Gold Coast Chargers
Encyclopedia
Gold Coast were a professional Rugby league football
club which played in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership
from 1988
to 1994
, the Australian Rugby League
premiership from 1995
to 1997
, and the National Rugby League
premiership in 1998
. They first played under the name Gold Coast-Tweed Giants, then Gold Coast Seagulls, and finally Gold Coast Chargers.
for the 1988 season
, along with the Brisbane Broncos
and Newcastle Knights
. Due to a clause in Brisbane's licence, only one team (the Broncos) could play in South-East Queensland. As a result the Giants played out of the now demolished Seagulls Stadium
in Tweed Heads
, New South Wales
, just over the border, which was home to the Tweed Heads Seagulls
RLFC.
The Giants' colours were black, silver and white.
The Giants were a team that spanned both New South Wales and Queensland. The vision of the club was to unite the entire Gold Coast holiday area into a single purpose. Gold Coast and Group 18 provided a nursery of young players in which the club was able to draw on for recruitment.
The key signing for the club was Ron Gibbs
who had won the 1987 Grand Final while playing for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. Joining Gibbs as the clubs key recruits were; Chris Close
, Neil Hunt
, Mike Eden, Tony Rampling
, Billy Johnstone
and Ben Gonzales.
Unfortunately the club's major signing Ron Gibbs only appeared in 14 games during the season. Their other major signing Tony Rampling
only made one appearance.
The Giants avoided coming last in their first season in the premiership. Lack of playing depth and financial concerns hung over the club for the season.
The Giants only won 4 matches during the 1988 season. Their most memorable victory coming against the Brisbane Broncos
the score in the match was 25-22. The Giants showcased some of the games emerging young talent in halfback Geoffrey "Geoff" Bagnall
and a rampaging young forward Keith Neller
, who was once touted as a potential State of Origin player.
The Giants played their first premiership match against the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs in which they were defeated 21 points to 10. The team was;
Replacements used, Robert Simpkins, Troy McCarthy, Greg Whitbread, Scott Mienei.
During the 1988 season Billy Johnstone and Ben Gonzales both appeared in 21 games. Mike Eden scored 79 points (1 try, 36 goals, 3 field goals)and Scott Mieni scored 8 tries to lead the team in try scoring. In February 1989 the Giants were taken over by the Seagulls Leagues Club. This assured the club's financial future.
The 1989 season saw the much heralded arrival of Bob Lindner
. He would write his name into the record books by becoming the club's first State of Origin representative when he played for Queensland in the first State of Origin match in 1989. Unfortunately Lindners' appearances for the Giants were limited to only 10 games. Linder would leave the club after only one season. The Giants won seven games and drew one in the 1989 season which was a great improvement on their first season. Home crowd attendances improved despite very poor weather. Keith Neller
suffered several injuries during the 1989 campaign that limited his effectiveness for the Giants. The club's leading points scorer for the 1989 season was again Mike Eden who scored a mere 63 points (3 tries, 25 goals, 1 field goal). The leading try scorer was Peter Benson who scored 7 tries. The worrying aspect for the club overall was that the team could only score 34 tries, 3 fewer than in 1988. Although the club showed great improvement in defense conceding 101 fewer points than the previous season.
Major Sponsor
The Gold Coast Giants' name was changed to Gold Coast Seagulls, but although the Tweed reference was dropped from the name, they continued to play out of Seagulls Stadium. Along with a change of name came a change of colours to black, white, and red, they signed Wally Lewis
, one of the world's greatest rugby league players as captain-coach in '91
and '92
and, following his retirement, just as coach in '93
. The club received wooden spoons in all of those three seasons (in 1992 because of an interchange infringement), appearing to reach their nadir in 1993 when they won only one game.
On 16 June 1993 the Gold Coast club was fined $50,000 for exceeding their 1992 salary cap by $150,000.
When recruitment manager Billy Johnstone
, the inaugural gold coast captain, left, the Gold Coast Seagulls chief executive, Don Furner
, who had coached Tom Searle in the NSW Country side, asked him to take over.
