Michael Potter

For other people of the same name, see Mike Potter (disambiguation).
Mick Potter
Personal information
Full name Michael Potter
Nickname Potts[1]
Born 24 September 1963 (1963-09-24) (age 48)
Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
Height 176 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight 82 kg (12 st 13 lb)
Position Fullback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1983–88 Canterbury-Bankstn. 80 14 0 0 56
1989–93 St. George Dragons 100 14 0 0 56
1995–96 Western Reds 21 1 0 0 4
Total 201 29 0 0 116
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1990–1992 NSW Country Origin 3 0 0 0 0
1984 New South Wales 1 0 0 0 0
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
2007–08 Catalans Dragons 56 27 3 26 48
2009–2010 St Helens 40 28 0 12 70
2011–2013 Bradford Bulls 18 7 1 10 39
Total 114 62 4 48 54
Source: Rugby League Project

Michael "Mick" Potter (born 24 September 1963 in Parramatta, New South Wales) is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. He is currently coaching English Super League club Bradford Bulls. Potter played in the Australian club competition for the Canterbury Bulldogs, St. George Dragons and Western Reds as well as representing New South Wales in the State of Origin.

Contents

Playing career

Canterbury signed Potter while he was still a student at St. Gregory's, Campbelltown. In only his second year of first-grade, Potter became the first fullback to win the Dally M Player of the Year award. He is a member of Canterburys' 1984 Premiership winning team in their 6–4 win over Parramatta. A second premiership followed when Canterbury defeated St. George, 7–6 in the 1985 Grand Final.

Potter broke his leg in 1986 and struggled to regain his form at Canterbury. He signed with St. George in 1989 and later became team captain. In 1991, Potter won his second Dally M Player of the Year award. Potter captained St. George in their 1993 loss to the Brisbane Broncos in the Grand Final. He retired at the end of the 1993 season but returned to play for the Western Reds in their debut season in 1995.

Coaching career

Following his retirement as a player in 1996, Potter started his coaching career as assistant coach for the English Super League team, Bradford Bulls, alongside Matthew Elliot. He remained there until 1999 when he took over the coaching position for the New South Wales Under-17 squad, coaching them to consecutive wins over Queensland.[2]

Potter coached St. George Illawarra's Premier League side for four years before being appointed in February 2006 as Head Coach for the French rugby league team Catalans Dragons, succeeding Steve Deakin.[2] Potter coached the team to the 2007 Challenge Cup Final and in 2008 was named Super League coach of the year.

Potter succeeded Daniel Anderson as head coach of St Helens at the beginning of the 2009 season.[3]

In May 2010 he announced that he is to leave St. Helens at the end of the 2010 season. In July 2010 Potter signed a 3 year contract to return to Bradford Bulls, this time as head coach, commencing 2011.

References

Footnotes

  1. ^ Clarkson, Alan (25 September 1993). "Thanks a lot, Potts". The Sun-Herald (Australia: Fairfax Media): p. 76. http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?docID=news930925_0336_8615. Retrieved 13 February 2011. 
  2. ^ a b "Dragons Appoint Potter" (fee required). AAP Sports News (Australia). 2006-02-24. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-118897408.html. Retrieved 2008-07-26. 
  3. ^ "Potter to quit Dragons for Saints". BBC. 2008-04-22. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7352101.stm. Retrieved 2008-04-22. 

External links

St Helens RLFC – current squad
Inaugural Western Reds side

1. Michael Potter | 2. James Grant | 3. Jeff Doyle | 4. Tim Horan | 5. Greg Fleming | 6. Dale Fritz | 7. Matthew Rodwell |
8. Brett Goldspink | 9. Matthew Fuller | 10. Rodney Howe | 11. Mark Geyer | 12. Peter Shiels | 13. Brad Mackay (c) |
14. David Boyd | 15. Shaun Devine | 16. Chris Ryan | Coach: Peter Mulholland