Doc Murray
Encyclopedia
David "Doc" Murray is a New Zealand
rugby league
coach and former player. His position of preference was at Fullback.
competition. Between 1993 and 1994 he was an Auckland representative
(playing 5 games and scoring 2 tries and 4 goals) and was a Kiwi trialist in 1993. In 1994 he played for the Auckland City Vulcans
in the Lion Red Cup
before signing with the Auckland Warriors.
Murray made his debut in the then Optus Cup
for the Auckland Warriors in 1996, starting at Fullback. It was the only first grade appearance he was to make for the side that year. He toured Papua New Guinea
with the New Zealand Māori
.
. However he did not find a place in the first grade side and late in the season he was loaned to the Warrington Wolves
. Murray then spent 1998 loaned to the Lancashire Lynx
club in the second division. During this time, he also had some trials with rugby union
club, the London Wasps
.
He returned to Australian competition in 1999, playing one National Rugby League
game for the South Sydney Rabbitohs
off the bench.
He returned to New Zealand in 2000, playing one season with the Ngongotaha Chiefs
in the Bartercard Cup
. During the season he was again selected to represent New Zealand Māori
.
in the Bay of Plenty Rugby League
competition.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
rugby league
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...
coach and former player. His position of preference was at Fullback.
New Zealand career
Murray started his rugby league career playing for the Ellerslie Eagles club in the Auckland Rugby LeagueAuckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
competition. Between 1993 and 1994 he was an Auckland representative
Auckland rugby league team
The Auckland rugby league team is the team which traditionally represents all of the clubs which play in the Auckland Rugby League competition. The Auckland Rugby League team has traditionally been a powerhouse of New Zealand domestic rugby league...
(playing 5 games and scoring 2 tries and 4 goals) and was a Kiwi trialist in 1993. In 1994 he played for the Auckland City Vulcans
Auckland City Vulcans
For the current NSW Cup team see Auckland VulcansThe Auckland City Vulcans were a New Zealand rugby league club that represented Auckland City in the 1994 Lion Red Cup...
in the Lion Red Cup
Lion Red Cup
The Lion Red Cup was a New Zealand domestic rugby league competition that ran from 1994-1996 sponsored by brewers Lion Nathan. It was created due to the increase in public awareness of domestic rugby league due to the Auckland Warriors being accepted into the Winfield Cup. The competition was a...
before signing with the Auckland Warriors.
Murray made his debut in the then Optus Cup
Australian Rugby League
The Australian Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. It is made up of state bodies, including the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League...
for the Auckland Warriors in 1996, starting at Fullback. It was the only first grade appearance he was to make for the side that year. He toured Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
with the New Zealand Māori
New Zealand Maori rugby league team
-See also:* New Zealand national rugby league team* New Zealand Māori rugby union team* New Zealand Māori cricket team-External links:* Google Books...
.
Later years
In 1997 he moved to England, signing a two year contract with the prestigious Wigan WarriorsWigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
. However he did not find a place in the first grade side and late in the season he was loaned to the Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
. Murray then spent 1998 loaned to the Lancashire Lynx
Blackpool Panthers
Blackpool & The Fylde Panthers RLFC was an English professional rugby league club based in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire. They played at Woodlands Memorial Ground owned by Fylde rugby union club...
club in the second division. During this time, he also had some trials with rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
club, the London Wasps
London Wasps
London Wasps is an English professional rugby union team. The men's first team, which forms London Wasps, was derived from Wasps Football Club who were formed in 1867 at the now defunct Eton and Middlesex Tavern in North London, at the turn of professionalism in 1999...
.
He returned to Australian competition in 1999, playing one 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...
game 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...
off the bench.
He returned to New Zealand in 2000, playing one season with the Ngongotaha Chiefs
Ngongotaha Chiefs
The Ngongotaha Chiefs are a New Zealand rugby league club. They are from Ngongotaha in the Bay of Plenty. In 2000 and 2001 they competed in the Bartercard Cup but now they compete in the Bay of Plenty Rugby League competition.-Notable players:...
in the Bartercard Cup
Bartercard Cup
The Bartercard Cup was the top level rugby league club competition in New Zealand from 2000 until 2007. For the entire life of the tournament it was sponsored by Bartercard. The cup was administered by the New Zealand Rugby League...
. During the season he was again selected to represent New Zealand Māori
New Zealand Maori rugby league team
-See also:* New Zealand national rugby league team* New Zealand Māori rugby union team* New Zealand Māori cricket team-External links:* Google Books...
.
Coaching career
Between 2006 and 2008 Murray coached the Otumoetai EelsOtumoetai
Otumoetai is a major suburb of the city of Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand. Otumoetai is a name used to describe the central area of the peninsula and also the suburbs of Central Otumoetai, Brookfield, Bellevue, Pillans Point, Bureta, Cherrywood and Matua as a...
in the Bay of Plenty Rugby League
Bay of Plenty Rugby League
Bay of Plenty Rugby League is the local sporting body responsible for the administration of Rugby league in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand...
competition.
External links
- Doc Murray Wigan Career Page on Cherry and White, the Wigan RL Fansite.