Major Sponsors
With the Super League war
in full flight at the end of the 1995 ARL season, the Seagulls Leagues Club pulled out their support and the club was closed at the end of the year.
, and were based at Carrara Stadium
. With new jersey colours, the club then enjoyed some immediate success in winning one of the minor trophies at that year's pre-season World Sevens tournament, both the club's and the Gold Coast sporting fraternity's first title of any description. However after having gone through a handful of chief executives, five coaches and some court battles, Muller's licence was revoked by the ARL and they moved in to administer the club before the start of the 1996 ARL season.
the club was officially registered as the Gold Coast Chargers.
After having been in the league for eight seasons, the Chargers that made the Gold Coast club's only finals appearance in the Australian Rugby League
's half of 1997's split competition
.
Gold Coast were one of a few clubs who actually made a financial profit during Super League, and gained entrance into the newly re-unified National Rugby League
(NRL) competition in 1998
. However, a reduction of teams was deemed necessary before the 1999 season and the Chargers seemed likely to be dropped. The Hunter Mariners
, who were owned by News Limited
, were offered as merger partners, but the Gold Coast turned down the offer. If they had merged to form the Gold Coast Mariners, they would have had a strong chance of getting players like Richard Swain
, Brett Kimmorley
and Willie Mason
, along with now-successful coaches Graham Murray
and Michael Hagan
. When they were closed at the end of 1998 by the NRL
, the Gold Coast club had $3.1 million in the bank.
Major Sponsors
Martin Bella
Preston Campbell
Chris Close
Craig Coleman
Phil Daley
Ben Ikin
Steve Jackson Wally Lewis
Bob Lindner
Graham Mackay
Keith Neller
Paul Martin Dale Shearer
Adrian Vowles
New Zealand Brent Todd
(1991) Dale Shearer
(1993)
----
New Zealand Brent Todd
(1992-93)
----
Great Britain Daryl Powell
(1991)
----
Rest Of The World
----
Wales Kevin Ellis (1996)
(1989) Wally Lewis
(1991) Dale Shearer
(1992-93) Steve Jackson (1992-93) Mike McLean
(1992) Adrian Vowles
(1994) Ben Ikin
(1995) Jamie Goddard
(1997-98) Jeremy Schloss (1997)
. They have no ties to former Gold Coast teams such as the three listed here, except for the fact they play out of the same city and (for their debut year) played at the same ground as did the Chargers (Gold Coast Stadium, Carrara) before a permanent move to Skilled Park, Robina. During the annual NRL Heritage Round, the Titans wear a strip modeled off the 1992 Gold Coast Seagulls jersey. The colours however remain those of the Titans (Sky Blue and Gold stripes on a white jersey).
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...
club which played in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership
New South Wales Rugby League premiership
The New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the first rugby league football club competition established in Australia. Run by the New South Wales Rugby League from 1908 until 1994, the premiership was the state's and later the country's elite rugby league competition...
from 1988
New South Wales Rugby League season 1988
The 1988 New South Wales Rugby League Premiership was the eighty-first season of professional rugby league football in Australia. This year saw the first expansion of the NSWRL competition outside the borders of New South Wales, with the addition of three new teams, the Brisbane Broncos, Gold...
to 1994
New South Wales Rugby League season 1994
The 1994 New South Wales Rugby League season was the eighty-seventh season of professional rugby league football in Australia...
, the Australian Rugby League
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...
premiership from 1995
Australian Rugby League season 1995
The 1995 ARL premiership was the 88th season of professional rugby league football in Australia, and the first to be run by the Australian Rugby League. For the first time since 1988, the League expanded again, with the addition of four new clubs from North Queensland, Western Australia, South...
to 1997
Australian Rugby League season 1997
The 1997 Australian Rugby League season was the 90th season of professional rugby league football in Australia, and the third season run by the Australian Rugby League...
