Craig Salvatori
Encyclopedia
Craig Salvatori is an Australian former professional rugby league
footballer of the 1980s and 90s. He spent most of his career at the Eastern Suburbs
club. His position of choice was in the front row. Salvatori also played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs
as well as representing Australia and New South Wales.
award for Front rower of the Year. In the later part of his playing career, Salvatori suffered several knee injuries and he spent his final year of first grade with the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
. Salvatori was also selected for an Australian tour of Papua New Guinea
at the end of the year but he sustained an injury in the first tour match which prevented him from playing in any of the tests.
Salvatori was selected to represent New South Wales as a reserve for:
side in the 1997 World Sevens competition and the 1999 Mediterranean Cup competition.
In 2001, Salvatori was named as a reserve in the Indigenous Team of the Century, captained by Artie Beetson
.
Salvatori currently runs a guest house in Byron Bay.
His second wife, Kathy Salvatori, was killed in the 2002 Bali bombings.
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. He spent most of his career at the Eastern Suburbs
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
club. His position of choice was in the front row. Salvatori also played for 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...
as well as representing Australia and New South Wales.
Playing career
In 1985, Salvatori was graded by Eastern Suburbs from the Nelson Hotel club and he first broke into the top grade in 1986. During his time with Easts, Salvatori played more than 100 matches for the club, many as captain. Salvatori was a large and 'fiery' front row forward but he possessed skill and some pace, scoring 21 tries. In the 1991 season Salvatori won the Dally MDally M Medal
The Dally M Medal is the premier individual award in the Australian rugby league competition, which is given to the player voted by sports commentators as the best and fairest in the competition for that year....
award for Front rower of the Year. In the later part of his playing career, Salvatori suffered several knee injuries and he spent his final year of first grade with the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Representative career
In 1991, Salvatori first gained selection for Australia, playing in two matches against New ZealandNew 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...
. Salvatori was also selected for an Australian tour of Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea national rugby league team
The Papua New Guinea national rugby league team represents Papua New Guinea internationally in the sport of rugby league football.In Papua New Guinea, Rugby league is highly popular and is regarded as the country’s national sport. The national side are known as the Kumuls...
at the end of the year but he sustained an injury in the first tour match which prevented him from playing in any of the tests.
Salvatori was selected to represent New South Wales as a reserve for:
- game III of the 1991 State of Origin1991 Rugby League State of Origin seriesThe Game III decider back in Brisbane was fast-paced and desperately fought with never more than four points separating the sides. Queensland led 8-4 at half-time but two New South Wales tries took the Blues to a 12-8 lead. Late in the second-half a superb dash by Maroons' hooker Steve Walters...
series - games I, II and III of the 1992 State of Origin1992 Rugby League State of Origin seriesThe 1992 Rugby League State of Origin series was the eleventh annual interstate representative rugby league series between New South Wales and Queensland based on "state of origin" selection rules...
series, scoring a try in game I - game I of the 1993 State of Origin1993 Rugby League State of Origin seriesThe 1993 Rugby league State of Origin series was the 12th year that the annual best-of-three series of interstate rugby league football matches contested between the Queensland and New South Wales representative teams was played under 'State of Origin' selection rules...
series
Post-playing career
Since his retirement, Salvatori took on a role coaching rugby league's emerging nations. He coached the ItalianItaly national rugby league team
The Italy national rugby league team represents Italy in international rugby league football. The team dates back from the 1950s after the formation of a domestic competition in the country, and in the 1960s they played Australia, France and a number of English teams.The game disappeared in Italy...
side in the 1997 World Sevens competition and the 1999 Mediterranean Cup competition.
In 2001, Salvatori was named as a reserve in the Indigenous Team of the Century, captained by Artie Beetson
Arthur Beetson
Arthur Henry "Artie" Beetson, OAM , was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach. He represented Australia and Queensland from 1964 to 1981. His position was at prop. Beetson became the first Indigenous Australian to captain his country in any sport. and is frequently cited as the best...
.
Salvatori currently runs a guest house in Byron Bay.
His second wife, Kathy Salvatori, was killed in the 2002 Bali bombings.