Graeme Norton

Infobox rugby league biography
playername = Graeme Norton
fullname =


caption =
country =
position = Coach
currentclub = Auckland Lions
dateofbirth =
placeofbirth =
countryofbirth =
height =
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coachteam1 = North Harbour
coachyear1start = 1994
coachyear1end = 96
coachgames1 =
coachwin%1 =
coachpremierships1 =
coachteam2 = Auckland
coachyear2start = 2007
coachyear2end =
coachgames2 =
coachwin%2 =
coachpremierships2 =
coachteamA = NZ Nines
coachyearAstart = 1996
coachyearAend = 7
coachgamesA =
coachwin%A =
coachpremiershipsA =
coachteamB = NZ Tri-Series
coachyearBstart = 1997
coachyearBend =
coachgamesB =
coachwin%B =
coachpremiershipsB =
updated =
source =
new = yes

Graeme Norton is a New Zealand rugby league coach. Currently he coaches the Auckland Lions in the NSWRL Premier League.

Early years

He first came to national attention while in charge of the North Harbour Sea Eagles in the Lion Red Cup. He was in charge for both the 1994 & 1995 seasons, in which they won back to back premierships. In both years he also won the Sam Johnson Cup for Harbour Sports' Coach of the Year. [ [http://www.harboursport.co.nz/News+&+Events/Events/Sporting+Excellence+Awards/History.html Harbour Sport] ]

With the New Zealand Rugby League joining Super League Norton was appointed to coach the New Zealand nines team in the Super League World Nines Competition. The team won the competition in Fiji in 1996 and again in Townsville in 1997. [ [http://www2.hunterlink.net.au/~maajjs/res/wnines.htm World Nines Squads] ] In 1997 he also coached the New Zealand side in the Super League Tri-series. Disappointingly the team lost to both Queensland and New South Wales.

After this he all but retired from coaching, his contribution to the game was limited to his sons Under-16s team.

Kiwis and Premier League

He came back into national prominence when he was appointed assistant coach of the New Zealand Kiwis by Brian McClennan in 2005. The Kiwis were hugely successful, winning the 2005 Rugby League Tri-Nations tournament.

In 2007 he stepped down from this position to coach the Auckland Lions club in the NSWRL Premier League.

References