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Justin Morgan (rugby league)
Encyclopedia
Justin Morgan is a rugby league
coach and former footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He is currently an assistant coach of the Canberra Raiders
. His position of preference was at prop. He has also worked as a commentator.
. He later played for the Canberra Raiders
and, more famously, with the New Zealand Warriors
who made the 2002 National Rugby League Grand Final after winning the Minor Premiership. He retired from playing aged 26.
in 2005, when they reached the Rugby League Challenge Cup
Semi-finals. In August 2005, Morgan took control of Hull KR
after he was lured to the club by their chief executive Paul Lakin. It was a poor end to 2005 for Rovers after winning the Northern Rail Cup against Castleford Tigers
as they were dumped out of the play-offs at home to Halifax RLFC
.
The 2006 season however was far better for Morgan. His side lost just two games out of the eighteen they played that year, finishing top and then beat Widnes Vikings
29-22 to advance to the Grand Final at the Halliwell Jones Stadium
in Warrington. They then beat the Vikings 29-16 which guaranteed promotion to Super League
for 2007. On the cup front, Rovers shocked the Rugby League
World with a huge upset in the quarter finals of the Challenge Cup
to Super League side Warrington Wolves
, running out 40-36 winners on the day. Rovers however reliquinshed their hold on the Northern Rail Cup as Leigh Centurions
beat them 22-18 at Bloomfield Road
, Blackpool in the final.
In their first year in Super League, Rovers started well, winning four out of their first five games including wins over Wigan Warriors
and Leeds Rhinos
. They led the table after victory over the Rhinos. Speculation over Morgan's future intensified as Leeds Rhinos Tony Smith, the new Great Britain Lions
coach, and rumour had it that Morgan was being lined up as a replacement. However, on 18 April 2006, Morgan committed himself to the club until at least 2010, two years more than his previous contract stated.
Morgan also does some work as a pundit for the BBC. The 2010 season had mixed results so far with Morgan's team sitting outside the top 8 and out of the playoffs half way through the season. The 'Magic Weekend' fixture in Edinburgh during the May bank holiday weekend saw Morgan's team thrashed 54-0 against St Helens. Justin steadied the ship at Hull Kingston Rovers and led them to a second consecutive play off place ending the regular rounds in 7th place.
This led to a playoff game away at the KC Stadium to deadly rivals Hull FC, which Rovers won comfortably 21-4 to record their first ever Super League play off win. The 2010 season ended at Wigan a week later when the Robins where defeated 42-18 by the 2010 minor premiers
Morgan signed on as an assistant coach to the Canberra Raiders
for the 2012 and 2013 seasons, replacing Quentin Pongia
.
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 footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He is currently an assistant coach of the Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
. His position of preference was at prop. He has also worked as a commentator.
Playing career
Morgan's career started with the Parramatta EelsParramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
. He later played for the Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
and, more famously, with the New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
who made the 2002 National Rugby League Grand Final after winning the Minor Premiership. He retired from playing aged 26.
Coaching career
Morgan rose to prominence as coach of French club, Toulouse OlympiqueToulouse Olympique
Toulouse Olympique are a French professional rugby league team from Toulouse, in the southwest of France. They were founded on 22 October, in 1937 two years after the founding of the French Rugby League Federation. Between 1995 and 2002 the club were known as Spacers de Toulouse, due to links with...
in 2005, when they reached the Rugby League Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
Semi-finals. In August 2005, Morgan took control of Hull KR
Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...
after he was lured to the club by their chief executive Paul Lakin. It was a poor end to 2005 for Rovers after winning the Northern Rail Cup against Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...
as they were dumped out of the play-offs at home to Halifax RLFC
Halifax RLFC
Halifax RLFC is one of the most historic rugby league clubs in the game, formed over a century ago, in 1873 in the Yorkshire town of Halifax. Known as 'Fax', the official club colours are blue and white hoops, blue shorts and blue socks . They share The Shay stadium with football club FC Halifax Town...
.
The 2006 season however was far better for Morgan. His side lost just two games out of the eighteen they played that year, finishing top and then beat Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
29-22 to advance to the Grand Final at the Halliwell Jones Stadium
Halliwell Jones Stadium
Halliwell Jones Stadium is a rugby league stadium in Warrington, England that is the home ground of Warrington Wolves. It has also staged Challenge Cup semi-finals, the European Nations Final and the National League Grand Finals' Day....
in Warrington. They then beat the Vikings 29-16 which guaranteed promotion to Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
for 2007. On the cup front, Rovers shocked the 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...
World with a huge upset in the quarter finals of the Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
to Super League side 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....
, running out 40-36 winners on the day. Rovers however reliquinshed their hold on the Northern Rail Cup as Leigh Centurions
Leigh Centurions
Leigh Centurions is an English professional rugby league club based in Leigh, Greater Manchester who play in the Co-operative Championship.The club was founded in 1878 as Leigh Rugby Football Club and is one of the original twenty-two clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in...
beat them 22-18 at Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
, Blackpool in the final.
In their first year in Super League, Rovers started well, winning four out of their first five games including wins over Wigan Warriors
Wigan 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....
and Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
. They led the table after victory over the Rhinos. Speculation over Morgan's future intensified as Leeds Rhinos Tony Smith, the new Great Britain Lions
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
coach, and rumour had it that Morgan was being lined up as a replacement. However, on 18 April 2006, Morgan committed himself to the club until at least 2010, two years more than his previous contract stated.
Morgan also does some work as a pundit for the BBC. The 2010 season had mixed results so far with Morgan's team sitting outside the top 8 and out of the playoffs half way through the season. The 'Magic Weekend' fixture in Edinburgh during the May bank holiday weekend saw Morgan's team thrashed 54-0 against St Helens. Justin steadied the ship at Hull Kingston Rovers and led them to a second consecutive play off place ending the regular rounds in 7th place.
This led to a playoff game away at the KC Stadium to deadly rivals Hull FC, which Rovers won comfortably 21-4 to record their first ever Super League play off win. The 2010 season ended at Wigan a week later when the Robins where defeated 42-18 by the 2010 minor premiers
Morgan signed on as an assistant coach to the Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
for the 2012 and 2013 seasons, replacing Quentin Pongia
Quentin Pongia
Quentin Lee Pongia is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s who represented his country. He is the grandson of fellow Kiwi international Jim Calder and his sister Megan Tahapeehi has also represented the Kiwi Ferns.-Playing career:Originally from the West Coast,...
.