Neville Costigan

Neville Costigan

Costigan playing for Papua New Guinea in 2008.
Personal information
Nickname	Nev, Costo
Born	16 March 1985 (1985-03-16) (age 26) Rabaul, Papua New Guinea
Height	180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight	102 kg (16 st 1 lb)
Playing information
Position	Second-row, Prop, Lock, Centre
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2003–06	Brisbane Broncos	45	4	0	0	16
2007–08	Canberra Raiders	25	5	0	0	20
2009–10	St. George Illawarra	42	5	0	0	20
2011–	Newcastle Knights	15	3	0	0	12
	Total	127	17	0	0	68
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2007–10	Queensland	6	0	0	0	0
2008	Papua New Guinea	3	0	0	0	0
As of 16 July 2010
Source: RLP & NRL Stats

Neville Costigan (born 16 March 1985 in Rabaul, Papua New Guinea)^[1] is a professional rugby league footballer for the Newcastle Knights of the National Rugby League. A Queensland State of Origin and Papua New Guinea international representative, Costigan previously played for the Brisbane Broncos, Canberra Raiders and most recently, the St. George Illawarra Dragons with whom he won the 2010 NRL premiership with. Costigan primarily plays in the forwards.

Playing career

Costigan was born in Rabaul. His father is Australian and his mother is of Dyaul Island. He moved with his parents to Queensland at a very young age.^{[citation needed]}

Costigan won the Broncos' Rookie of the Year award for the 2003 season, and in his short time at the club established a reputation as being a big hitter in defence.

He was involved in an off field incident in 2006, and had his contract terminated by the Broncos. Subsequently, he missed the 2006 premiership, but was part of the 2010 Dragons team that won. He signed a contract with the Canberra Raiders.

He performed well in 2007 for the Raiders and was rewarded when selected for the Queensland State of Origin side in May 2007. He retained his bench spot for the second game.

He decided to join the St George Illawarra Dragons from the 2009 season.^[2] On 13 August 2008, Neville Costigan signed with the St. George Illawarra Dragons for 2 years starting in 2009. He was looking forward to the opportunity of reuniting with his former coach, Wayne Bennett,^[3] as well as the opportunity to finally win a premiership having been sacked by the Broncos just before they won the 2006 title.

In April 2009 he was named in the preliminary 25 man squad to represent Queensland in the opening State of Origin match for 2009.^[4]

He received a recall to the State of Origin arena when Ben Hannant and Petero Civoniceva were ruled out with injury, as well as Nate Myles being suspended.

In June 2010, Costigan signed a 3-year deal with the Newcastle Knights. Costigan said "Newcastle is a club I am excited about going to, I have now played 100 NRL games and would like to think that I can achieve the 200 game milestone at the Knights. I had other options but I like the town, the lifestyle it offers, their fanatical supporters and the fact I can play a part in the direction the club is heading over the next couple of years. I am also impressed with the coaching staff and other people associated with the Knights that I have met."^[5]

Costigan finally became a premiership winning player in 2010 when the St. George Illawarra Dragons won its first premiership, with Costigan part of the side that won its first premiership in 31 years, defeating the Roosters 32-8 in the 2010 NRL Grand Final. This seems to have taken away the agony of having missed Brisbane's 2006 premiership, having been sacked two months beforehand due to continued off-field incidents. This was his last game for the Dragons, having been forced out of the club due to Mark Gasnier returning to the club and also salary cap issues.

Controversy

In 2006. Costigan was charged with drink driving and sacked by the Brisbane Broncos, after he was caught driving around Brisbane streets with a blood alcohol level of 0.13, almost three times the legal limit^[6][7] As a result, he missed the Broncos' 2006 premiership.

In 2007, whilst playing for Canberra he was seen on video headbutting Sydney Roosters winger Amos Roberts at the conclusion of the Canberra vs. Sydney Roosters match, which was won by Canberra 37–28.

Papua New Guinea

He was named in the PNG squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.^[8]

Costigan was considered one of the 2008 World Cup 'Players to Watch' by NRL Live.^[9]

References

1. ^ Ritchie, Dean (6 April 2011). "Not being from Queensland no bar to Cane Toad State of Origin selection". The Daily Telegraph. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/maroons-in-a-state-of-denial/story-e6frexnr-1226034271134. Retrieved 6 April 2011. 
2. ^ "2009 NRL Player Movements". NRL Live. 4 October 2008. http://www.nrllive.com.au/2009-nrl-player-movements/. Retrieved 4 October 2008. 
3. ^ Costigan Signs for Dragons
4. ^ "Queensland name preliminary State of Origin squad". Fox Sports. 28 April 2009. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25398645-5016947,00.html. Retrieved 28 April 2009. 
5. ^ http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=27248
6. ^ ABC Sport, 10 August 2006. Story: "Broncos sack Seymour, Costigan"
7. ^ Sydney Morning Herald, 9 August 2006. Story: "Another Bronco in trouble"
8. ^ "Wilshere handed Kumuls captaincy". BBC. 14 October 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7669326.stm. Retrieved 14 October 2008. 
9. ^ "World Cup Players to Watch". NRL Live. 17 October 2008. http://www.nrllive.com.au/world-cup-players-to-watch-pool-a/. Retrieved 20 October 2008. 

External links

• 2011 Newcastle Knights profile
• Official Neville Costigan NRL profile

Persondata
Name	Costigan, Neville
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	16 March 1985
Place of birth	Rabaul
Date of death
Place of death