Gary 'Sven' Larson

  • Playing Career

Playing Career

Vital Statistics

Nickname(s)
Sven
Born
Monday, 2nd January, 1967
Current Age
57 years and 87 days
Place Of Birth
Gladstone, Queensland, Australia

Awards & Accolades

Ron McAuliffe Medal
1995

Biography

Mobile Gladstone lock won praise with his tireless displays for Norths and in Queensland's State of Origin sides in the early 1990s. Gary Larson was one of Norths' most consistent performers during the club's run to the preliminary final in 1991 and was considered unlucky not to have played for Australia in the early 1990s. In 1994 he blemished his fine record when he was sent from the field in the final against Canberra for a dangerous tackle on David Furner. Norths went on to lose the match and Larson lost his chance to press for selection on the Kangaroo Tour. In 1995 he finally made his Test against NZ before going on to play in 9 Tests at the height of the Super League war. Initially declaring his unavailability for World Cup duty because of family commitments Larson was rushed into the side following a broken cheekbone suffered by Paul Harragon and played in both the semi-final, against NZ, and the final against England. Curiously, Larson missed Test selection in ARL’s stand-alone season in 1997 despite being a mainstay of Queensland’s State of Origin pack. He announced his retirement from rep duty in early 1999 but following the Bears’ merger with Manly he saw out the final year of his career with the Eels.
- 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 249 34 -   - 136 133 109 7 53.41% List
National Panasonic Cup 3 - -   - - 2 0 1 66.67% List
Tooheys Challenge Cup 2 - -   - - 2 0 0 100.00% List
State of Origin 24 - -   - - 11 13 0 45.83% List
NRL Finals 14 1 -   - 4 4 10 0 28.57% List
Test Series 3 - -   - - 3 0 0 100.00% List
World Cup 3 1 -   - 4 3 0 0 100.00% List


International

Test Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australia 1995-96 8 1 -   - 4 8 0 0 100.00% List

International Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australia 1995-1997 1 - -   - - 1 0 0 100.00% List

World Cup Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australia 1995 3 1 -   - 4 3 0 0 100.00% List


Representative

Australia - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
QLD 1991-98 24 - -   - - 11 13 0 45.83% List


Club Career

NRL/NSWRL - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
North Sydney NSWRL 1987 1 1 -   - 4 0 1 0 0.00% List
North Sydney NSWRL 1988 2 - -   - - 1 1 0 50.00% List
North Sydney NSWRL 1989 22 1 -   - 4 5 16 1 22.73% List
North Sydney NSWRL 1990 15 1 -   - 4 8 7 0 53.33% List
North Sydney NSWRL 1991 21 7 -   - 28 12 8 1 57.14% List
North Sydney NSWRL 1992 17 1 -   - 4 8 9 0 47.06% List
North Sydney NSWRL 1993 20 3 -   - 12 12 7 1 60.00% List
North Sydney NSWRL 1994 24 4 -   - 16 18 6 0 75.00% List
North Sydney ARL 1995 22 3 -   - 12 10 10 2 45.45% List
North Sydney ARL 1996 23 1 -   - 4 15 6 2 65.22% List
North Sydney ARL 1997 22 2 -   - 8 12 10 0 54.55% List
North Sydney NRL 1998 24 5 -   - 20 16 8 0 66.67% List
North Sydney NRL 1999 20 4 -   - 16 7 13 0 35.00% List
Parramatta NRL 2000 16 1 -   - 4 9 7 0 56.25% List

NRL/NSWRL - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
North Sydney 1987-99 233 33 -   - 132 124 102 7 53.22% List
Parramatta 2000 16 1 -   - 4 9 7 0 56.25% List
Overall1987-2000 249 34 0   0 136 133 109 7 53.41% List

Your Say

  • Col the Bear
    05/02/2011

    Gary Larson is also a member of the North Sydney Team of the Century (prop).

  • Ninja Joe
    07/02/2012

    Gary holds the record for the most consecutive State of Origin matches (24)

  • Anonymous
    17/02/2012

    Gary played rugby union at schoolboy level and was a very good centre. It was only after multiple ankle and knee injuries that he moved into the forwards

  • Anonymous
    14/09/2018

    An Australian schoolboy rugby union player. Brilliant centre.

  • Anonymous
    19/01/2019

    Gary Larson - Absolute Legend.
    Workhorse and dependable and an alround champion.
    We need more former sportsmen and women involved today passing on their skills and experience.
    The younger arrogant players of today would greatly benefit from such true sportsmen.

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

Sources: ARL Rugby League Yearbook 1996, NRL Rugby League Yearbook 1999, NRL Rugby League Yearbook 2000, ARL Rugby League Yearbook 1997, NRL Rugby League Yearbook 2001, NRL Rugby League Yearbook 1998, 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, ARL Rugby League Yearbook 1995, Newspapers