, and the 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...
premiership in 1998
National Rugby League season 1998
The 1998 NRL season was the 91st season of professional rugby league football in Australia, and the inaugural season of the newly formed National Rugby League. After the Australian Rugby League and Super League organisations ran separate competitions parallel to each other in 1997, they joined to...
. They first played under the name Gold Coast-Tweed Giants, then Gold Coast Seagulls, and finally Gold Coast Chargers.
Gold Coast-Tweed Giants
The Gold Coast-Tweed Giants were admitted to the New South Wales Rugby League premiershipNew South Wales Rugby League premiership
The New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the first rugby league football club competition established in Australia. Run by the New South Wales Rugby League from 1908 until 1994, the premiership was the state's and later the country's elite rugby league competition...
for the 1988 season
New South Wales Rugby League season 1988
The 1988 New South Wales Rugby League Premiership was the eighty-first season of professional rugby league football in Australia. This year saw the first expansion of the NSWRL competition outside the borders of New South Wales, with the addition of three new teams, the Brisbane Broncos, Gold...
, along with 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...
and 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...
. Due to a clause in Brisbane's licence, only one team (the Broncos) could play in South-East Queensland. As a result the Giants played out of the now demolished Seagulls Stadium
Seagulls Stadium
Seagulls Stadium was a rugby league stadium located on Gollan Drive in West Tweed Heads, New South Wales, a suburb of the Gold Coast.Originally known as Chris Cunningham Field, it was the home ground of the Gold Coast-Tweed Giants rugby league franchise, who entered the New South Wales Rugby League...
in Tweed Heads
Tweed Heads, New South Wales
Tweed Heads is a town located on the Tweed River in north-eastern New South Wales, Australia in Tweed Shire. Tweed Heads is located next to the border with Queensland, adjacent to the "Twin Town" of Coolangatta, a suburb of the Gold Coast...
, New South Wales
New 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...
, just over the border, which was home to the Tweed Heads Seagulls
Tweed Heads Seagulls
The Tweed Heads Seagulls, often referred to simply as Tweed or Seagulls, is a rugby league club based in Tweed Heads, New South Wales, and is the only non-Queensland team to play in the Queensland Cup.-History:...
RLFC.
The Giants' colours were black, silver and white.
The Giants were a team that spanned both New South Wales and Queensland. The vision of the club was to unite the entire Gold Coast holiday area into a single purpose. Gold Coast and Group 18 provided a nursery of young players in which the club was able to draw on for recruitment.
The key signing for the club was Ron Gibbs
Ron Gibbs
Ron Gibbs is a Australian rugby league player who played professionally in Australia and England.-Playing career:...
who had won the 1987 Grand Final while playing for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. Joining Gibbs as the clubs key recruits were; Chris Close
Chris Close
Christopher "Choppy" Close is an Australian retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s, '80s and '90s. A robust three-quarter, he represented Australia internationally and Queensland in State of Origin, and played club football in Queensland and New South Wales...
, Neil Hunt
Neil Hunt
Neil Hunt is a former professional rugby league player in the New South Wales Rugby League competition. He primarily played on the wing....
, Mike Eden, Tony Rampling
Tony Rampling
Tony Rampling is a former professional rugby league player in the New South Wales Rugby League. During his career he played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs , Eastern Suburbs, Gold Coast Chargers, Salford City Reds and the Western Suburbs Magpies....
, Billy Johnstone
Billy Johnstone
Billy Johnstone is an Australian former rugby league player for the Canterbury Bulldogs, St. George Dragons and the Gold Coast Chargers...
and Ben Gonzales.
Unfortunately the club's major signing Ron Gibbs only appeared in 14 games during the season. Their other major signing Tony Rampling
Tony Rampling
Tony Rampling is a former professional rugby league player in the New South Wales Rugby League. During his career he played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs , Eastern Suburbs, Gold Coast Chargers, Salford City Reds and the Western Suburbs Magpies....
only made one appearance.
The Giants avoided coming last in their first season in the premiership. Lack of playing depth and financial concerns hung over the club for the season.
