Laurie Spina
Encyclopedia
Laurie Spina is an Australian former rugby league
footballer of the 1980s and 90s.
local league competition. His commitment and consistency landed him his first Foley Shield
match against previous year title holders, Mount Isa.
From that day Laurie Spina never looked back, taking out man of the match honours on his debut. He continued to represent Herbert River and was even a squad member of the undefeated Herbert River team in 1982 and that very remarkable drawn Foley Shield final in Townsville against Townsville.
for the North Sydney Bears
.
After two seasons with the North Sydney Bears
, the halfback
moved to the Eastern Suburbs
club where he stayed until 1989, in his 5 years at the Roosters
Spina played in 98 matches and scored 19 tri
es. In 1987 many judges thought Spina would wear the Maroon
for Queensland
in the State of Origin
series after playing in the 'Queensland Country' team against the 'Queensland City ' in a much-publicised match at Lang Park
when he played alongside Sam Backo
, another Ingham
product, but a young Ipswich
player, Allan Langer
took his chance.
, the New South Wales
club dropped into a period of poor form and financial troubles, but the appointment as coach of rugby league
Immortal, Arthur Beetson
, helping to turn on-field problems around. During this time Laurie moved back to his home North Queensland and once again played for Herbert River.
entered the Australian Rugby League
competition in 1995, Spina again played the game at the top level with the Townsville based newcomers.
During the Cowboys debut season, Laurie Spina incredibly played the house down getting himself in line once more for another crack at State selection. Unfortunately for him selectors chose Papua New Guinea
captain Adrian Lam
.
Laurie now manages his canefarm in Macknade, 15 km outside the rural town of Ingham, Queensland
. Laurie plays an important role of managing young talent playing for the local Herbert River Junior Rugby League club. Laurie also has an annual U11 footy tournament named after him played at Dairy Farmers Stadium.
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 of the 1980s and 90s.
Early career
Laurie Spina was continually a stand-out player during his junior years in the Herbert RiverHerbert River
The Herbert River is a river located in Far North Queensland, Australia. The southernmost of Queensland's wet tropics river systems, it is named after Robert George Wyndham Herbert , the first Premier of Queensland...
local league competition. His commitment and consistency landed him his first Foley Shield
Foley Shield (rugby league competition)
The Foley Shield is a rugby league competition in North Queensland administered by the Queensland Rugby League.Prior to 1948 an inter-town competition known as the Carlton Cup was contested in North Queensland...
match against previous year title holders, Mount Isa.
From that day Laurie Spina never looked back, taking out man of the match honours on his debut. He continued to represent Herbert River and was even a squad member of the undefeated Herbert River team in 1982 and that very remarkable drawn Foley Shield final in Townsville against Townsville.
North Sydney Bears & Eastern Suburbs Roosters
After the unforgettable Foley Shield final, Sydney talent scouts pencilled his name down and in 1983, Laurie was playing in 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 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...
.
After two seasons with the 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...
, the halfback
Rugby league positions
A rugby league football team consists of thirteen players on the field, with four substitutes on the bench. Players are divided into two general categories: "forwards" and "backs"....
moved to 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...
club where he stayed until 1989, in his 5 years at the Roosters
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...
Spina played in 98 matches and scored 19 tri
Tri
Tri may refer to:* An intern specializing in Float and Share research.* tri-, a numerical prefix meaning three* El Tri or El Tricolor, are the nickname of the Mexico national football team.* El Tri, Mexican rock group...
es. In 1987 many judges thought Spina would wear the Maroon
Queensland rugby league team
The Queensland rugby league team have represented the Australian state of Queensland in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1908...
for Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
in the State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
series after playing in the 'Queensland Country' team against the 'Queensland City ' in a much-publicised match at Lang Park
Suncorp Stadium
Lang Park is the original name of the site located in the Brisbane suburb of Milton, Queensland, Australia, now occupied by the major sports facility known by its sponsorship name, Suncorp Stadium...
when he played alongside Sam Backo
Sam Backo
Sam Backo is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s who has been named as one of the greatest Aboriginal players of the 20th century. He represented Australia and Queensland, and played club football in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership for the Canberra...
, another Ingham
Ingham, Queensland
Ingham is a town in the Great Green Way region of North Queensland, Australia. The town was founded in 1864, gazetted a shire in 1879, and is the service centre for many sugarcane plantations, pioneered in the 1870s by William Ingham, for whom the town is named...
product, but a young Ipswich
Ipswich, Queensland
Ipswich is a city in South-East Queensland, Australia. Situated along the Bremer River Valley approximately 40 kilometres away from the state's capital Brisbane. The suburb by the same name forms the city's Central Business District and administrative centre...
player, Allan Langer
Allan Langer
Allan "Alfie" Langer AM is an Australian former multi-award-winning rugby league footballer of the 1980s, 90s and 2000s who works as an assistant coach for the Australian national team and Brisbane Broncos...
took his chance.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
After spending the 1990 season with Cronulla SharksCronulla Sharks
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales...
, the 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...
club dropped into a period of poor form and financial troubles, but the appointment as coach of 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...
Immortal, 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...
, helping to turn on-field problems around. During this time Laurie moved back to his home North Queensland and once again played for Herbert River.
North Queensland Cowboys
His form stayed with him at Herbert River and when the North Queensland CowboysNorth Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
entered 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...
competition in 1995, Spina again played the game at the top level with the Townsville based newcomers.
During the Cowboys debut season, Laurie Spina incredibly played the house down getting himself in line once more for another crack at State selection. Unfortunately for him selectors chose Papua New Guinea
Rugby league in Papua New Guinea
Rugby league is the most popular team sport in Papua New Guinea, and is indeed regarded as the national sport. The people have a reputation for being the most passionate supporters of the game in the world....
captain Adrian Lam
Adrian Lam
Adrian Lam is an Australian rugby league football coach and former international player. He is the head coach of the under 20 St George Dragons squad National Rugby League team he signed with them in 2010 and will combine with coaching legend Wayne Bennett.He is a former Papua New Guinea rugby...
.
Laurie now manages his canefarm in Macknade, 15 km outside the rural town of Ingham, Queensland
Ingham, Queensland
Ingham is a town in the Great Green Way region of North Queensland, Australia. The town was founded in 1864, gazetted a shire in 1879, and is the service centre for many sugarcane plantations, pioneered in the 1870s by William Ingham, for whom the town is named...
. Laurie plays an important role of managing young talent playing for the local Herbert River Junior Rugby League club. Laurie also has an annual U11 footy tournament named after him played at Dairy Farmers Stadium.