John Elias (rugby league)
Encyclopedia
John Elias is an Australian former rugby league
footballer and coach. During the 1980s and 90s he played for clubs in Sydney, Brisbane, England and France where he also coached, and also played and coached for the Lebanon national team
.
as a child Elias, along with his two older brothers and sister, was taken by his mother to Sydney
following the death of his father. There he became an Australian citizen.
in their final season in 1983, he played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs
in 1984. The following season he moved north, and in the 1985 Brisbane Rugby League grand final for the Wayne Bennett-coached Souths Magpies, Elias was named man-of-the-match for his performance in a shock 10-8 win over Wally Lewis
's Wynnum-Manly Seagulls
.
He joined the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in 1986 but departed the club mid-way through the season to join the Western Suburbs Magpies
.
Early in the 1987 Winfield Cup season, Elias was sent off for a high tackle in a match against North Sydney Bears
.
He joined the Eastern Suburbs Roosters in 1988. Early in the 1988 Winfield Cup season while playing for Easts, Elias' jaw was fractured in a tackle during the first minutes of a match against Balmain.
Part-way through the 1989 NSWRL season, he left Eastern Suburbs to join the Balmain Tigers
club, where he stayed until 1994. He left Balmain to re-join the Rabbitohs mid-way though the 1994 Winfield Cup season. That season Elias was involved in a match-fixing plot that involved four players from his Souths team and four players from Wests.
Elias was jailed for nine months in 1995 after pleading guilty in the NSW District Court to two counts of supplying amphetamines, one count of possessing F1 sub-machinegun parts and one count of possessing prohibited articles, namely military-style flak vests.
Elias was the inaugural captain of the Lebanese rugby league team when they made their debut in the 1997 World Sevens tournament, going on to reach the quarter-finals.
He later travelled to France to play for Avignon and Toulouse.
Elias was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 1999 at age 38, but postponed chemotherapy to play an international match for Lebanon against France. Later he underwent surgery to remove a tennis-ball sized lymphoma which had burst inside his stomach, forcing him into retirement. Instead of being Lebanon's captain for their campaign to join the 2000 World Cup
, he served as their coach.
match due to a firearms conviction.
Elias coached French club Pia Donkeys in 2002 and 2003, taking them from last in the competition to runners-up, before returning to Australia.
In 2004 Elias was facing up to 25 years jail after a jury found him guilty of maliciously shooting his business partner in the leg. He ended up serving four years in prison.
In 2008, following Elias' release from prison, it was reported that he and Arthur Beetson
, who had advised Elias during the 2000 World Cup, were preparing a bid for a rugby league coaching job in Europe.
In June 2009, following the conviction of Greg Bird
, Elias wrote an article published by News Limited
detailing his time in prison. That year he coached Lebanon in the 2009 European Cup tournament.
In 2010 Elias published his book, Sin Bin: The Untold Story of a True Footy Bad Boy, which detailed his life of football and crime.
In the 2011 pre-season, as part of the investigation into the Ryan Tandy
match fixing controversy, police also arrested Elias and prominent player manager Sam Ayoub.
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 and coach. During the 1980s and 90s he played for clubs in Sydney, Brisbane, England and France where he also coached, and also played and coached for the Lebanon national team
Lebanon national rugby league team
The Lebanon national rugby league team is the representative side of Lebanon in rugby league football. They are nicknamed "The Cedars" after the Lebanon Cedar tree, which is also on the Lebanese flag. The team has been participating in international competition since 1998 and has quickly became one...
.
Biography
Born in LebanonLebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
as a child Elias, along with his two older brothers and sister, was taken by his mother to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
following the death of his father. There he became an Australian citizen.