The Giants only won 4 matches during the 1988 season. Their most memorable victory coming against 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...
the score in the match was 25-22. The Giants showcased some of the games emerging young talent in halfback Geoffrey "Geoff" Bagnall
Geoffrey Bagnall
Geoff Bagnall is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and '90s who at club level has played for Gold Coast-Tweed Giants, and Wakefield Trinity, playing at /, i.e. number 7.-County Cup Final Appearances:Geoff Bagnall played /, i.e...
and a rampaging young forward Keith Neller
Keith Neller
Keith Neller is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s who at club level has played for Halifax, and Gold Coast Chargers, playing at , i.e. number 8 or 10.-Challenge Cup final appearances:...
, who was once touted as a potential State of Origin player.
The Giants played their first premiership match against the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs in which they were defeated 21 points to 10. The team was;
- Fullback - Mike Eden
- Winger - Paul Sheahan
- Centre - Chris CloseChris CloseChristopher "Choppy" Close is an Australian retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s, '80s and '90s. A robust three-quarter, he represented Australia internationally and Queensland in State of Origin, and played club football in Queensland and New South Wales...
- Centre - Mark Ross
- Winger - Bennett King
- Five Eighth - Wayne AlbertsWayne AlbertsWayne Alberts is a Australian rugby league player who played professionally played professionally for the Gold Coast-Tweed Giants.-Playing career:...
- Halfback - Geoffrey "Geoff" BagnallGeoffrey BagnallGeoff Bagnall is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and '90s who at club level has played for Gold Coast-Tweed Giants, and Wakefield Trinity, playing at /, i.e. number 7.-County Cup Final Appearances:Geoff Bagnall played /, i.e...
- Lock - Russell Browning
- Second Row - Eric Kennedy
- Second Row - Tony RamplingTony RamplingTony Rampling is a former professional rugby league player in the New South Wales Rugby League. During his career he played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs , Eastern Suburbs, Gold Coast Chargers, Salford City Reds and the Western Suburbs Magpies....
- Front Row - Jim Cowell
- Hooker - Billy JohnstoneBilly JohnstoneBilly Johnstone is an Australian former rugby league player for the Canterbury Bulldogs, St. George Dragons and the Gold Coast Chargers...
- Front Row - Peter Smith
Replacements used, Robert Simpkins, Troy McCarthy, Greg Whitbread, Scott Mienei.
During the 1988 season Billy Johnstone and Ben Gonzales both appeared in 21 games. Mike Eden scored 79 points (1 try, 36 goals, 3 field goals)and Scott Mieni scored 8 tries to lead the team in try scoring. In February 1989 the Giants were taken over by the Seagulls Leagues Club. This assured the club's financial future.
The 1989 season saw the much heralded arrival of Bob Lindner
Bob Lindner
Bob Lindner is a former Australian representative rugby league player and coach. He represented his country in the sport and is one of a handful of players to be man-of-the-match in State of Origin football more than once...
. He would write his name into the record books by becoming the club's first State of Origin representative when he played for Queensland in the first State of Origin match in 1989. Unfortunately Lindners' appearances for the Giants were limited to only 10 games. Linder would leave the club after only one season. The Giants won seven games and drew one in the 1989 season which was a great improvement on their first season. Home crowd attendances improved despite very poor weather. Keith Neller
Keith Neller
Keith Neller is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s who at club level has played for Halifax, and Gold Coast Chargers, playing at , i.e. number 8 or 10.-Challenge Cup final appearances:...
suffered several injuries during the 1989 campaign that limited his effectiveness for the Giants. The club's leading points scorer for the 1989 season was again Mike Eden who scored a mere 63 points (3 tries, 25 goals, 1 field goal). The leading try scorer was Peter Benson who scored 7 tries. The worrying aspect for the club overall was that the team could only score 34 tries, 3 fewer than in 1988. Although the club showed great improvement in defense conceding 101 fewer points than the previous season.
Major Sponsor
- Seagulls Leagues Club
Gold Coast Seagulls
Wally Lewis
Walter James "Wally" Lewis AM is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach. Currently a commentator of the sport, he is widely regarded as the greatest rugby league player of all time...
