Mark Geyer

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Mark Geyer (born 7 December 1967), is an Australian former professional rugby league second row forward , a state and national representative player and a current rugby leage media identity. In the 1990s he was one of the code's more controversial players in Australia due to off-field headlines and publicised comments as much as for his undubitable playing talent. His club career was played with Penrith, Balmain and the Western Reds in a career from 1986 to 2000. He won a premiership with Penrith in 1991.

Geyer first played for Penrith in 1986 as a seventeen-year-old whose size and ability to run were already noted from his experience in the lower grades.^{[citation needed]} The following year, he established a regular first grade place and then given a place in the City Seconds team after only a handful of top grade appearances. In 1987 he was picked in the President's XIII against the touring British Lions.

Geyer's reputation for controversy began that winter when he served a six-match suspension for the first five matches of 1989 with English club Sheffield Eagles, thus giving Penrith his services for four more games than they would've otherwise not had. Geyer gained a place in New South Wales State of Origin team that year. 1990 was lost to a succession of injuries, but came back to be selected for the Kangaroo Tour. Geyer played his first Test on that tour. During the 1991 season received a five-match suspension for an incident involving Wally Lewis in the second State of Origin game and had to battle continuing injuries. Despite his problems during the season Geyer helped his team win the grand final. He set up all three Penrith tries and was only denied the Clive Churchill Medal by having been sin-binned earlier in the second half.

Geyer continued to attract controvesy during his playing career. After missing the Australian tour of Papua New Guinea due to injury he failed to play in Penrith's World Club Challenge match against Wigan due to passport problems. In 1992 a sensation occurred when he tested positive to a random drug test and was suspended for ten matches. Penrith then cancelled his contract and in 1993 he signed with Balmain, but was released from the team when he failed to make training in January the following year. Geyer was rumoured to possibly play for South Sydney but against the wishes of his manager, spent a season with Umina on the Central Coast.

After moving to Perth with the newly formed Western Reds, Geyer showed good form despite a four-match suspension. The following two years were decimated by suspensions totalling sixteen games and several injuries. Despite some positive form late in 1996, News Corporation closed the door on the Western Reds a year later. Geyer spent the last three years of his career back at Penrith but concerns over his fitness limited his playing time due to starting from the interchange bench.

In 2000 Mark Geyer was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his contribution to Australia's international standing in rugby league.

Since his retirement, Geyer has continued to write extensively during his career on league. Geyer's younger brother Matt Geyer also plays rugby league, for the Melbourne Storm. Geyer was a co-host on Australia's version of the Rugby League television program Boots N' All and is now a regular panelist on Rugby League talk show, The Sunday Roast.

[edit] Sources

• Whiticker, Alan and Hudson, Glen; The Encyclopaedia of Rugby League Players (3rd edition); published 1998 by Gary Allen Pty. Ltd.; 9 Cooper Street, Smithfield, New South Wales, 2164.

[edit] External links

• markmggeyer.com
• Mark Geyer at the State of Origin official website.
• Mark Geyer at eraofthebiff.com
• Mark Geyer at the Rugby League Project