Xavier Coates

A young gun with an impressive leap and speed to burn, Xavier Coates has experienced a rapid rise in rugby league. 

Coates played junior rugby league for Currumbin Eagles on the Gold Coast and attended Marymount College where he excelled at athletics, particularly in the triple jump, long jump and high jump.

His football coach at school and in the juniors, was former Melbourne Storm winger, Matt Geyer.

Coates represented the Queensland Under 18 side against New South Wales at the MCG in 2018, from Tweed Seagulls.

In 2019, the rising star had a season to remember, with the Papua New Guinea-born flyer helping guide Tweed's Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup team to both the state and national Under 18 titles, before playing in just one Intrust Super Cup game on his way to an NRL debut for the Brisbane Broncos.

After being presented with his jersey by legendary Broncos winger Michael Hancock before the match, Coates scored a try in Brisbane's 24-22 win over Cronulla Sharks in Round 16, soaring through the air to field a Jake Turpin kick.

Every time he has gone to that new level he wants to go again, and every level he has gone to he has handled with aplomb.

Matt Geyer junior coach of Xavier Coates

The electrifying outside back also won the player of the match award and scored a try for the Queensland Under 18 team in their 34-12 win over New South Wales at Suncorp Stadium.

Coates also made his Test debut, playing in the centres for the Papua New Guinea Kumuls against Samoa, in Sydney in June.

In 2021, Coates played 17 matches for Brisbane and scored 11 tries, the only player in the club to cross for more than 10 tries.

In 2022, Coates signed with Melbourne and became a try-scoring weapon for the Storm on their right edge. Coates was recalled for the 2022 State of Origin series, however succumbed to an ankle injury and was subsequently ruled out for the remainder of the spire. 

Coates finished the year as the 8th highest try scorer in the competion with 16 tries in 17 games. The PNG born winger was selected to represent the Kumuls in the World Cup, however was ruled out due to injury prior to the opening game. 

Coates had a strong season for the Storm in 2023, playing 21 games and scoring 14 tries including a hat-trick against the Roosters. Coates featured for the Maroons in their back-to-back series victory over the Blues. The Storm winger capped off a huge year being named as the Cameron Smith Player of the Year as the clubs best player.

Coates had another consistent year in 2024 despite injury, scoring 10 tries in 16 games for the club, including the Grand Final against Penrith Panthers. He played two games for Queensland in the State of Origin series and Coates was awarded the Try of the Year at the Dally M awards for his match-winner against the Warriors. Coates was rewarded for his form with a debut in the Kangaroos team for the Pacific Championships.