Chris Close

Chris Close

Personal information
Full name	Christopher Close
Nickname	Choppy
Born	February 5, 1959 (1959-02-05) (age 52) Cunnamulla, Queensland, Australia
Playing 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

Persondata
Name	Close, Chris
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	5 February 1959
Place of birth	Cunnamulla, Queensland
Date of death
Place of death