- Chris Close
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Chris Close Personal information Full name Christopher Close Nickname Choppy Born February 5, 1959
Cunnamulla, Queensland, AustraliaPlaying information Position Centre, Wing, Prop Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1979 Fortitude Valley 1980–81 Redcliffe 28 17 0 0 51 1982–87 Manly-Warringah 99 39 0 0 154 1988–91 Gold Coast Seagulls 67 4 0 0 16 Total 194 60 0 0 221 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1979–86 Queensland 14 2 0 0 6 1980–85 Australia 3 1 0 0 4 Source: RLP Christopher "Choppy" Close (born 5 February 1959) is an Australian retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s, '80s and '90s. A robust three-quarter, he represented Australia internationally and Queensland in State of Origin, and played club football in Queensland and New South Wales. Close has the distinction of being one of a handful of players to be named man-of-the-match in State of Origin more than once. In fact the first two State of Origin man-of-the-match awards went to him.
Hailing from Cunnamulla, Queensland, where he started playing football in the 1970s, Close scored 52 tries during the 1978 season. Chris played his first A Grade game for the Beaudesert Kingfishers before joining Brisbane Rugby League premiership club, Valleys. A forward-sized centre who also excelled on the wing in his early career, Close represented Combined Brisbane in the 1979 Amco Cup competition and made his debut for Queensland the same year.
In 1980, while playing for Redcliffe, Close was chosen on the Australian tour of New Zealand but it was his consecutive man-of-the-match performances in the first two State of Origin matches in 1980 and 1981 that turned heads. He was a fierce competitor, as his back-hander to the face of opposing winger Eric Grothe in 1981's State of Origin match testifies.
Close signed with Manly in 1982 and played in the Grand Final with them that year and again in 1983, which were both lost to Parramatta. Close continued to be a regular visitor to the State of Origin arena during the 1980s, becoming one of a handful of players to be man-of-the-match in State of Origin football more than once.
Close appeared in three Tests on the 1985 tour of New Zealand but failed to tour with the Kangaroos the following year.
After playing in Manly's reserve grade grand final loss in 1987, he linked with the newly formed Gold Coast club where his experience was used to good effect in the forwards.
After his retirement as a player, Close filled the role of Queensland State of Origin team manager under Paul Vautin (1995–97), Wayne Bennett (1998 & 2001-4) and Mark Murray (1999-00). In 2000 Close was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his contribution to Australia's international standing in rugby league.
External links
- Chris Close at the State of Origin official website.
- Chris Close at the Former Origin Greats website.
- Chris Close at nrlstats.com
- Chris Close at yesterdayshero.com.au
- Chris Close stats at rugbyleagueproject.com
- Queensland Representatives at qrl.com.au
Fortitude Valley squad - 1979 BRL premiers 1. Alan Mills • 2. Mick Neill • 3. Chris Close • 4. Vic Wieland • 5. Peter Falvey • 6. Peter McWhirter • 7. Ross Strudwick (Ca./Co.)
8. Al McInnes • 9. Paul Richards • 10. Tom Duggan • 11. John McLeod • 12. Ian Sommer • 13. Wally LewisInaugural Gold Coast-Tweed Giants side 1. Mike Eden | 2. Paul Sheahan | 3. Chris Close | 4. Mark Ross | 5. Bennett King | 6. Wayne Alberts | 7. Geoffrey "Geoff" Bagnall
8. Russell Browning | 9. Eric Kennedy | 10. Tony Rampling | 11. Jim Cowell | 12. Billy Johnstone | 13. Peter Smith
14. Robert Simpkins | 15. Troy McCarthy | 16. Greg Whitbread | 17. Scott Mienei | Coach: Bob McCarthyCategories:- 1959 births
- People from Cunnamulla, Queensland
- Australian rugby league players
- Fortitude Valley Diehards players
- Redcliffe Dolphins players
- Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles players
- Gold Coast Giants/Seagulls/Chargers players
- Queensland Rugby League State of Origin players
- Australia national rugby league team players
- Recipients of the Australian Sports Medal
- Living people
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