, one of the world's greatest rugby league players as captain-coach in '91
New South Wales Rugby League season 1991
The 1991 New South Wales Rugby League Premiership season was the eighty-fourth season of professional rugby league football in Australia. This year the League experimented with a draft system for the first time....
and '92
New South Wales Rugby League season 1992
The 1992 New South Wales Rugby League Premiership season was the eighty-fifth season of professional rugby league football in Australia. Sixteen teams competed for the J J Giltinan Shield during the season which culminated in a grand final for the Winfield Cup between the Brisbane Broncos, making...
and, following his retirement, just as coach in '93
New South Wales Rugby League season 1993
The 1993 NSWRL season was the eighty-sixth season of professional rugby league football in Australia. The New South Wales Rugby League's sixteen teams competed for the J. J...
. The club received wooden spoons in all of those three seasons (in 1992 because of an interchange infringement), appearing to reach their nadir in 1993 when they won only one game.
On 16 June 1993 the Gold Coast club was fined $50,000 for exceeding their 1992 salary cap by $150,000.
When recruitment manager Billy Johnstone
Billy Johnstone
Billy Johnstone is an Australian former rugby league player for the Canterbury Bulldogs, St. George Dragons and the Gold Coast Chargers...
, the inaugural gold coast captain, left, the Gold Coast Seagulls chief executive, Don Furner
Don Furner
Don Furner is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. As a player he represented Queensland on nine occasions and also toured with the 1956–57 Kangaroos....
, who had coached Tom Searle in the NSW Country side, asked him to take over.
Major Sponsors
- Seagulls Leagues Club
- TooheysTooheysTooheys is a brewery in the suburb of Lidcombe, in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It produces beers under the Tooheys and Hahn trademarks, and is part of the New Zealand Lion Nathan beverages group.-History:...
- Pellerman's Wines
With the Super League war
Super League war
The Super League war is the common name given to the corporate dispute that was fought in and out of court during the mid-1990s between the Rupert Murdoch and News Corporation-backed Super League and the Kerry Packer and Optus Vision-backed Australian Rugby League organisations over broadcasting...
in full flight at the end of the 1995 ARL season, the Seagulls Leagues Club pulled out their support and the club was closed at the end of the year.
Gold Coast Gladiators
The Gold Coast Club's licence was bought out by local property millionaire and entrepreneur Jeff Muller before the start of the rugby league season and, after some initial deliberation during which it was mooted the club would become known as the Gold Coast Gladiators. The team was moved to its namesake, the Gold CoastGold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
, and were based at Carrara Stadium
Carrara Stadium
Carrara Stadium is a sporting venue on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, located in the suburb of Carrara....
. With new jersey colours, the club then enjoyed some immediate success in winning one of the minor trophies at that year's pre-season World Sevens tournament, both the club's and the Gold Coast sporting fraternity's first title of any description. However after having gone through a handful of chief executives, five coaches and some court battles, Muller's licence was revoked by the ARL and they moved in to administer the club before the start of the 1996 ARL season.
Gold Coast Chargers
During the 1996 seasonAustralian Rugby League season 1996
The 1996 ARL premiership was the 89th season of professional rugby league football in Australia, and the second to be run by the Australian Rugby League...
the club was officially registered as the Gold Coast Chargers.
After having been in the league for eight seasons, the Chargers that made the Gold Coast club's only finals appearance in the Australian Rugby League
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...
's half of 1997's split competition
Australian Rugby League season 1997
The 1997 Australian Rugby League season was the 90th season of professional rugby league football in Australia, and the third season run by the Australian Rugby League...
.
Gold Coast were one of a few clubs who actually made a financial profit during Super League, and gained entrance into the newly re-unified 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...
(NRL) competition in 1998
National Rugby League season 1998
The 1998 NRL season was the 91st season of professional rugby league football in Australia, and the inaugural season of the newly formed National Rugby League. After the Australian Rugby League and Super League organisations ran separate competitions parallel to each other in 1997, they joined to...
