Greg Alexander

Infobox rugby league biography
playername = Greg Alexander
fullname = Gregory Alexander
nickname = Brandy


caption =
country =
position = rlp|HB
currentclub =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1965|3|4|df=y
placeofbirth = Penrith, New South Wales
countryofbirth = Australia
height = convert|180|cm|ftin|abbr=on
weight = convert|84|kg|stlb|abbr=on
club1 = Penrith Panthers
year1start = 1984
year1end = 1994
appearances1 = 196
tries1 = 93
goals1 = 335
fieldgoals1 = 11
points1 = 1053
club2 = Auckland Warriors
year2start = 1995
year2end = 1996
appearances2 = 37
tries2 = 11
goals2 = 8
fieldgoals2 = 0
points2 = 60
club3 = Penrith Panthers
year3start = 1997
year3end = 1999
appearances3 = 31
tries3 = 8
goals3 = 8
fieldgoals3 = 3
points3 = 51
teamA = leagueicon|Australia|size=16 Australia Schoolboys
yearAstart = 1983
yearAend =
appearancesA =
triesA =
goalsA =
fieldgoalsA =
pointsA =
teamB = New South Wales
yearBstart = 1989
yearBend = 1991
appearancesB = 6
triesB = 0
goalsB = 2
fieldgoalsB = 0
pointsB = 4
teamC = Australia
yearCstart = 1986
yearCend = 1990
appearancesC = 6
triesC = 4
goalsC = 10
fieldgoalsC = 0
pointsC = 36
teamD = New South Wales (SL)
yearDstart = 1997
yearDend =
appearancesD = 1
triesD = 1
goalsD = 0
fieldgoalsD = 0
pointsD = 4
source = [http://203.166.101.37/NRL08/playercareer.asp?lplayer=11158 NRL Stats] , [http://rugbyleagueproject.com/players/Greg_Alexander.html RLP]

Greg Alexander (born 4 March 1965 in Penrith, New South Wales) is an Australian former rugby league footballer. In his career he played for and captained the Penrith Panthers and the Auckland Warriors in the National Rugby League competition in Australia; he has also represented his country and state on several occasions. His position of choice for the majority of his career was at half-back.

Playing career

Alexander began his rugby career at schoolboy level where he quickly established himself as a star player for his side and was consequently picked to represent the Australian schoolboys side. He was later signed on as a junior to his local club side the Penrith Panthers.

While attending Patrician Brothers, Alexander played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 1983. [cite web |title=SportingPulse Homepage for Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League |url=http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=7-2130-0-0-0&sID=26424 |accessdate=2008-10-10 | publisher="SportingPulse"]

Penrith Panthers

Alexander made his first grade debut for the Panthers in the 1984 season as an elusive and quick thinking half-back. His talent quickly became clear and by the end of the season he took out the Rookie of the Year award. The following year Greg continued his good form throughout the season tallying up 194 points (a club record at the time) and earning himself the 1985 Dally M. player of the year award.

Greg continued playing with the Panthers for the next several years and become known for his unique ability to score and set up tries, his excellent attacking kicking and his solid defence. 1989 saw him rise to Test selection in New Zealand, but he was regarded as a disappointment after his exceptional form for Penrith earlier in the year: his pace and skill had made Penrith the second most dangerous attacking team in the competition (after Canberra) and Alexander was the leading try-scorer for much of the year - scoring ten tries in eight games at one point. He captained the Panthers in 1991 to a premiership title and was also rewarded by being called up to both his state and national side.

The following season was a sombre one for Alexander as in June 1992 his younger brother and fellow Panthers team-mate Ben Alexander was tragically killed in a car accident [http://www.rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/articles/2006/01/28/1138319487065.html] . Alexander missed the majority of fixtures that year and continually fell beyond his usual playing weight and ended the season ten kilograms lighter. [http://www.rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/articles/2006/01/28/1138319487065.html]

Auckland Warriors

At the end of the 1994 season, Alexander left his hometown club of Penrith to venture across the Tasman and join up with the New Zealand side the Auckland Warriors. Many rumoured his leaving stemmed back to his brother's death and his wish to get away from the pain that had stalled his career in the years before. However, he could not secure the halfback spot due to the rise of Stacey Jones and ended up playing most of his two years at five-eighth and fullback.

Return to the Panthers

Alexander eventually returned to Penrith in 1997 after his stint in New Zealand and stayed on till his retirement in 1999. In total, Alexander played 220 games for the Panthers and scored over one hundred tries, tallying over a thousand career points for the club. To date, he is only the second player ever to accomplish this in Australian rugby league.

Life after football

After his retirement from football in 1999, Alexander embarked on a media career in both radio and television. He currently works as a host and commentator for Foxtel's Fox Sports station.

Alexander is a member of the Penrith Panthers board of directors. He also had a small coaching role for the Panthers in 2003 when they won the premiership title.

Private Life

Alexander is the brother-in-law of fellow former Penrith, NSW and Australian Rugby League player, Mark Geyer and the brother-in-law of former Penrith, Perth Reds and Newcastle Second Rower, Peter Shiels.

ources

* Australian Associated Press (January 29, 2006) [http://www.rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/articles/2006/01/28/1138319487065.html "Mourning Mat's biggest battle"] , "Sydney Morning Herald".
* [http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,9152235-24689,00.html Fox Sports NRL team profiles]

External links

* [http://www.panthers.com.au/default.aspx?id=40 Penrith Panthers Board of Directors]
* [http://www.stateoforigin.com.au/SOOgame/PlayerDetails.aspx?Pid=79 State of Origin Official website Rugby League Player Stats]