Gary Belcher

  • Playing Career

Playing Career

Vital Statistics

Nickname(s)
Badge
Born
Monday, 28th May, 1962
Current Age
61 years and 296 days
Place Of Birth
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Awards & Accolades

Dally M Fullback Of The Year
1987, 1989, 1990
Dally M Representative Player Of The Year
1990

Biography

Regarded as one of the finest attacking fullbacks of the modern era, Belcher's ability to chime into the attack was first noticed when he was a member of Brisbane Souths’ premiership-winning team in 1985. The following year he moved to Canberra with teammate Mal Meninga, making his State of Origin debut before being chosen for the 1986 Kangaroo tour. Belcher was understudy to Garry Jack on tour, playing in 10 matches (no Tests). In 1987 he was a member of the Raiders' side that went down to Manly in the grand final. With Queensland achieving a 3-nil whitewash in 1988, Belcher got his chance against Great Britain, making his debut in the Centenary Anglo-Australian Test. While his time with Castleford in 1988-89 was disappointing, Belcher went on to play in 15 consecutive Tests against all rugby league nations. In 1988 he was the season's top point-scorer with 218pts which was also a Canberra club record (since bettered by Clinton Scifcofske in 2001). Belcher's ability to run the ball back confidently and his front-on defence were seen to advantage in Canberra’s premiership victories in 1989-90. Scoring a record 17 tries in a season by a fullback in 1989, he was a try-scorer in the club's magnificent fight-back against Balmain in the grand final. On the 1990 Kangaroo tour Belcher survived the challenge from Greg Alexander and played in all five Tests. Injury interrupted his 1991 season, ruling him out of the Test series against NZ but after taking his place in the club's grand final side, his ultra-competitiveness saw him win back the No.1 fullback spot on the Australian tour of New Guinea. He played in all five matches and top-scored with a modest 32 points but a total knee reconstruction wiped the 1992 season. Belcher returned to State of Origin duty in 1993 but was dropped after Queensland’s 14-10 loss in the first match of the series. With Canberra declining to offer him a new contract, he announced his retirement (on his own sports segment of a Canberra television news program) to concentrate on a media career with Channel 9. He later linked with the Brisbane Broncos as an assistant coach to Wayne Bennett but was sensationally sacked, along with the club’s entire coaching staff, after the disappointing 2005 season.
- 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 %  
NRL 148 69 148   - 572 92 53 3 62.16% List
National Panasonic Cup 4 4 3   - 22 1 3 0 25.00% List
State of Origin 16 5 16   - 52 9 7 0 56.25% List
Tour Matches Australia 32 14 12   1 81 30 2 0 93.75% List
NRL Finals 19 8 17   - 66 11 8 0 57.89% List
Test Series 9 - -   - - 7 2 0 77.78% List
The Ashes 6 - -   - - 4 2 0 66.67% List
World Cup 6 1 1   - 6 5 1 0 83.33% List
English Championship 6 1 -   - 4 5 0 1 83.33% List
Yorkshire Cup 4 3 -   - 12 3 1 0 75.00% List
Regal Trophy 1 1 -   1 5 1 0 0 100.00% List
World Club Challenge 1 - -   - - 0 1 0 0.00% List
Tooheys Challenge Cup 5 2 -   - 8 5 0 0 100.00% List


International

Test Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australia 1988-91 15 3 6   - 24 13 2 0 86.67% List

World Cup Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australia 1988-91 6 1 1   - 6 5 1 0 83.33% List


Representative

Australia - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
QLD 1986-90, 1993 16 5 16   - 52 9 7 0 56.25% List


Club Career

NRL/NSWRL - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Canberra NSWRL 1986 21 11 0 / 3 0.00% - 44 8 12 1 38.10% List
Canberra NSWRL 1987 25 8 32 / 55 58.18% - 96 16 9 0 64.00% List
Canberra NSWRL 1988 22 10 89 / 130 68.46% - 218 13 9 0 59.09% List
Canberra NSWRL 1989 19 17 7 / 14 50.00% - 82 15 4 0 78.95% List
Canberra NSWRL 1990 23 13 10 / 14 71.43% - 72 16 6 1 69.57% List
Canberra NSWRL 1991 15 6 5 / 6 83.33% - 34 9 6 0 60.00% List
Canberra NSWRL 1992 1 - 5 / 6 83.33% - 10 1 0 0 100.00% List
Canberra NSWRL 1993 22 4 0 / 1 0.00% - 16 14 7 1 63.64% List

NRL/NSWRL - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Canberra 1986-93 148 69 148 / 229 64.63% - 572 92 53 3 62.16% List

English Career - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Castleford 1988/89 11 5 -   1 21 9 1 1 81.82% List

English Career - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Castleford 1988 11 5 -   1 21 9 1 1 81.82% List

Your Say

  • Risky
    13/05/2014

    Gary Belcher, was pure poetry to watch running in open play, the most solid and trustworthy of fullbacks, he is often overlooked in fullback debates. He rates as number one fullback ever in my books.... Sorry billy and darren.

  • Dean
    16/07/2015

    Was one of Queenslands best in game 1 1993. Should have been retained. Retired while still in great form.

  • Kev
    25/02/2020

    Still rate him as one of the best fullbacks of all time. Retired while In top form. The south Queensland crushers should have signed him and brought him out of retirement. Five eighth stiles fullback, great runner and talented goalkicker. Legend!

  • Dibble
    12/04/2020

    The best fullback I have ever seen. Could do anything

  • Anonymous
    10/02/2021

    Born February 28, 1962. Not May 28.

  • Anonymous
    03/03/2021

    Born February 28 1962. Not May 28.

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

Sources: NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1989-90, Match Video, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1987-88, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1988-89, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1990-91, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1991-92, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1992-93, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1994, Irvin Saxton's Record Keepers' Club, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1989-90