Michael Coorey (born 16 May 1975) is a former professional Lebanon international rugby league footballer in the 1990s and 2000s. Primarily a second-rower, he played for the North Queensland Cowboys and Brisbane Broncos in the National Rugby League.

Michael Coorey
Personal information
Born (1975-05-16) 16 May 1975 (age 49)
Warwick, Queensland, Australia
Height188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight98 kg (15 st 6 lb)
Playing information
PositionSecond-row, Lock, Centre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1996–98 North Qld Cowboys 18 1 0 0 4
2001–03 Brisbane Broncos 7 0 0 0 0
Total 25 1 0 0 4
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1999–02 Lebanon 5 6 0 0 24
2003 Queensland Residents 1 1 0 0 4
Source: [1]
As of 8 January 2024

Background

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Born in Warwick, Queensland, Coorey, who is of Lebanese descent, played his junior rugby league for the Warwick Collegians before being signed by the North Queensland Cowboys.[2]

Playing career

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In 1994, Coorey represented the Queensland under-19 team and the Junior Kangaroos.[3][4]

In Round 11 of the 1996 ARL season, Coorey made his first grade debut in the Cowboys' 26–10 win over the Newcastle Knights. In Round 13, he scored his first try in a 16–18 loss to the Sydney Tigers. In 1998, after not playing first grade in 1997, Coorey played seven NRL games for the Cowboys.[5]

In 1999, Coorey played for the Cairns Cyclones in the Queensland Cup. On 14 November 1999, he made his international debut for Lebanon, scoring two tries in a 24–38 loss to France in the Mediterranean Cup. A week later, he scored a hat-trick in Lebanon's 2000 Rugby League World Cup qualification play-off win over the United States.

In 2000, Coorey joined the Balmain Tigers, the Wests Tigers feeder club, in the NSWRL First Division. Later that year, he represented Lebanon at the 2000 Rugby League World Cup, playing two games and scoring a try in a 22–24 loss to Wales.[6]

In 2001, Coorey joined the Brisbane Broncos. He made his debut for the club in a semi-final win over the St George Illawarra Dragons. During his three years at the Broncos, he played seven games, playing predominantly for the Toowoomba Clydesdales, their Queensland Cup feeder club. In 2002, he again represented Lebanon at the Mediterranean Cup.[7] In 2003, he represented the Queensland Residents, scoring a try in their 36–12 win over New South Wales.

Statistics

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ARL/NRL

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Season Team Matches T G GK % F/G Pts
1996   North Queensland 11 1 0 0 4
1998   North Queensland 7 0 0 0 0
2001   Brisbane 2 0 0 0 0
2002   Brisbane 3 0 0 0 0
2003   Brisbane 2 0 0 0 0
Career totals 25 1 0 0 4

International

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Season Team Matches T G GK % F/G Pts
1999   Lebanon 2 5 0 0 20
2000   Lebanon 2 1 0 0 4
2002   Lebanon 1 0 0 0 0
Career totals 5 6 0 0 24

References

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  1. ^ Michael Coorey. Rugby League Project
  2. ^ "Legends set to play in Rose City". Fraser Coast Chronicle. 1 July 2011.
  3. ^ "1994". 18th Man.
  4. ^ "Bennett delighted to see legends of yesteryear honoured". Tweed Daily News. 8 November 2012.
  5. ^ "The Lone Ranger: The North Queensland Scud Missiles?". North Queensland Cowboys. 2 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Rugby League World Cup 2000 – Group 2". BBC Sport. 30 October 2000.
  7. ^ "Panthers player in Lebanon squad". Central Western Daily. 23 October 2002.