL season after 92 years of top-grade competition. The Bears are based on...
, Northern Eagles
Northern Eagles
The Northern Eagles were a rugby league team, that competed in the National Rugby League between 2000 and 2002. The club was formed during the rationalisation process of the NRL by the merger of the North Sydney Bears and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in 2000...
, and the South Sydney Rabbitohs
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
.
Club career
A Newcastle junior, Muir was graded with the Knights in 1992 and spent five years there and played 99 games. He debuted in first grade in May 1992 but did not cement a regular top-grade spot until round 7 in the 1993 season. He was member of the 1997 premiership winning side and bowed out of the club on a high having announced during the 1997 season, his intention to join the North Sydney BearsNorth Sydney Bears
The North Sydney Bears are an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales. They currently compete in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League following the 1999 NRL season after 92 years of top-grade competition. The Bears are based on...
.
His two seasons at Norths were plagued with ankle and knee injuries and his cause was not helped when he clashed with coach Peter Louis after being fined for misbehaviour after a pre-season match in Wagga in early 1999. He was a major signing of the merged Northern Eagles in 2000 and made a return to 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...
honours following good club form that year. After two seasons in which the Northern Eagles merger was wracked by internal strife and poor team performances, he signed on to captain the South Sydney Rabbitohs
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
on their return to the NRL
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...
in 2002. Although signed to a two season contract, injury forced him into retirement in 2003.
Representative career
After representing for Country OriginCity 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...
he first represented for New South Wales at 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...
during the troubled 1995 season where he played in all three games. He made his first appearance in the run-on side in game III at second-row. He made nine consecutive appearances for the Blues from game I 1995 to game III of 1997 until his position was challenged by his Northern Eagles club-mate Nik Kosef
Nik Kosef
Nik Kosef is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He was a state and national representative whose club career was spent with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and the Northern Eagles...
and his long-term representative peer and rival David Barnhill
David Barnhill
David Barnhill is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s, 90s and 2000s. His club career was with the Canberra Raiders, St. George Dragons, Sydney City and Leeds Rhinos...
. After a two year absence from Origin he returned to the Blues side for games II and III of both the 2001 and 2002 series.
Muir made his international representative debut as a reserve in the opening match of the 1995 trans-Tasman series against New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
. He was a late withdrawal from the second Test line-up because of illness, but was selected in Australia's World Cup
Rugby League World Cup
The Rugby League World Cup is an international rugby league competition contested by members of the Rugby League International Federation . It has been held nearly once every 4 years on average since its inaugural tournament in France in 1954...
squad at the end of year. In that tournament in England he played in one Test, against South Africa. His final international Test appearance was against Fiji in 1996 which Australia won 84-14.