Gary Freeman

Tenacious Kiwi halfback overcame several career hurdles to win the ‘Dally M Player of the Year award in 1992. Freeman was graded by the Northcote Tigers as a nineteen year-old in the local Auckland competition in 1982 and first represented NZ in 1986. Following Australia's shock loss in Brisbane in 1987, in which Freeman was a reserve, he was signed by Balmain. Freeman did not automatically find success in Sydney and had to battle for his first grade place. However, he soon became a focal point of the Balmain attack, playing in the club's grand final loss to C’bury in 1988. Twice voted NZ’s international ‘Player of the Year’ (1986 & 1988) he was handed a hefty, twelve-week suspension in 1989 for an alleged gouging incident but was one of Balmain's best players in the titanic grand final loss to Canberra in extra-time. In 1990 he captained NZ and signed a new, three-year contract with the Tigers but his world appeared to fall apart in 1991. Freeman was relegated to reserve grade by new coach Alan Jones, who preferred RU convert Brian Smith, and could not force his way off the reserve bench at international level. At the end of 1991 he successfully gained a release from Balmain to sign with Easts; 1992 proved to be his finest season since coming to Sydney. Despite reaching the ‘veteran stage’ of his career, Freeman remained one of the most competitive players in the game - captaining NZ in two Tests against the visiting Lions in 1992 and against Papua New Guinea in a World Cup match. His decision to sign with Penrith in 1994, however, created much ill-feeling within the Roosters club. After captaining NZ on their disappointing tour of England and France Freeman gave great service behind an inexperienced Penrith pack and was named the Panthers' ‘Player of the Year’ in 1994. He captained NZ against Australia in 1995 but later lost the captaincy despite being named in the World Cup squad. In 1996 he left the Super League bound Panthers for P’matta but retired after one season to pursue a career as a TV sports commentator. In 2001, the man they called ‘Whiz’, took over as NZ national coach for two seasons. Autobiography, Tiger, Tiger, Kiwi, Rooster (1992)