John Cootes

Last updated

John Cootes
Personal information
Born (1941-08-19) 19 August 1941 (age 82)
Playing information
Position Centre, Wing
Club
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
1967–73 Wests (Newcastle)83
Representative
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
Newcastle
1967–70 Country NSW 32924
1969–70 New South Wales 54113
1969–70 Australia 760018
Source: [1]

John Cootes (born 19 August 1941), nicknamed "the footballing priest", is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s, and Roman Catholic priest. [2] An Australia international representative three-quarter back and adept goal-kicker, he played club football in the Newcastle Rugby League for Western Suburbs during the 1960s and also later worked as a television commentator and presenter.

Cootes hailed from Newcastle and was trained during childhood by Clive Churchill and later played for the Lazio rugby union club in 1966 while on scholarship to study theology at Rome's Propaganda College. [3]

In 1967 he commenced playing in the Newcastle Rugby League for Western Suburbs. [4]

Father John Cootes became the first Roman Catholic priest to play international rugby league when he was selected for Australia's tour of New Zealand in 1969. Also that year he was named New South Wales' Country Rugby League player of the year. [5] He made appearances for Australia as a three-quarter back in 1969 and 1970. [6] He played in the Newcastle Rugby League grand final-winning Wests side in 1970. [7] Cootes' last Test match was the final of the 1970 World Cup which was against Great Britain at the Headingley ground in Leeds, England. A particularly violent match, Australia won 12–7, with Cootes crossing in the first half, becoming the tournament's top try-scorer.

Having obtained a dispensation to marry, Cootes wed in 1972 in Arizona, US. [8] Eventually he left the priesthood and opened a chain of furniture stores in New South Wales. [9] After football, Cootes also enjoyed a long and successful media career, becoming a sports commentator for Channel 10. In 1979 he was appointed as John Singleton's replacement as host of Channel 10's Saturday Night Live programme. [10] He left Channel 10 in 1983 to concentrate on a business venture, but returned to television in 1986. [11]

He was named at centre in West Rosellas RLFC's team of the century.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matthew Johns</span> Australia international rugby league player

Matthew James Johns is an Australian rugby league media personality, commentator and former professional player. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative five-eighth, Johns played his club football primarily with the Newcastle Knights, alongside his younger brother, Andrew. Since March 2011, Johns has been a co-host on the Triple M Sydney breakfast show called The Grill Team with Mark Geyer. Since 2012, Johns has been a part of the Fox Sports NRL coverage. He had his own show on Channel 7 for one season in 2010, The Matty Johns Show and since 2013 has hosted a rugby league analysis and light entertainment show on Foxtel airing two nights each week.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Raper</span> Australian rugby league player and coach (1939–2022)

John William Raper was an Australian professional rugby league footballer and coach. Nicknamed "Chook", he was a lock-forward who earned a then-record of 33 Test caps in the Australia national team between 1959 and 1968. He also played six World Cup games between 1960 and 1968. Raper captained Australia on eight occasions from 1967 to 68 and played in eight consecutive NSWRFL first-grade grand final victories for the St George Dragons club. He was named as one of the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Afamasaga</span> Samoa international rugby league footballer

Jack Taualii Afamasaga, also known by the nickname of "Skuks", is a New Zealand former rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s. He played at club level for the Parramatta Eels, the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League, the Western Suburbs Rosellas in the Newcastle Rugby League competition, with stints in the Queensland Cup and in France, as a second-row or lock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Galea</span> Australian rugby league footballer

Ben Galea is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer. A City New South Wales representative forward, he previously played in Australasia's National Rugby League for the Balmain Tigers and the Wests Tigers and also for English club the Hull Kingston Rovers and Hull F.C. of Super League.

The Penthouse Club was an Australian weekly variety program produced live to air from the studios of HSV-7 Melbourne from 10 October 1970. It was originally hosted by Michael Williamson and comedian Mary Hardy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy Raudonikis</span> Australian rugby league footballer and coach (1950–2021)

Thomas Walter Raudonikis was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach. He played 40 International games and World Cup games as Australia representative halfback and captained his country in two matches of the 1973 Kangaroo tour.

Dennis Ward was an Australian professional rugby league footballer. He was a halfback who played first grade in the NSWRFL Premiership for Canterbury-Bankstown and Manly-Warringah from 1965 to 1972, winning the 1972 Grand Final with Manly. He also played for City Firsts, New South Wales and Australia in representative football.

Roy Masters AM is an Australian sports journalist and former rugby league football coach. He is a sports columnist for the Sydney Morning Herald. He was a school teacher with an interest in team psychology who enjoyed some success as a schoolboy coach before embarking on a professional coaching career in the NSWRFL Premiership.

