Laurie Freier
Encyclopedia
Laurie Freier is an Australian former professional rugby league
footballer and coach. He played in Sydney's NSWRFL Premiership for the Eastern Suburbs
and Manly-Warringah
clubs during the 1970s, later coaching Easts as well as the Western Suburbs Magpies
during the 1980s. He is also the father of former rugby union
international Adam Freier
.
club. He played from the bench in Easts' loss to Manly in the 1972 Grand Final, coming on in the second half to replace injured Greg Bandiera. Moving to the Manly-Warringah club, Freier managed a handful of first grade appearances in 1975 and 1976 before retiring.
in the lower grades, winning the reserve grade premiership in 1981. In his initial year of first-grade coaching, with Eastern Suburbs
, Freier was named coach of the year for the 1983 NSWRFL season. He stopped coaching Easts at the end of the following season when the club finished second last. Freier started the 1988 Winfield Cup season as Western Suburbs Magpies
coach but was replaced during the season by John Bailey.
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. He played in Sydney's NSWRFL Premiership for 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...
and Manly-Warringah
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
clubs during the 1970s, later coaching Easts as well as 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...
during the 1980s. He is also the father of former 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...
international Adam Freier
Adam Freier
Adam Freier is a rugby union footballer. He most recently played for the New South Wales Waratahs in the international Super 14 competition. His usual position is at hooker...
.
Playing
Freier began his first grade New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership career in 1970 with the Eastern SuburbsSydney 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. He played from the bench in Easts' loss to Manly in the 1972 Grand Final, coming on in the second half to replace injured Greg Bandiera. Moving to the Manly-Warringah club, Freier managed a handful of first grade appearances in 1975 and 1976 before retiring.
Coaching
Freier coached western SuburbsWestern 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...
in the lower grades, winning the reserve grade premiership in 1981. In his initial year of first-grade coaching, with 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...
, Freier was named coach of the year for the 1983 NSWRFL season. He stopped coaching Easts at the end of the following season when the club finished second last. Freier started the 1988 Winfield Cup season as 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...
coach but was replaced during the season by John Bailey.
External links
- Laurie Freier at rugbyleagueproject.org
- Laurie Freier at stats.rleague.com