Craig Coleman

Playing Career

Vital Statistics

Full Name
Craig James Coleman
Born
Thursday, 31st January, 1963
Current Age
61 years and 57 days
Place Of Birth
Surry Hills, New South Wales, Australia

Biography

Cheeky, irrepressible halfback played a record 283 grade games with Souths. Coleman was a tyro behind the scrumbase; able to mobilise his forwards with sharp passing and providing great service to his outside backs. He played for Widnes in 1986-87, where he left under a cloud when he preferred to play second grade, and for Hull in 1988-89. After a decade with the Rabbitohs, he left the club at the end of 1992 to play with Salford in England. The following year, Coleman returned to Australia after the February 1 deadline and threatened to take the ARL to court when denied a clearance to play with the G’Coast club. (He played in the Souths A Grade competition for the remainder of the year). Coleman brought his experience to the fore with the struggling Seagulls club in 1994-5 and despite his veteran status, saw out his career with Wests in 1996. But his heart was always at Souths, and he returned to the club as a lower grade coach before taking over from Steve Martin midway through 1998. Coleman was at the helm of the Rabbitohs when they were excluded from the 2000 NRL competition and fought for two years for the right to be included in the premiership competition. It was only fitting then, when Souths returned in 2002, that Coleman was back as first grade coach but the move was not a success. After the Rabbitohs struggled to be competitive in 2002 and in pre-season trials in 2003, Coleman was sacked by the club.
- 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 268 30 0   8 128 116 143 9 43.28% List
NRL Finals 8 - -   - - 2 6 0 25.00% List
National Panasonic Cup 8 - -   - - 4 3 1 50.00% List
English Championship 54 10 -   4 44 31 23 0 57.41% List
Lancashire Cup 3 2 -   - 8 1 2 0 33.33% List
Yorkshire Cup 3 - -   1 1 2 1 0 66.67% List
Regal Trophy 8 2 -   - 8 4 3 1 50.00% List
Challenge Cup 3 - -   - - 0 3 0 0.00% List
Tour Matches Leeds Rhinos 1 - -   - - 0 1 0 0.00% List
Tooheys Challenge Cup 2 1 -   - 4 0 2 0 0.00% List


Club Career

NRL/NSWRL - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Souths NSWRFL 1982 7 - -   - - 2 4 1 28.57% List
Souths NSWRFL 1983 4 - -   - - 2 2 0 50.00% List
Souths NSWRL 1984 24 3 -   - 12 14 10 0 58.33% List
Souths NSWRL 1985 23 5 -   - 20 10 13 0 43.48% List
Souths NSWRL 1986 26 3 -   2 14 15 9 2 57.69% List
Souths NSWRL 1987 24 5 -   2 22 13 10 1 54.17% List
Souths NSWRL 1988 18 2 -   - 8 10 7 1 55.56% List
Souths NSWRL 1989 24 2 -   2 10 18 5 1 75.00% List
Souths NSWRL 1990 18 1 -   1 5 2 16 0 11.11% List
Souths NSWRL 1991 19 2 -   1 9 6 13 0 31.58% List
Souths NSWRL 1992 21 2 0 / 1 0.00% - 8 7 14 0 33.33% List
Gold Coast NSWRL 1994 22 2 -   - 8 5 16 1 22.73% List
Gold Coast ARL 1995 22 2 -   - 8 4 17 1 18.18% List
Western Suburbs ARL 1996 16 1 -   - 4 8 7 1 50.00% List

NRL/NSWRL - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Souths 1982-92 208 25 -   8 108 99 103 6 47.60% List
Gold Coast 1994-95 44 4 -   - 16 9 33 2 20.45% List
Western Suburbs 1996 16 1 -   - 4 8 7 1 50.00% List
Overall1982-1996 268 30 0   8 128 116 143 9 43.28% List

English Career - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Widnes 1986/87 3 1 -   1 5 1 2 0 33.33% List
Hull FC 1988/89 24 3 -   2 14 16 8 0 66.67% List
Leeds 1989/90 16 3 -   2 14 12 3 1 75.00% List
Salford 1992/93 28 7 -   - 28 9 19 0 32.14% List

English Career - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Widnes 1986 3 1 -   1 5 1 2 0 33.33% List
Hull FC 1988 24 3 -   2 14 16 8 0 66.67% List
Leeds 1989 16 3 -   2 14 12 3 1 75.00% List
Salford 1992 28 7 -   - 28 9 19 0 32.14% List
Overall1986-1993 71 14 0   5 61 38 32 1 53.52% List

Your Say

  • Geof Coleman
    06/02/2015

    Is Craig James Coleman the son of John Maxwell Coleman?

  • Don Cameron
    28/12/2016

    I saw tugger grow up loving his football as a kid and as a senior player with south Sydney. There were some tough players that wore the red and green John Sattler, Les Davidson, David Boyle,Micheal Andrews but non tougher than Craig, he never took a backward step he had no fear.

  • Anonymous
    27/02/2021

    Don said it best..Legend.

  • Anonymous
    19/03/2021

    Just imagine is Craig Coleman and Tommy Radonaks had played against each other

  • Olly , salford
    09/07/2023

    Remember craig when he played for us (Salford) had some good chats with him in the club after the game, good player, always gave his all, and a good bloke too.,

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

Sources: ARL Rugby League Yearbook 1997, ARL Rugby League Yearbook 1996, 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, ARL Rugby League Yearbook 1995, Irvin Saxton's Record Keepers' Club, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1987-88, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1989-90, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1990-91, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1993-94, Newspapers