Paul Merlo

{{Short description|Australian rugby league footballer}}

{{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}

{{Infobox rugby league biography

|name = Paul Merlo

|fullname =

|image =

|caption =

|position = {{rlp|LK}}

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1955|4|8|df=yes}}

|birth_place = New South Wales, Australia

|height =

|weight =

|retired = yes

|club1 = Penrith Panthers

|year1start = 1977

|year1end = 79

|appearances1 = 55

|tries1 = 12

|goals1 = 0

|fieldgoals1 = 0

|points1 = 36

|club2 = Western Suburbs

|year2start = 1980

|year2end = 82

|appearances2 = 57

|tries2 = 4

|goals2 = 0

|fieldgoals2 = 0

|points2 = 12

|club3 = Cronulla-Sutherland

|year3start = 1983

|year3end = 84

|appearances3 = 41

|tries3 = 3

|goals3 = 0

|fieldgoals3 = 0

|points3 = 12

|teamA = New South Wales

|yearAstart = 1982

|yearAend =

|appearancesA = 1

|triesA = 0

|goalsA = 0

|fieldgoalsA = 0

|pointsA = 0

|updated = 15 November 2010

|source = [http://www.yesterdayshero.com.au/PlayerProfile_Paul-Merlo_5725.aspx Yesterday's Hero] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120909044220/http://www.yesterdayshero.com.au/PlayerProfile_Paul-Merlo_5725.aspx |date=9 September 2012 }}[http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/paul-merlo/summary.html RLP]

|new = yes

}}

Paul Merlo is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. A New South Wales State of Origin representative forward, he played his club football in the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) competition for the Penrith Panthers, Western Suburbs Magpies and the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.

Merlo was selected to represent New South Wales as a second-rower for Game III of the 1982 State of Origin series.

Merlo later worked as a regional manager for Cetnaj Lighting Electrical and Data. Based at Cardiff, New South Wales, he also became the head coach of the South Newcastle Lions in the Newcastle Rugby League competition.

In 2010 Merlo was named in a South Newcastle Lions team of the century. This is the same club Paul played his junior football at.{{cite news|last=Leeson|first=John|title=Souths honour greatest players|url=http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac;jsessionid=516EB49CB8ADFDCFFCD0D0216132BDFF?Page=1&docID=NCH1006149B1EH5SM7PT|accessdate=30 December 2011|newspaper=The Newcastle Herald|date=14 June 2010}}

In 2010, Merlo was named as a member of the Western Suburbs Magpies' Team of the Eighties.{{cite web|title=VEST, KEATO, COGGER ALL HONOURED|url=http://www.weststigers.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=30925&title=vest,-keato,-cogger-all-honoured|accessdate=30 September 2010|website=weststigers.com.au|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110227200942/http://www.weststigers.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=30925&title=vest%2C-keato%2C-cogger-all-honoured|archivedate=27 February 2011|df=dmy-all}}

Is now a keen foiler and can be found residing at Fingal Bay. Paul is also an extremely passionate craft beer enthusiast.