Gary Belcher

Regarded as one of the finest attacking fullbacks of the modern era, Belcher's ability to chime into the attack was first noticed when he was a member of Brisbane Souths’ premiership-winning team in 1985. The following year he moved to Canberra with teammate Mal Meninga, making his State of Origin debut before being chosen for the 1986 Kangaroo tour. Belcher was understudy to Garry Jack on tour, playing in 10 matches (no Tests). In 1987 he was a member of the Raiders' side that went down to Manly in the grand final. With Queensland achieving a 3-nil whitewash in 1988, Belcher got his chance against Great Britain, making his debut in the Centenary Anglo-Australian Test. While his time with Castleford in 1988-89 was disappointing, Belcher went on to play in 15 consecutive Tests against all rugby league nations. In 1988 he was the season's top point-scorer with 218pts which was also a Canberra club record (since bettered by Clinton Scifcofske in 2001). Belcher's ability to run the ball back confidently and his front-on defence were seen to advantage in Canberra’s premiership victories in 1989-90. Scoring a record 17 tries in a season by a fullback in 1989, he was a try-scorer in the club's magnificent fight-back against Balmain in the grand final. On the 1990 Kangaroo tour Belcher survived the challenge from Greg Alexander and played in all five Tests. Injury interrupted his 1991 season, ruling him out of the Test series against NZ but after taking his place in the club's grand final side, his ultra-competitiveness saw him win back the No.1 fullback spot on the Australian tour of New Guinea. He played in all five matches and top-scored with a modest 32 points but a total knee reconstruction wiped the 1992 season. Belcher returned to State of Origin duty in 1993 but was dropped after Queensland’s 14-10 loss in the first match of the series. With Canberra declining to offer him a new contract, he announced his retirement (on his own sports segment of a Canberra television news program) to concentrate on a media career with Channel 9. He later linked with the Brisbane Broncos as an assistant coach to Wayne Bennett but was sensationally sacked, along with the club’s entire coaching staff, after the disappointing 2005 season.