Playing Career
Vital Statistics
- Born
- Tuesday, 19th August, 1941
- Current Age
- 82 years and 245 days
- Place Of Birth
- Maitland, New South Wales, Australia
Known Family Links
- Brother
- Peter Cootes
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 | 3 | 2 | 9 | - | 24 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 33.33% | List | ||||
| Interstate Matches | 5 | 4 | 1 | - | 14 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 80.00% | List | ||||
| Tour Matches | Australia | 7 | 4 | 2 | - | 16 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 57.14% | List | |||
| Test Series | 4 | 1 | 0 | - | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 50.00% | List | ||||
| The Ashes | 2 | - | 0 | - | - | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50.00% | List | ||||
| Tour Matches | New South Wales Firsts | 1 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00% | List | |||
| Tour Matches | Newcastle Firsts (AU) | 1 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | List | |||
| World Cup | 3 | 5 | - | - | 15 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 66.67% | List | ||||
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Test Matches - By Team | ||||||||||||||
| Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
| Australia | 1969-70 | 8 | 7 | - | - | 21 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 62.50% | List | |||
World Cup Matches - By Team | ||||||||||||||
| Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
| Australia | 1969-1970 | 3 | 5 | - | - | 15 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 66.67% | List | |||
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Australia - By Team | ||||||||||||||
| Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
| NSW Country Seconds | 1967 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | List | |||
| NSW Country Firsts | 1967, 1969-70 | 3 | 2 | 9 | - | 24 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 33.33% | List | |||
| NSW Firsts | 1969-70 | 6 | 4 | 1 | - | 14 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 66.67% | List | |||
| Newcastle (AU) | 1970 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | List | |||
| Overall | 1967-1970 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 38 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 54.55% | List | |||
Contributions:
Paul Carter, Andrew Ferguson, Shawn Dollin, Greg Fiveash, Alan Katzmann, Bill Bates
Your Say
07/05/2012
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.
25/06/2012
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.
07/10/2012
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.
26/09/2013
Hi John.
You taught me at Marist Brothers In Hamilton.
You married a friend of our family.
Hope you are all well
Romak
06/02/2016
What a great role model for the Catholic Church
27/08/2017
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.
02/06/2018
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.
21/08/2019
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.
18/03/2020
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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