Adam SutcliffeGreg 'Brandy' Alexander - Penrith Legend
November 30th 2006 11:10
A-Z of Australian Rugby League Greats of the past 25 years
Each Tuesday, we will profile an Australian rugby league greats of the past 25 years. The players profiled aren’t necessarily all representative players, but individuals that have provided their fans with the commitment, dedication and sacrifice for the greater good of their club.
Today’s profile is on Greg Alexander.
ALEXANDER, Gregory
Date of Birth – 26 April, 1966
Position – Halfback, Utility back
Nickname – Brandy
Clubs –
Penrith Panthers, 220 matches 1984-94 and 1997-99, 1104 points
Auckland Warriors, 37 matches 1995-96, 60 points
State of Origin – NSW, 6 matches 1989-91, 2 goals for 4 points
International Career – Australia, 6 Tests 1986-90, 4 tries 10 goals for 36 points
One of Penrith’s greatest halfbacks, Greg Alexander burst onto the NSWRL scene as a fresh faced rookie in 1984. Alexander enjoyed immediate success, winning various Rookie of the Year awards as Penrith’s wily and elusive starting halfback in his debut season.
Named the Dally M Player of the Year in 1985, Alexander’s reputation as a shrewd and innovative attacking player saw him represent New South Wales in six State of Origin matches throughout the Blues unsuccessful 1989, 1990 and 1991 campaigns. Alexander did not enjoy the same success at Origin level however, especially having to start two of his matches off the interchange bench in a well beaten team, and the rise of Canberra halfback Ricky Stuart thwarted further Origin appearances for the man nicknamed ‘Brandy’.
Alexander toured with the highly successful Australian Kangaroo Touring teams of Great Britain in 1986 and 1990, and was able to feature in two Tests against Great Britain and France respectively. Alexander also represented his country in two Test matches against New Zealand in 1989, but was also unable to repeat the same success that he had enjoyed with his Penrith Panthers.
After captaining Penrith to the 1991 premiership, Alexander’s suffered a horrendous 1992 season, with the death of his younger brother and Penrith team mate, Ben in a tragic car accident that year. Alexander understandably struggled with the loss of his close sibling, and it was rumoured that his move to the Auckland Warriors in 1995 was to gain a fresh start after the grief and sorrow of the previous three years.
Alexander enjoyed mediocre success with the new Auckland based NSWRL franchise, and was shifted to the uncustomary role of fullback for parts of his stay at the Warriors. Alexander moved back to Penrith for two more seasons before his eventual retirement in 1999. He will be remembered as a fast running, creative halfback, who controlled his team around the park, whilst providing his team with the attacking impetus that saw them one of the more feared sides in the early 1990’s.
Today, Alexander still maintains a close affiliation with rugby league, working for both Fox Sports and radio station 2UE as a rugby league analyst and commentator.
* Photo courtesy of foxsports.com.au
Cheers,
StephenP
Each Tuesday, we will profile an Australian rugby league greats of the past 25 years. The players profiled aren’t necessarily all representative players, but individuals that have provided their fans with the commitment, dedication and sacrifice for the greater good of their club.
Today’s profile is on Greg Alexander.
ALEXANDER, Gregory
Date of Birth – 26 April, 1966
Position – Halfback, Utility back
Nickname – Brandy
Clubs –
Auckland Warriors, 37 matches 1995-96, 60 points
State of Origin – NSW, 6 matches 1989-91, 2 goals for 4 points
International Career – Australia, 6 Tests 1986-90, 4 tries 10 goals for 36 points
Named the Dally M Player of the Year in 1985, Alexander’s reputation as a shrewd and innovative attacking player saw him represent New South Wales in six State of Origin matches throughout the Blues unsuccessful 1989, 1990 and 1991 campaigns. Alexander did not enjoy the same success at Origin level however, especially having to start two of his matches off the interchange bench in a well beaten team, and the rise of Canberra halfback Ricky Stuart thwarted further Origin appearances for the man nicknamed ‘Brandy’.
Alexander toured with the highly successful Australian Kangaroo Touring teams of Great Britain in 1986 and 1990, and was able to feature in two Tests against Great Britain and France respectively. Alexander also represented his country in two Test matches against New Zealand in 1989, but was also unable to repeat the same success that he had enjoyed with his Penrith Panthers.
After captaining Penrith to the 1991 premiership, Alexander’s suffered a horrendous 1992 season, with the death of his younger brother and Penrith team mate, Ben in a tragic car accident that year. Alexander understandably struggled with the loss of his close sibling, and it was rumoured that his move to the Auckland Warriors in 1995 was to gain a fresh start after the grief and sorrow of the previous three years.
Alexander enjoyed mediocre success with the new Auckland based NSWRL franchise, and was shifted to the uncustomary role of fullback for parts of his stay at the Warriors. Alexander moved back to Penrith for two more seasons before his eventual retirement in 1999. He will be remembered as a fast running, creative halfback, who controlled his team around the park, whilst providing his team with the attacking impetus that saw them one of the more feared sides in the early 1990’s.
Today, Alexander still maintains a close affiliation with rugby league, working for both Fox Sports and radio station 2UE as a rugby league analyst and commentator.
* Photo courtesy of foxsports.com.au
Cheers,
StephenP
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