. However, a reduction of teams was deemed necessary before the 1999 season and the Chargers seemed likely to be dropped. The Hunter Mariners
Hunter Mariners
The Hunter Mariners were an Australian rugby league club based in the Hunter Valley region's largest city, Newcastle. Hunter was formed in mid 1995 and was later disbanded at the end of 1997. The club was formed because of the Super League war, which was the rivalry between the traditional...
, who were owned by News Limited
News Limited
News Limited is one of Australia's largest diversified media companies. The publicly listed company's interests span newspaper and magazine publishing, Internet, Pay TV, National Rugby League, market research, DVD and film distribution, and film and television production trading assets.News Limited...
, were offered as merger partners, but the Gold Coast turned down the offer. If they had merged to form the Gold Coast Mariners, they would have had a strong chance of getting players like Richard Swain
Richard Swain
Richard Swain is a retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. A New Zealand international representative Hooker, he played club football in Australia for the Hunter Mariners, Melbourne Storm and Brisbane Broncos and in England for Hull.-Early years:Swain went to Farrer...
, Brett Kimmorley
Brett Kimmorley
Brett "Noddy" Kimmorley was an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs of the NRL. He has previously played for five other clubs and has also represented his country and state on several occasions...
and Willie Mason
Willie Mason
William Marshall "Willie" Mason is an Australian professional rugby union footballer for Toulon in the Top 14 competition, having previously being a rugby league footballer for Hull KR in the European Super League.Mason signed a 3-year contract with Hull KR in September 2010, pending a successful...
, along with now-successful coaches Graham Murray
Graham Murray
Graham Murray is an Australian rugby league player and coach. Murray is currently the High Performance Unit Director of Coaching at the Newcastle Knights.-Playing career:...
and Michael Hagan
Michael Hagan
Michael Hagan is an Australian rugby league football coach and former player. He currently works as assistant coach under Mal Meninga for the record-breaking Queensland rugby league team...
. When they were closed at the end of 1998 by 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...
, the Gold Coast club had $3.1 million in the bank.
Major Sponsors
- Chandlers
- Home Timber and Hardware
Notable players
Australia Wayne BartrimWayne Bartrim
Wayne Bartrim , is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He was selected to represent Australia and Queensland during his career, which he spent playing for the Gold Coast Seagulls, St. George Dragons and St. George Illawarra Dragons in Australia and...
Martin Bella
Martin Bella
Martin Bella is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. A prop forward, he achieved national and state representation and played club football for various teams in Queensland, New South Wales and England. He is of Italian descent....
Preston Campbell
Preston Campbell
Preston Campbell, is an Indigenous Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Gold Coast Titans of the National Rugby League...
Chris Close
Chris Close
Christopher "Choppy" Close is an Australian retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s, '80s and '90s. A robust three-quarter, he represented Australia internationally and Queensland in State of Origin, and played club football in Queensland and New South Wales...
Craig Coleman
Craig Coleman
Craig Coleman is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach. He primarily played at halfback and remains second on the list of most first-grade games played for Souths, 208....
Phil Daley
Phil Daley
Phil Daley is an Australian former premiership-winning and representative rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. His club career was played with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and the Gold Coast Chargers...
Ben Ikin
Ben Ikin
Benjamin Ikin is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and former commentator for the Nine Network now employed by One HD...
Steve Jackson Wally Lewis
Wally Lewis
Walter James "Wally" Lewis AM is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach. Currently a commentator of the sport, he is widely regarded as the greatest rugby league player of all time...
Bob Lindner
Bob Lindner
Bob Lindner is a former Australian representative rugby league player and coach. He represented his country in the sport and is one of a handful of players to be man-of-the-match in State of Origin football more than once...
Graham Mackay
Graham Mackay
Graham Mackay is an Australian former national and state representative rugby league footballer whose club career spanned nine Australian and English clubs, including Western Suburbs, Penrith, Gold Coast Chargers and Hull F.C. in a fifteen year top grade career...
