Matthew Elliott (rugby league)

Matthew Elliott

Personal information
Born	8 December 1964 (1964-12-08) (age 46) Thursday Island, Queensland, Australia
Playing information
Height	180 cm
Position	Second-row
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
1989–92	St George Dragons	61	8	0	0	32
Coaching information
Club
Years	Team	Gms	W	D	L	W%
1996–00	Bradford Bulls	87	59	4	24	68
2002–06	Canberra Raiders	125	59	1	65	47
2007–11	Penrith Panthers	34	14	0	20	41
	Total	246	132	5	109	54
Representative
Years	Team	Gms	W	D	L	W%
2011–	USA
Source: NRL Stats, RLP

Matthew Elliott (born 8 December 1964) is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. He is the current head coach of the United States national rugby league team and has coached Australian National Rugby League clubs Canberra Raiders and Penrith Panthers as well as Super League club, Bradford Bulls.

Playing career

Elliot played for Bondi United and was a Eastern Suburbs Roosters lower grade player.^[1]

Elliott played for the St. George Dragons in the 1992 Grand Final against the Brisbane Broncos.

Coaching career

Injury cut Elliots playing career short and he became an assistant to Brian Smith at the Dragons.^[1]

Bradford

Elliot followed Smith to the Bradford Bulls in 1996, before taking over as head coach. Elliot won the Super League title in his first season. In 1997 and 1999 he was named the Super League coach of the Year.

Canberra

After serving as assistant to Canberra Raiders coach Mal Meninga during the 2001 NRL season, Elliott was made coach for the 2002 premiership. During his tenure at the Raiders, Canberra won 59 and drew one of their 125 games, including four finals appearances in five seasons.

Elliott's most successful coaching season was 2003, when the Raiders won 16 of 24 games but were eliminated from the finals without winning a game.

Penrith

On 19 February 2006, it was announced that Elliott would coach the Penrith Panthers from 2007 onwards, having signed a three-year deal. Elliott succeeded John Lang in this position.

In September 2008, Elliott was criticized for Penrith's consistent poor showings and it was speculated that he would be prematurely sacked before he saw through his three-year contract with the club. Elliott however defied the pressure and criticism and managed to convince the board into letting him remain in charge for the 2009 season.

After a promising start to the 2009 season, Elliott's contract was extended to the end of the 2011 season.^[2]

On 25 April 2011, Elliott was informed by the Penrith board that his services would not be required beyond 2011. He vowed to continue at the helm for the rest of the season at the time, then on the 20 June announced his resignation with immediate effect. He is the current coach of the United States national side.^[3]

Elliot will serve as the assistant coach to the Sydney Roosters in 2012 and 2013.^[1]

Following the 2011 NRL season Elliott coached the United States national rugby league team to a 40-4 victory over Jamaica to qualify for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, their first ever.^[4]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Elliott to join Roosters coaching staff in 2012 rleague.com, 29 June 2011
2. ^ source= http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25403540-23214,00.html
3. ^ Build up continues for World Cup Qualifiers rleague.com
4. ^ Paul, Burrowes (28 October 2011). "Rugby players encouraged despite whipping by USA". Jamaica Observer. http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/Rugby-players-encouraged-despite-whipping-by-USA_10015470. Retrieved 30 October 2011. 

Sporting positions
Preceded by John Lang 2002-2006	Coach Penrith Panthers 2007-2011	Succeeded by Steve Georgallis
Preceded by Mal Meninga 1997-2001	Coach Canberra Raiders 2002-2006	Succeeded by Neil Henry 2007-
Preceded by Brian Smith	Coach Bradford Bulls 1996-2000	Succeeded by Brian Noble

Persondata
Name	Elliott, Matthew
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	8 December 1964
Place of birth	Thursday Island, Queensland
Date of death
Place of death