Playing Career
All information provided below is based only on data available in the RLP database and should be used as a guide only.
Vital Statistics
- Born
- Tuesday, 19th August, 1941
- Current Age
- 84 years and 330 days
- Place Of Birth
- Maitland, New South Wales, Australia
Known Family Links
- Brother
- Peter Cootes
Playing Career Statistics
To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.
| Representative Career - International | Comp Wins | Starts | Int | APP | 3ST | 3PT | T | G | A | GK % | 2FG | FG | Pts | Bin5 | Bin | Off | W | L | D | Win% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests (Senior International Matches) | - | 8 | - | 8 | 7 | - | 7 | 0 | / | 1 | 0.00% | - | - | 21 | - | - | - | 5 | 3 | - | 62.50% | List | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Ashes | - | 2 | - | 2 | - | - | - | 0 | / | 1 | 0.00% | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | - | 50.00% | List | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Cup | 1 | 3 | - | 3 | 5 | - | 5 | - | - | - | 15 | - | - | - | 2 | 1 | - | 66.67% | List | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tour Matches | AustraliaAUS | - | 12 | - | 12 | 9 | - | 9 | 2 | - | - | 31 | - | - | - | 7 | 5 | - | 58.33% | List | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tour Matches | New South Wales FirstsNFI | - | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 0.00% | List | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tour Matches | Newcastle Firsts (AU)NWF | - | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | 0.00% | List | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Test Series | - | 4 | - | 4 | 1 | - | 1 | 0 | / | 1 | 0.00% | - | - | 3 | - | - | - | 2 | 2 | - | 50.00% | List | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Representative Career - Australia | Comp Wins | Starts | Int | APP | 3ST | 3PT | T | G | A | GK % | 2FG | FG | Pts | Bin5 | Bin | Off | W | L | D | Win% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interstate Series | 2 | 5 | - | 5 | 4 | - | 4 | 1 | / | 3 | 33.33% | - | - | 14 | - | - | - | 4 | 1 | - | 80.00% | List | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NSW City vs Country Firsts | - | 3 | - | 3 | 2 | - | 2 | 9 | - | - | 24 | - | - | - | 1 | 2 | - | 33.33% | List | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NSW City vs Country | - | 4 | - | 4 | 2 | - | 2 | 9 | - | - | 24 | - | - | - | 2 | 2 | - | 50.00% | List | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overall | Starts | Int | APP | 3ST | 3PT | T | G | A | GK % | 2FG | FG | Pts | Bin5 | Bin | Off | W | L | D | Win% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First Class | 23 | - | 23 | 15 | - | 15 | 12 | - | - | 69 | - | - | - | 13 | 9 | 1 | 56.52% | List | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Test Matches - By Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | Years | Starts | Int | APP | 3ST | 3PT | T | G | A | GK % | 2FG | FG | Pts | Bin5 | Bin | Off | W | L | D | Win% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Australia | 1969-70 | 8 | - | 8 | 7 | - | 7 | - | - | - | 21 | - | - | - | 5 | 3 | - | 62.50% | List | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
World Cup Matches - By Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | Years | Starts | Int | APP | 3ST | 3PT | T | G | A | GK % | 2FG | FG | Pts | Bin5 | Bin | Off | W | L | D | Win% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Australia | 1969-1970 | 3 | - | 3 | 5 | - | 5 | - | - | - | 15 | - | - | - | 2 | 1 | - | 66.67% | List | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Australia - By Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | Years | Starts | Int | APP | 3ST | 3PT | T | G | A | GK % | 2FG | FG | Pts | Bin5 | Bin | Off | W | L | D | Win% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NSW Country Seconds | 1967 | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | 100.00% | List | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NSW Country Firsts | 1967, 1969-70 | 3 | - | 3 | 2 | - | 2 | 9 | - | - | 24 | - | - | - | 1 | 2 | - | 33.33% | List | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NSW Firsts | 1969-70 | 6 | - | 6 | 4 | - | 4 | 1 | / | 3 | 33.33% | - | - | 14 | - | - | - | 4 | 1 | 1 | 66.67% | List | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Newcastle (AU) | 1970 | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | 0.00% | List | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Contributions:
Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson, Paul Carter, Greg Fiveash, Max Turner, Alan Katzmann, Rugby League Tables, Tony McCarron, Bill Bates, Tim Costello
Your Say
7 May 2012 6:52pm
Australian Rugby League's only priest-player!
Father John Cootes was involved in one of the most notorious football incidents - in a selection trial for the 1967 Kangaroo tour, he was coat-hangered by the bruising enforcer Peter Dimond. Diamond was sent off and consequently missed selection for the tour and never represented Australia again.
John Cootes, after leaving the priesthood, was later a successful Sydney furniture retailer.
25 Jun 2012 10:25am
Because of his seminary studies here and overseas John Cootes did not really commence his League career until much later than the average player at the age of 27. Frank Hyde the famous Commentator saw him play Union in Rome and said he would make any Rugby League Sydney First Grade Team.
Had he started his competition career 7 years earlier as you normally would and been able to play in the Sydney Competition he could have been one of the all time greats.
7 Oct 2012 1:06pm
I have a copy of John's LP released by Festival (SFL 934425).I was really surprised at the quality of his singing. He really was quite talented and chose some very nice songs for this recording.
26 Sep 2013 9:55pm
Hi John.
You taught me at Marist Brothers In Hamilton.
You married a friend of our family.
Hope you are all well
Romak
6 Feb 2016 5:57pm
What a great role model for the Catholic Church
27 Aug 2017 9:28pm
Mr.Cootes.(Cootesy),I have had the rare privilege of not only working for him but singing with him on any number of occasions over what must be 20 yrs plus now.It has been a life enhancing experience,quite fabulous ,actually,every moment memorable,unforgettable.Just being around him talking music the very lifeblood of him, is for me enough,but singing alongside him ,well that is some cake icing,I can tell you.Love you man.Really love you.Dave Burt.
2 Jun 2018 4:20pm
Played against Peter Diamond in Newcastle Rugby League Final in 1968 (South Newcastle v West) as a teenager when he kicked a 55 meter penalty goal to defeat West Rozellas 13-11 after the final whistle.
Met him later on and he was a real gentleman.
21 Aug 2019 9:42am
I was an alter boy when John married his brother Peter and his lovely wife Lynn who unfortunately passed away some few years later in a car accident when she was pregnant..so sad.
18 Mar 2020 2:21pm
I remember a concert at our church where John performed, he was so talented and so intelligent, was a really great person and good footballer till he got injured. Good luck John.
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