Keith Neller
Keith Neller
Keith Neller is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s who at club level has played for Halifax, and Gold Coast Chargers, playing at , i.e. number 8 or 10.-Challenge Cup final appearances:...
Paul Martin Dale Shearer
Dale Shearer
Dale Shearer is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative winger/fullback of Aboriginal heritage, he played club football in Queensland, New South Wales and England...
Adrian Vowles
Adrian Vowles
Adrian Vowles is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played in Australia for several years, gaining State of Origin selection in 1994, but spent the majority of his career in the European Super League...
New Zealand Brent Todd
Brent Todd
Brent Trevor Todd is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer. Todd represented his country and played at prop forward.-Early years:...
International
Australia Wally LewisWally Lewis
Walter James "Wally" Lewis AM is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach. Currently a commentator of the sport, he is widely regarded as the greatest rugby league player of all time...
(1991) Dale Shearer
Dale Shearer
Dale Shearer is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative winger/fullback of Aboriginal heritage, he played club football in Queensland, New South Wales and England...
(1993)
----
New Zealand Brent Todd
Brent Todd
Brent Trevor Todd is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer. Todd represented his country and played at prop forward.-Early years:...
(1992-93)
----
Great Britain Daryl Powell
Daryl Powell
Daryl A. Powell is an English rugby league football coach and former player. He is the head coach of Featherstone Rovers Rugby League football club. He is a former /for Keighley Cougars, Sheffield Eagles and Leeds Rhinos...
(1991)
----
Rest Of The World
- Marcus BaiMarcus BaiMarcus Bai is a Papua New Guinean former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. Primarily a winger, he played his final season in 2006 for English Super League team Bradford Bulls. He is the only man to win the World Club Challenge with three different clubs...
(1997) - Tom O'Reilly (1997)
----
Wales Kevin Ellis (1996)
State Of Origin
Queensland Bob LindnerBob Lindner
Bob Lindner is a former Australian representative rugby league player and coach. He represented his country in the sport and is one of a handful of players to be man-of-the-match in State of Origin football more than once...
(1989) Wally Lewis
Wally Lewis
Walter James "Wally" Lewis AM is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach. Currently a commentator of the sport, he is widely regarded as the greatest rugby league player of all time...
(1991) Dale Shearer
Dale Shearer
Dale Shearer is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative winger/fullback of Aboriginal heritage, he played club football in Queensland, New South Wales and England...
(1992-93) Steve Jackson (1992-93) Mike McLean
Mike McLean (rugby league)
Mike McLean is a rugby league footballer of the mid '80s and early '90s for Easts, Newcastle and the Gold Coast of the National Rugby League. He played for the Roosters for a number of years before going on to the other sides...
(1992) Adrian Vowles
Adrian Vowles
Adrian Vowles is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played in Australia for several years, gaining State of Origin selection in 1994, but spent the majority of his career in the European Super League...
(1994) Ben Ikin
Ben Ikin
Benjamin Ikin is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and former commentator for the Nine Network now employed by One HD...
(1995) Jamie Goddard
Jamie Goddard
Jamie Goddard is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played club football for the Gold Coast Seagulls/Chargers, the North Sydney Bears and the Northern Eagles...
(1997-98) Jeremy Schloss (1997)
Gold Coast Titans
The new Gold Coast rugby league team, the Titans, began their first year of competition almost a decade since the demise of the Chargers, competing in National Rugby League season 2007National Rugby League season 2007
The 2007 NRL season was the one hundredth season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the tenth run by the National Rugby League...
. They have no ties to former Gold Coast teams such as the three listed here, except for the fact they play out of the same city and (for their debut year) played at the same ground as did the Chargers (Gold Coast Stadium, Carrara) before a permanent move to Skilled Park, Robina. During the annual NRL Heritage Round, the Titans wear a strip modeled off the 1992 Gold Coast Seagulls jersey. The colours however remain those of the Titans (Sky Blue and Gold stripes on a white jersey).