Mark Coyne
Centre
Player Bio
- Date of Birth:
- 16 August 1967
- Birthplace:
- Brisbane, Queensland
- Origin Debut:
- 09 May 1990
- Venue:
- SFS, Sydney
Career
Achievements
- Debut game: May 9, 1990 - SFS, Sydney
Career Statistics
- Games
- 19
- Tries
- 4
- Points
- 16
Biography
“That's not a try, that's a miracle," exhorted Channel 9 television commentator, Ray Warren as Mark Coyne scored the match-winning try in the dying seconds of the first match of the 1994 State of Origin series in Sydney.
Speaking about the ‘miracle try’ of 1994, the man himself is quick to praise the efforts of Maroons' team mates, in the lead up to that remarkable moment in Origin history.
Coyne scored another three tries for his state, in a decorated Origin career spanning eight campaigns and 19 matches. But when people meet him, invariably they want to talk about 'that try'. Coyne rates the 1995 whitewash as his favourite series, given the underdog Queensland team defied the odds.
3 - The miracle try
A talented centre, the Souths Sunnybank junior played on the wing in Brothers' 26-8 win over Redcliffe in the 1987 Brisbane grand final.
He joined St George Dragons the following year, captaining the club at different stages, including the 1996 grand final, and in the first match played by the merged St George Illawarra entity.
Coyne played 207 first grade matches for St George, and 15 for St George Illawarra.
He played for St George in their grand final losses to the Broncos in 1992 and 1993, and also the loss to Manly in 1996.
Injury ruled him out of the 1999 grand final, in which St George Illawarra were beaten by Melbourne Storm.
I achieved a lot of great things, but people only remember me for that try - a fantastic thing to be a part of.
Mark Coyne FOG #64
Coyne made his Origin debut in Game I of the 1990 series, carrying on a proud family tradition in Maroon, with older brother, Peter having toured New Zealand with the Queensland Residents' side in 1988.
Coyne played nine Tests for Australia, including the 1995 Wembley World Cup Final win over England at Wembley. In retirement, he held a strong commitment to charity, and giving back to the game, following on from him being awarded the NRL’s Ken Stephen Memorial Award in 1998.
Coyne also served on the NRL Judiciary and the ARL Commission, and as a mentor for the Queensland Maroons.
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