Gary Sullivan (rugby league)
{{short description|Australian rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Gary Sullivan
|fullname =
|nickname =
|image =
|imagesize =
|caption =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1947|10|18}}
|birth_place = Kurri Kurri, New South Wales, Australia
|death_date =
|retired = yes
|height =
|weight =
|position = Forward
|club1 = Kurri Kurri
|year1start = 1966
|year1end = 69
|appearances1 =
|tries1 =
|goals1 =
|fieldgoals1 =
|points1 =
|club2 = Newtown
|year2start = 1970
|year2end = 75
|appearances2 = 107
|tries2 = 13
|goals2 = 0
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 39
|club3 =
|year3start =
|year3end =
|appearances3 =
|tries3 =
|goals3 =
|fieldgoals3 =
|points3 =
|teamA = Australia
|yearAstart = 1970
|yearAend = 72
|appearancesA = 7
|triesA = 2
|goalsA = 0
|fieldgoalsA = 0
|pointsA = 6
|teamB = New South Wales
|yearBstart = 1972
|yearBend = 73
|appearancesB = 3
|triesB = 1
|goalsB = 0
|fieldgoalsB = 0
|pointsB = 3
|teamC = City NSW
|yearCstart = 1973
|yearCend =
|appearancesC = 1
|triesC = 0
|goalsC = 0
|fieldgoalsC = 0
|pointsC = 0
|teamD =
|yearDstart =
|yearDend =
|appearancesD =
|triesD =
|goalsD =
|fieldgoalsD =
|pointsD =
|teamE =
|yearEstart =
|yearEend =
|appearancesE =
|triesE =
|goalsE =
|fieldgoalsE =
|pointsE =
|coachteam1 =
|coachyear1start =
|coachyear1end =
|coachgames1 =
|coachwins1 =
|coachdraws1 =
|coachlosses1 =
|updated = 11 April 2012
|source = [https://archive.today/20130201162315/http://stats.rleague.com/rl/scorers/players/G/Gary_SullivanNT.html stats.rleague.com]{{Cite web |url=http://www.nrlstats.com/archive/players.cfm?PlayerID=6124 |title=nrlstats.com |access-date=1 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120411083847/http://www.nrlstats.com/archive/players.cfm?PlayerID=6124 |archive-date=11 April 2012 |url-status=dead }}[http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/gary-sullivan/summary.html rugbyleagueproject.org]
}}
Gary Sullivan is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s. An Australian international and New South Wales interstate representative forward, he played club football in the New South Wales Rugby Football League Premiership for Newtown.
Rugby career
After playing for Kurri Kurri, Sullivan moved to Sydney to play in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership for Newtown in 1970. After only six first-grade games he was selected for Australia's victorious 1970 World Cup squad at lock. Following Ron Coote's decision to stand down from representative football in 1972, Sullivan made his New South Wales début before being selected in two Tests against New Zealand.{{cite web|title=Gary Sullivan|url=http://www.yesterdayshero.com.au/PlayerProfile.aspx?fname=PlayerProfile.aspx&QStr=7908|work=yesterdayshero.com.au|publisher=SmartPack International|accessdate=1 September 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20121231081300/http://www.yesterdayshero.com.au/PlayerProfile.aspx?fname=PlayerProfile.aspx&QStr=7908|archivedate=31 December 2012}} He scored two tries in Australia's 36–11 win at the SCG before playing in the Second Test in Brisbane. At the end of the year Sullivan was selected for Australia's 1972 World Cup campaign. He was selected to play at lock forward in the tournament final against Great Britain which was drawn at 10-10.Alan Whiticker/Glen Hudson: The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players. 1995 ({{ISBN|1875169571}})
Sullivan later played in the Newcastle Rugby League in the late 1970s.
In 2010 he was named at lock forward in Kurri Rugby League Club's team of the century.{{cite news|last=cessnockadvertiser.com.au|title=Kurri Rugby League Club announces Team of the Century|url=http://www.cessnockadvertiser.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/kurri-rugby-league-club-announces-team-of-the-century/1891170.aspx|accessdate=2 April 2011|newspaper=The Advertiser|location=Adelaide|date=21 July 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110308043221/http://www.cessnockadvertiser.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/kurri-rugby-league-club-announces-team-of-the-century/1891170.aspx|archivedate=8 March 2011 }}
Criminal activities
Between 1985 and 1991, Sullivan with the help of his stepfather, Bill Orchard, stole more than $3 million in 14 separate armed robberies of banks and armoured cars.{{Cite web|last=Reporter|first=Jordan Baker Chief Police|date=2008-03-08|title=It's a crime: how footy heroes go bad|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/its-a-crime-how-footy-heroes-go-bad-20080308-gds4b4.html|access-date=2022-01-21|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}} These crimes took place in a variety of locations in South East Queensland such as Logan City, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast.
In 1991, when Sullivan and his stepfather were finally apprehended, they had pulled off 6 out of the top 10 heists in total amount stolen in Queensland history. Once Sullivan and Orchard were apprehended, they both made individual confessions to at least some of the offenses.
On 13 December 1991, Sullivan and Orchard were convicted of 12 offenses of Armed Robbery and 2 offenses of Armed Robbery in Accompany of Violence. Each were sentenced to 20 years in prison with eligibility of parole beginning after 7 years.
References
{{reflist}}
{{Australia 1972 Rugby League World Cup squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sullivan, Gary}}
Category:Australia national rugby league team players
Category:Australian bank robbers
Category:Australian rugby league players
Category:Criminals from New South Wales
Category:Kurri Kurri Bulldogs players
Category:City New South Wales rugby league team players
Category:Rugby league players from Kurri Kurri
Category:Australian sportspeople convicted of crimes
Category:New South Wales rugby league team players
Category:20th-century Australian sportsmen
{{Australia-rugbyleague-bio-1940s-stub}}