Geoff Starling

{{Short description|Australia international rugby league footballer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}

{{Use Australian English|date=March 2018}}

{{Infobox rugby league biography

|name = Geoff Starling

|fullname =

|nickname =

|image =

|image_size =

|caption =

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1952|12|14|df=yes}}

|birth_place =

|death_date =

|death_place =

|height =

|weight =

|retired = yes

|position = {{rlp|CE|WG|LK}}

|club1 = Balmain

|year1start = 1971

|year1end = 74

|appearances1 = 65

|tries1 = 22

|goals1 = 5

|fieldgoals1 = 0

|points1 = 76

|teamA = Australia

|yearAstart = 1971

|yearAend = 73

|appearancesA = 11

|triesA = 5

|goalsA = 0

|fieldgoalsA = 0

|pointsA = 14

|teamB = New South Wales

|yearBstart = 1971

|yearBend = 72

|appearancesB = 3

|triesB = 1

|goalsB = 0

|fieldgoalsB = 0

|pointsB = 3

|teamC = City NSW

|yearCstart = 1972

|yearCend =

|appearancesC = 1

|triesC = 0

|goalsC = 0

|fieldgoalsC = 0

|pointsC = 0

|updated =

|source = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/geoff-starling/summary.html Rugby League Project]

}}

Geoff Starling (14 December 1952) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s. An Australia international and New South Wales interstate representative three-quarter back, he played club football in the NSWRFL Premiership for Sydney's Balmain Tigers club.

In 1970 Starling was playing in the Jersey Flegg competition for the Balmain club.{{cite news|last=Clarkson|first=Alan|title=Clubs back six-tackle|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SghkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=j_EDAAAAIBAJ&pg=931,1069814|accessdate=2 January 2012|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=5 March 1971}} The following season he started playing first grade,{{cite web|title=Geoff Starling|url=http://www.nrlstats.com/archive/players.cfm?PlayerID=6109|work=nrlstats.com|publisher=Sports Data|accessdate=2 January 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120411231348/http://www.nrlstats.com/archive/players.cfm?PlayerID=6109|archivedate=11 April 2012}} gaining selection for the Australian national team, becoming Kangaroo No. 459,{{cite web|title=Player Register|url=http://www.australianrugbyleague.com.au/kangaroos/register.php|work=Kangaroos|publisher=Australian Rugby League|accessdate=2 January 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927000601/http://www.australianrugbyleague.com.au/kangaroos/register.php|archivedate=27 September 2011}} and the youngest player to ever represent Australia. He was 18 years and 181 days old when playing a 1971 Kangaroo Tour match against a New Zealand XIII at Huntly.{{cite news|last=Ritchie|first=Dean|title=Folau the youngest Roo|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/folau-the-youngest-roo/story-e6frf3ou-1111114570135|accessdate=2 January 2012|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=5 October 2007}} That season he also played for the New South Wales side.{{cite web|title=Geoff Starling|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/geoff-starling/summary.html|work=rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson and Bill Bates|accessdate=2 January 2012}} The following year he made his Test match début against New Zealand. Starling was also selected to represent Australia in the 1972 World Cup, playing in the final which was drawn with Great Britain. In 1973 Starling was selected to go on the end of season Kangaroo tour,{{cite web|title=1970s|url=http://www.tigers.org.au/rugbyleague/history/1970-1979|work=Tigers History|publisher=tigers.org.au|accessdate=2 January 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214094950/http://tigers.org.au/rugbyleague/history/1970-1979|archivedate=14 February 2012}} helping Australia to victory in the Ashes series.

In 1974 Starling contracted a debilitating disease that absorbed his energy, yet defied diagnosis. Over four weeks he lost {{Convert|19|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, forcing him into an early retirement. He spent time in hospital in 1975 and attempted a comeback in 1976.{{cite web|title=Geoff Starling|url=http://www.yesterdayshero.com.au/PlayerProfile_Geoff-Starling_7770.aspx|work=yesterdayshero.com.au|publisher=Smartpack International|accessdate=2 January 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130716160933/http://www.yesterdayshero.com.au/PlayerProfile_Geoff-Starling_7770.aspx|archivedate=16 July 2013}} Years later his ailment was diagnosed as Addison's disease.{{cite news|last=Chersterton|first=Ray|title=The cruelty of sport|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/the-cruelty-of-sport/story-e6frexnr-1111113510010|accessdate=2 January 2012|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=11 May 2007}}

In 2007 Starling was inducted into the Balmain Tigers Hall of Fame.{{cite web|title=Hall of Fame Inductees|url=http://www.tigers.org.au/rugbyleague/hall-of-fame/inductees|work=Balmain Tigers|publisher=tigers.org.au|accessdate=2 January 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212182731/http://tigers.org.au/rugbyleague/hall-of-fame/inductees|archivedate=12 February 2012}}