Graeme Norton
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Personal information | ||
---|---|---|
Full name | ||
Club information | ||
Position(s) | Coach | |
Current club | Auckland Lions | |
Professional clubs coached | ||
1994-96 2007 |
North Harbour Auckland |
|
Representative teams coached | ||
1996-7 1997 |
NZ Nines NZ Tri-Series |
Graeme Norton is a New Zealand rugby league coach. Currently he coaches the Auckland Lions in the NSWRL Premier League.
[edit] 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.[1]
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.[2] 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-7 team.
[edit] 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.