Peter Dimond was an Australian rugby league footballer who played his club rugby league for Western Suburbs. Born in Dapto, New South Wales, he is the younger brother of former Australian test player and New South Wales representative Bobby Dimond. He is also the father of former Illawarra Steelers, Cronulla Sharks and Canberra Raiders utility Craig Dimond. Peter was named both in the Western Suburbs Team of the Century and the Wests Tigers Team of the Century.

The Newcastle Rugby League is a local rugby league football competition in Newcastle, Australia. It is one of the oldest rugby league competitions in Australia, founded in 1910. A Newcastle representative team was also assembled from players in the League during most of the 20th century. The first grade competition also comprises the NSWRL Presidents Cup Northern Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Suburbs Rosellas</span> Australian rugby league club, based in Newcastle, NSW

The Western Suburbs Rosellas, Western Suburbs, Wests, The Rosellas, 2/10 - J Baker are a Rugby league club based in the Newcastle, NSW region of Australia. It was a foundation member of the Newcastle Rugby League in 1909 and has been one of the most successful teams in that competition. The club has had a number of players represent Australia including Wally Prigg, a member of the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame. Johnny Raper, another member of the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame played for Wests after he finished playing for the St. George Dragons.

John "Dallas" Donnelly was an Australian professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. An Australian Kangaroos and New South Wales Blues representative, he played for Western Suburbs between 1975 and 1984 in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noel Kelly (rugby league)</span> Australia international rugby league footballer and coach (1936–2020)

Noel Raymond Kelly was an Australian professional rugby league footballer and coach, who played at club, state and national levels. He was named among the country's finest footballers of the 20th century. Kelly played as a hooker, prop forward or lock for much of his top-grade career with the Western Suburbs Magpies, whom he played for in three consecutive NSWRFL grand finals from 1961 to 1963. Kelly was named at hooker of the Western Suburbs Magpies, Queensland and Australian teams of the 20th century.

Matthew "Matt" Fuller is a former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s.

<i>The Matty Johns Show</i> Australian variety television series

The Matty Johns Show was an Australian variety television show largely focused on the National Rugby League (NRL) competition, starring former professional rugby league footballer Matthew "Matty" Johns. It first aired in 2010 on Thursdays at 7.30 pm in New South Wales and Queensland, on the Seven Network. The show usually ran for 1 hour. It was produced by Matty Johns and John Singleton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matthew Kennedy (rugby league)</span> Australian rugby league footballer

Matthew Kennedy is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played for the Newcastle Knights in the 2000s. He last played for the Western Suburbs Rosellas of the Newcastle Rugby League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ron Gibbs</span> Australian rugby league footballer

Ron Gibbs, also known by the nickname of "Rambo", is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played professionally in Australia and England. An Australian Aboriginal and Country New South Wales representative three-quarter back or second-row forward, he played his club football in the New South Wales Rugby League for Eastern Suburbs, Manly-Warringah, Gold Coast-Tweed and Western Suburbs, as well as in England for Castleford.

Frank Stanmore (1929–2005) was an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s. An Australian international and New South Wales interstate representative five-eighth, he played club football in Sydney's NSWRFL for Western Suburbs, winning the 1948 Premiership with them. Stanmore also played in the Newcastle Rugby League and was inducted into the Hunter Region Sporting Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hans Mork</span> Australian rugby league footballer and coach

Hans Eric Mork was a South African-born Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s and 1930s. He played in Sydney for the Newtown club, as well as in Newcastle for the Western Suburbs club and elsewhere in country New South Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chance Peni</span> Rugby player

Chance Peni-Ataera is a New Zealand-born rugby union footballer who plays for the Hino Red Dolphins in the Japan Rugby League One competition. He has previously played rugby league for the Cook Islands at international level.

References

  1. ↑ John Cootes. Rugby League Project
  2. ↑ Paddy McAteer (22 December 2010) "Whole World in their Hands" Archived 5 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine North West Evening Mail
  3. ↑ AAP (14 March 1966). "Priest makes Hit in Rugby". The Age . Australia. p. 21. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
  4. ↑ "Cootes still with Newcastle Club". The Sydney Morning Herald . Australia. 19 January 1968. p. 12. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
  5. ↑ Country Player of the Year at crlnsw.com.au
  6. ↑ Hadfield, Dave (12 March 1997). "No higher power on rugby league paddock". The Independent . UK. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
  7. ↑ "West Rosellas RLFC Newcastle – TEAM OF THE CENTURY". westrosellas.com.au. West Rosellas RLFC . Retrieved 30 April 2011.
  8. ↑ "John Cootes, ex-priest, marries". The Sydney Morning Herald . 25 August 1972. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  9. ↑ Barnes, Steve (13 August 2006). "Questions & Answers". The Sunday Times . UK. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  10. ↑ "John Cootes takes Singleton's job". The Sydney Morning Herald . Australia. 28 March 1979. p. 16. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
  11. ↑ Jacqueline Lee Lewes (21 December 1986). "Jottings". The Sun-Herald . Australia. p. 96. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.