Ron Coote

Infobox rugby league biography
playername = Ron Coote
fullname = Ron Coote
nickname = Solid


caption =
country =
position = Lock
currentclub =
dateofbirth = 1944
placeofbirth =
countryofbirth =
height =
weight =
retired = yes
club1 = South Sydney
year1start = 1964
year1end = 71
appearances1 = 148
tries1 = 49
goals1 = 0
fieldgoals1 = 0
points1 = 147
club2 = Eastern Suburbs
year2start = 1972
year2end = 78
appearances2 = 109
tries2 = 39
goals2 = 0
fieldgoals2 = 0
points2 = 117
teamA = New South Wales
yearAstart = 1965
yearAend = 75
appearancesA = 15
triesA =
goalsA =
fieldgoalsA =
pointsA = 18
teamB = Australia
yearBstart = 1967
yearBend = 75
appearancesB = 23
triesB =
goalsB =
fieldgoalsB =
pointsB = 39
source = [http://203.166.101.37/NRL08/playercareer.asp?lplayer=2003 NRL Stats]

Ron Coote is an Australian former representative rugby league player whose club career was played with the South Sydney and Eastern Suburbs. He is considered one of the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century. [ [http://www.livenews.com.au/Articles/2008/02/22/Controversy_reigns_as_NRL_releases_top_100_players Century's Top 100 Players] ]

Early life and playing style

Born in Kingsford, New South Wales in 1944 Coote was a South Sydney junior and the son of 1930s Easts forward Jack Coote.

Coote was a tall, rangy lock with an upright running style. He was famous for his outstanding cover defence and low, "round-the-legs" tackling technique. He was bestowed the name "Prince of Locks" after his crowning as second greatest lock ever (behind "King of Locks" Johnny Raper).

Club career

He played 151 games for South Sydney from 1964-71 and 108 games for Eastern Suburbs from 1972-1978. With both clubs enjoying success during his tenure, Coote's Grand Final record is phenomenal. He played in nine Grand Finals in 11 seasons from 1965 to 1975. He won four premierships at Souths and consecutive premierships at Easts in season 1974 and season 1975.

Representative career

He represented Australia in 23 Tests and World Cup games between 1967 and 1975 and was captain for 3 games in the 1970 World Cup.

Post playing

After football Coote became a successful businessman owning a number of McDonalds franchises. He was at one time a member of the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) judiciary. In 2000 he founded the Men of League program which supports former players, officials and referees who have fallen on hard times. The program offers practical assistance and grants for medical operations; it mentors players about to retire from the game and promotes the game in regional areas. As at 2007 Ron Coote is President of the Men of League Program.

Accolades

In 2004 he was named by Souths in their "South Sydney Dream Team", [ [http://www.souths.com.au/history/viewclublegends.asp?ArticleID=842 South Sydney Dream Team] from the official South Sydney website.] , consisting of 17 players and a coach representing the club from 1908 through to 2004, Coote has also been named in a team comprising Eastern Suburbs greatest ever players.

In 2005 he was inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame. [ [http://rl1908.com/Hoffame/index.htm Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame] ] . In February 2008, Coote was named in the list of Australia's "100 Greatest Players" (1908-2007) which was commissioned by the NRL and ARL to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia. [cite web|publisher="NRL & ARL"|title=Centenary of Rugby League - The Players |url=http://www.centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au/site/the-players.aspx?cat=3&list=true |accessdate=2008-02-23|date=2008-02-23] [cite news|author=Peter Cassidy |publisher="Macquarie National News"|title=Controversy reigns as NRL releases top 100 players |url=http://www.livenews.com.au/Articles/2008/02/22/Controversy_reigns_as_NRL_releases_top_100_players |accessdate=2008-02-23|date=2008-02-23] Coote went on to be named in the second-row in Australian rugby league's "Team of the Century". Announced on 17 April, 2008, the team is the panel's majority choice for each of the thirteen starting positions and four interchange players. [cite news|author=Todd Balym|publisher="Fox Sports Australia"|title=Johns, Meninga among Immortals |url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23557351-23214,00.html |accessdate=2008-04-17|date=2008-04-17] [cite web|publisher="NRL & ARL"|title=Team of the Century Announced |url=http://www.centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au/site/news--reviews/media-releases/team-of-the-century-announced.aspx |accessdate=2008-04-17|date=2008-04-17]

References

External links

* [http://www.eraofthebiff.com/p88a.html Ron Coote at eraofthebiff.com]