Playing career
After starting his first grade career with the Newtown JetsNewtown Jets
The Newtown Jets are an Australian rugby league football club based in Newtown, a suburb of Sydney's inner west. They currently compete in the NSWRL Premier League competition, having left the top grade after the 1983 NSWRFL season...
in their final season in 1983, he 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...
in 1984. The following season he moved north, and in the 1985 Brisbane Rugby League grand final for the Wayne Bennett-coached Souths Magpies, Elias was named man-of-the-match for his performance in a shock 10-8 win over 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...
's Wynnum-Manly Seagulls
Wynnum-Manly Seagulls
The Wynnum-Manly Seagulls are an Australian rugby league football club based at Kougari Oval, which is in the Eastern Brisbane suburb of Manly West. They competed in the Brisbane Rugby League from 1951 to 1997. Since 1996 they have competed in the Queensland Cup. Their jersey is red, green and white...
.
He joined the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in 1986 but departed the club mid-way through the season to join the Western Suburbs Magpies
Western Suburbs Magpies
The Western Suburbs Magpies are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly referred to, were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia...
.
Early in the 1987 Winfield Cup season, Elias was sent off for a high tackle in a match against 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...
.
He joined the Eastern Suburbs Roosters in 1988. Early in the 1988 Winfield Cup season while playing for Easts, Elias' jaw was fractured in a tackle during the first minutes of a match against Balmain.
Part-way through the 1989 NSWRL season, he left Eastern Suburbs to join 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...
club, where he stayed until 1994. He left Balmain to re-join the Rabbitohs mid-way though the 1994 Winfield Cup season. That season Elias was involved in a match-fixing plot that involved four players from his Souths team and four players from Wests.
Elias was jailed for nine months in 1995 after pleading guilty in the NSW District Court to two counts of supplying amphetamines, one count of possessing F1 sub-machinegun parts and one count of possessing prohibited articles, namely military-style flak vests.
Elias was the inaugural captain of the Lebanese rugby league team when they made their debut in the 1997 World Sevens tournament, going on to reach the quarter-finals.
He later travelled to France to play for Avignon and Toulouse.
Elias was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 1999 at age 38, but postponed chemotherapy to play an international match for Lebanon against France. Later he underwent surgery to remove a tennis-ball sized lymphoma which had burst inside his stomach, forcing him into retirement. Instead of being Lebanon's captain for their campaign to join the 2000 World Cup
2000 Rugby League World Cup
The 2000 Rugby League World Cup was the twelfth staging of the Rugby League World Cup and was held during October and November of that year in Great Britain, Ireland and France...
, he served as their coach.
Coaching career
Elias was refused entry into the United states for Lebanon's 2000 World Cup qualifier2000 Rugby League World Cup qualifying
2000 Rugby League World Cup qualifying was contested by the national rugby league football teams of Lebanon, the United States, Morocco, Canada, Italy and Japan for the 16th spot in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup tournament...
match due to a firearms conviction.
Elias coached French club Pia Donkeys in 2002 and 2003, taking them from last in the competition to runners-up, before returning to Australia.
In 2004 Elias was facing up to 25 years jail after a jury found him guilty of maliciously shooting his business partner in the leg. He ended up serving four years in prison.
In 2008, following Elias' release from prison, it was reported that he and Arthur 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...
, who had advised Elias during the 2000 World Cup, were preparing a bid for a rugby league coaching job in Europe.
In June 2009, following the conviction of Greg Bird
Greg Bird
Gregory Bird is an Australian professional rugby league footballer currently contracted to the Gold Coast Titans of the National Rugby League...
, Elias wrote an article published 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...
detailing his time in prison. That year he coached Lebanon in the 2009 European Cup tournament.
In 2010 Elias published his book, Sin Bin: The Untold Story of a True Footy Bad Boy, which detailed his life of football and crime.
In the 2011 pre-season, as part of the investigation into the Ryan Tandy
Ryan Tandy
Ryan Tandy is an Australian professional rugby league footballer. He played as both a prop and second-row .-Playing career:...
match fixing controversy, police also arrested Elias and prominent player manager Sam Ayoub.