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| Chris Close | |
|---|---|
| Name | Chris Close |
| Fullname | Christopher "Chris" Close |
| Birth date | 12 December 1959 |
| Birth place | Rockhampton, Queensland |
| Height | 183 cm |
| Weight | 92 kg |
| Position | Second-row, Loose forward |
| Club1 | Wests Panthers |
| Club2 | Brisbane Broncos |
| Repteam1 | Queensland rugby league team |
| Repteam2 | Australia national rugby league team |
Chris Close Chris Close is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer notable for his performances in the 1970s and 1980s. A powerful and confrontational second-row forward, he represented Queensland rugby league team and Australia national rugby league team and played for prominent clubs in Brisbane, Sydney, and England. Close became widely recognised during the inaugural State of Origin era and is remembered for his physicality, leadership, and try-scoring ability.
Born in Rockhampton, Queensland, Close grew up in a region with strong rugby league traditions, influenced by clubs such as Wests Panthers and regional competitions in Central Queensland. He developed his junior skills in local leagues and was scouted by Brisbane-based organisations, leading to early senior appearances in Brisbane rugby league competitions. Close's formative years coincided with the rise of players from Queensland who later challenged Sydney-based dominance in interstate contests such as the State of Origin series.
Close began his senior club career with Wests Panthers in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership, where his tackling, running lines, and try-scoring quickly drew attention from larger clubs. He later signed with Sydney clubs, featuring in the New South Wales Rugby League competition and facing opponents like St. George Dragons and South Sydney Rabbitohs. Close also had stints with English clubs participating in the Rugby Football League during the Australian off-season, competing at venues including Wembley Stadium and northern grounds against sides such as Wigan Warriors and Leeds Rhinos. Towards the late 1980s he returned to Brisbane competitions, contributing experience to clubs in the expanding professional landscape that included the formation of the Brisbane Broncos.
Close earned selection for the Queensland rugby league team and became a central figure during the early years of the State of Origin series, playing alongside and against contemporaries like Wally Lewis, Mal Meninga, and Arthur Beetson. His performances led to selection for the Australia national rugby league team on tours and test matches against touring sides such as Great Britain national rugby league team and New Zealand national rugby league team. Close featured in interstate clashes under the evolving selection rules that emphasised state-of-origin eligibility, contributing to Queensland's rising competitiveness against New South Wales rugby league team. He appeared in notable fixtures at venues including Lang Park and the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Known for a confrontational and uncompromising playing style, Close combined aggressive tackling, ball-running, and try-scoring instincts, traits shared with contemporaries like Gene Miles and Bob Fulton. His robust approach made him a crowd favourite in Brisbane and influential in shaping the image of forwards in the State of Origin series. Close's legacy includes inspiring later generations of Queensland forwards and contributing to the profile of interstate rugby league rivalries that involved figures such as Mal Meninga and Wally Lewis. He has been cited in retrospectives on the development of the interstate game and remembered in club histories of teams like Wests Panthers and other Brisbane institutions.
Following retirement from top-level competition, Close remained involved in rugby league through coaching roles at local clubs in Queensland and participation in charity events and testimonial matches featuring former stars like Kerry Boustead and Des Hasler. He has engaged with community programs in regions including Rockhampton and Brisbane, contributing to junior development pathways associated with clubs in the Brisbane Rugby League system. Close has appeared at reunions and heritage events that celebrate the history of competitions such as the State of Origin series and the New South Wales Rugby League era.
Category:Australian rugby league players Category:People from Rockhampton