Gavin Allen

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Gavin Allen
Personal information
Full name Gavin Allen
Place of birth Cairns, Australia
Height 187 cm
Weight 98 kg
Senior clubs*
Years Club Apps (points)
 ?
1987
1990-95		 Fortitude Valley
St. George Dragons
Brisbane Broncos		  ?
2 (0)
66 (8)
Representative teams
1991-95 Queensland 8 (0)

* Professional club appearances and points
counted for domestic first grade only.

Gavin Allen is an Australian former rugby league player.

[edit] Career

Hailing from Cairns, Queensland, Gavin Allen started his career with Brisbane Valleys before moving to St George for the 1987-88 seasons. He was not a success and seemed unable to adapt to life in Sydney. Returning to Queensland in 1989, he made his State of Origin debut two years later. Although not big for a front-rower, Allen's exceptionally high workrate made him a vital component of the Broncos' forward pack from 1990 as they became the most feared side in the NSWRL Premiership. In 1991 Allen debuted for Queensland and played a significant role in winning a tight struggle with the more experienced NSW pack.

Allen played a major part in the Broncos forward pack that dominated St George in the 1992 grand final. After taking part in the club's win over Wigan in the World Club Challenge, Allen was a non-playing reserve in the Broncos return bout with the Dragons in the 1993 grand final. With Glenn Lazarus, Andrew Gee and Mark Hohn competing, however, Allen found it very difficult at this time to maintain his first-grade berth, especially after the 10-metre rule made his main asset of high workrate less significant.

In 1995, Allen's career was winding down but had a brief reprieve when - by now a fringe first-grader - he was the only Bronco not signed by Rupert Murdoch's Super League. Consequently, Paul Vautin picked him up and chose him for the three State of Origin games, in which his experience and workrate helped players like Gary Larson and Billy Moore win Queensland a totally unexpected cleansweep. Allen retired at the end of the season.

[edit] External links