John 'Joe Cool' Dorahy

Playing Career

Vital Statistics

Nickname(s)
Joe Cool
Born
Saturday, 28th August, 1954
Current Age
69 years and 214 days
Place Of Birth
Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia

Known Family Links

Son
Dane Dorahy

Biography

Wollongong Wests fullback, a teenage NSW Country rep in 1972-73, spent a season with Leigh in England with his brother Tony before coming to Wests in 1974. A fine defender with a great kick and chase, John Dorahy was known as 'Joe Cool' because of his composure under pressure. He represented Australia in the two Test series against NZ in 1978 but injury ruled him out of Kangaroo contention that year. In 1979 he made his only appearances for NSW (as a centre) but joined big-spenders Manly the following year. His two seasons with the club were hampered by knee and neck injuries and, in 1982, he returned ‘home’ to captain I’warra in the club’s debut season. Dorahy scored the then club record 463 career points during his four seasons with the Steelers but, in 1983-84, successfully tested the international transfer ban to play with Hull KR. He won the Harry Sunderland Trophy as 'Man of the Match' in the 1984 premiership final. Dorahy did not return to Sydney until 1987 and, linking with Norths, defied 'father-time' when chosen as Country Origin fullback in 1988 after first choice Garry Jack was suspended (this was 16 years after Dorahy had made his senior representative debut!) He later captain-coached Halifax but his time with English club champions Wigan was much more controversial. Dorahy was chosen to replace John Monie in the 1993-94 season but was sacked after just one season - the victim of internal politics despite Wigan's wins in the Challenge Cup and premiership final. He returned to Australia soon after and has been an assistant coach with I’warra, W’Reds and Wests.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Playing Career Statistics

All statistics shown in this section are based only on data available in the RLP database, and are not necessarily a complete and/or 100% accurate representation of a player's career. This information should be used as a guide only. If you see a question mark (?), it denotes that the figure is not available.

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.

Competitions

Competition   App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
City vs Country Firsts 4 2 -   6 12 2 2 0 50.00% List
Tour Matches NSW Country 1 - -   - - 1 0 0 100.00% List
National Panasonic Cup 6 3 38   - 85 3 2 1 50.00% List
NRL 239 55 554   11 1298 103 129 7 43.10% List
NRL Finals 8 - 18   - 36 3 5 0 37.50% List
Tour Matches Australia 2 1 -   - 3 2 0 0 100.00% List
Test Series 2 1 -   - 3 2 0 0 100.00% List
Interstate Matches 2 - 6   - 12 2 0 0 100.00% List
Tour Matches New South Wales Firsts 1 - 4   - 8 0 1 0 0.00% List
English Championship 61 25 140   2 382 41 18 2 67.21% List
Tour Matches Hull Kingston Rovers 3 - 3   - 6 1 2 0 33.33% List
Challenge Cup 12 4 36   1 89 8 3 1 66.67% List
Premiership Trophy 5 3 14   - 40 3 2 0 60.00% List
Yorkshire Cup 11 4 18   1 53 7 2 2 63.64% List
Regal Trophy 11 3 18   - 48 8 3 0 72.73% List
City vs Country 1 - 7   - 14 0 1 0 0.00% List
UK Second Division 14 3 2   - 16 9 5 0 64.29% List


International

Test Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australia 1978 2 1 -   - 3 2 0 0 100.00% List


Representative

Australia - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
NSW Country Firsts 1972-73 2 2 -   - 6 0 2 0 0.00% List
NSW Country 1972 1 - -   - - 1 0 0 100.00% List
Combined Sydney 1976 2 - -   - - 1 1 0 50.00% List
NSW City Seconds 1979 1 1 6   - 15 1 0 0 100.00% List
NSW Firsts 1979 3 - 10   - 20 2 1 0 66.67% List
NSW City Firsts 1979-80 2 - -   6 6 2 0 0 100.00% List
NSW Country 1988 1 - 7   - 14 0 1 0 0.00% List
Overall1972-1988 12 3 23   6 61 7 5 0 58.33% List


Club Career

NRL/NSWRL - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Western Suburbs NSWRFL 1974 21 6 72   1 163 12 9 0 57.14% List
Western Suburbs NSWRFL 1975 22 11 76   - 185 9 11 2 40.91% List
Western Suburbs NSWRFL 1976 8 - -   - - 3 5 0 37.50% List
Western Suburbs NSWRFL 1977 14 3 9   - 27 4 10 0 28.57% List
Western Suburbs NSWRFL 1978 20 3 6   - 21 14 5 1 70.00% List
Western Suburbs NSWRFL 1979 17 6 66   1 151 11 6 0 64.71% List
Manly NSWRFL 1980 8 2 1   - 8 5 2 1 62.50% List
Manly NSWRFL 1981 19 4 18   1 49 9 8 2 47.37% List
Illawarra NSWRFL 1982 25 6 70   1 159 6 19 0 24.00% List
Illawarra NSWRFL 1983 25 5 76   3 175 8 17 0 32.00% List
Illawarra NSWRL 1984 7 - 22   - 44 5 2 0 71.43% List
Illawarra NSWRL 1985 16 3 36   1 85 3 13 0 18.75% List
North Sydney NSWRL 1987 13 1 40 / 53 75.47% 2 86 5 8 0 38.46% List
North Sydney NSWRL 1988 15 4 46 / 65 70.77% 1 109 6 8 1 40.00% List
North Sydney NSWRL 1989 9 1 16 / 24 66.67% - 36 3 6 0 33.33% List

NRL/NSWRL - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Western Suburbs 1974-79 102 29 229   2 547 53 46 3 51.96% List
Manly 1980-81 27 6 19   1 57 14 10 3 51.85% List
Illawarra 1982-85 73 14 204   5 463 22 51 0 30.14% List
North Sydney 1987-89 37 6 102 / 142 71.83% 3 231 14 22 1 37.84% List
Overall1974-1989 239 55 554   11 1,298 103 129 7 43.10% List

English Career - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Hull KR 1983/84 26 18 74   2 222 21 4 1 80.77% List
Hull KR 1985/86 36 8 96   2 226 24 10 2 66.67% List
Hull KR 1986/87 29 11 48   - 140 16 12 1 55.17% List
Halifax 1989/90 23 5 10   - 40 15 7 1 65.22% List

English Career - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Hull KR 1983, 1985-86 91 37 218   4 588 61 26 4 67.03% List
Halifax 1989 23 5 10   - 40 15 7 1 65.22% List
Overall1983-1990 114 42 228   4 628 76 33 5 66.67% List

Your Say

  • Keith
    04/03/2019

    John made 94 appearances for rovers including 2 as sub

  • Chris Andrews
    23/04/2022

    I loved watching Joe Cool play. He was a hugely talented player who probably didn't play as many Tests as he should have. He was a very fine attacking player, with an elusive step, beautiful hands, and an accomplished kicking game. Had he played his full career in England he would probably have been regarded as a legend there. I believe he is also a true gentleman.

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Contributions: Greg Fiveash, AJ Lucantonio, Paul Carter, Rugby League Tables, Andrew Ferguson, Shawn Dollin, Alan Katzmann, Steven Russo, Bill Bates

Sources: NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1989-90, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1987-88, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1988-89, Irvin Saxton's Record Keepers' Club, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1986-87, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1987-88, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1984-85, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1990-91