Tony Gordon (rugby)

{{short description|New Zealand rugby union footballer and coach, and rugby league footballer and coach}}

{{Infobox rugby league biography

|name = Tony Gordon

|fullname = Anthony Ralph Gordon

|image =

|image_size =

|caption =

|position = {{rlp|FB|WG}}

|birth_date = 1948/1949

| birth_place = Rotorua, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand

|death_date = 25 March 2012 (aged 63)

|height =

|weight =

|club1 = Maritime

|year1start =

|year1end =

|appearances1 =

|tries1 =

|goals1 =

|fieldgoals1 =

|points1 =

|teamA = Bay of Plenty

|yearAstart =

|yearAend =

|appearancesA =

|triesA =

|goalsA =

|fieldgoalsA =

|pointsA =

|teamB = New Zealand

|yearBstart = 1975

|yearBend =

|appearancesB = 3

|triesB = 0

|goalsB = 0

|fieldgoalsB = 0

|pointsB = 0

|coachteam1 = Central (BOPRL)

|coachteam2 = London Crusaders

|coachyear2start = 1993

|coachyear2end = 94

|coachgames2 =

|coachwins2 =

|coachdraws2 =

|coachlosses2 =

|coachteam3 = Hull F.C.

|coachyear3start = 1994

|coachyear3end = 95

|coachgames3 =

|coachwins3 =

|coachdraws3 =

|coachlosses3 =

|coachteamA = Bay of Plenty

|coachyearAstart = 19??

|coachyearAend = 86

|coachgamesA =

|coachwinsA =

|coachdrawsA =

|coachlossesA =

|coachteamB = Northern Districts

|coachteamC = New Zealand

|coachyearCstart = 1987

|coachyearCend = 89

|coachgamesC = 13

|coachwinsC = 7

|coachdrawsC = 0

|coachlossesC = 6

|coachteamD = Bay of Plenty

|coachyearDstart = 1991

|coachyearDend = 92

|updated =

|first = RU

|ru_position = Fullback, Wing

|ru_club1 = King Country

|ru_year1start =

|ru_year1end =

|ru_appearances1 =

|ru_tries1 =

|ru_goals1 =

|ru_fieldgoals1 =

|ru_points1 =

|source = {{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/tony-gordon/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/coaches/anthony-gordon/summary.html|title=Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}

|new = yes

}}

Anthony Ralph "Tank" Gordon[http://nzleague.co.nz/kiwis/player_profile.php?letter=G&id=526 GORDON, Anthony Ralph 1975 – Kiwi #526] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724194203/http://nzleague.co.nz/kiwis/player_profile.php?letter=G&id=526 |date=24 July 2011}} nzleague.co.nz (c. 1948/49 – 25 March 2012) was a New Zealand rugby league and rugby union footballer and coach who represented the New Zealand Kiwis in the 1975 World Cup and coached them to the 1988 World Cup final. He was known for his strong kick{{Cite web|last=CircleSoft|title=Tony Tank Gordon: The life of a sporting legend|url=https://www.mcleodsbooks.co.nz/p/rugby-tony-tank-gordon-the-life-of-a-sporting-legend|access-date=2020-08-17|website=McLeods Booksellers|language=en}}

Early years

Anthony was born in Rotorua. Later he would become a New Zealand Army PT Instructor. While in the army Gordon was the player-coach of the Wairau army and played rugby union for King Country.

Playing career

Gordon then switched to rugby league in 1975 and joined the Maritime club in the Auckland Rugby League.1986 Lion Red Rugby League Annual, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1986. p. 66 He made the New Zealand national rugby league team after only 14 rugby league matches. He played in thirteen test matches for the Kiwis, including at the 1975 World Cup.

Coaching career

After retirement Gordon turned his attention to coaching. He had a brief spell with Mangere East before he was convinced to become Central's head coach in the Bay of Plenty Rugby League competition. Gordan was met with immediate success, taking control of the Bay of Plenty and Northern Districts sides. In 1987 he became coach of the New Zealand national rugby league team. The Kiwis toured Australia and Papua New Guinea in 1987 and Gordon was involved in an upset win of Australia.{{cite news|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/rugby-league-news/kiwis-bash-attack-thing-past-3881000|title=Kiwis' bash-attack a thing of the past|date=6 November 2010|agency=NZPA|work=Television New Zealand|access-date=23 November 2011}} The team couldn't repeat the feat in 1988 as they lost the final of the World Cup in front of 47,000 fans at Eden Park.{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/chris-rattue-on-sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1502848&objectid=10685366|title=The day league missed its original Eden Park chance|author=Rattue, Chris|date=5 November 2010|work=The New Zealand Herald|access-date=23 November 2011}} The Kiwis toured Britain and France in 1989 before Gordon was replaced as Kiwis coach.

Gordon became coach of the London Crusaders in 1993 before joining Hull F.C. for the 1994–1995 season.[https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-league-freeman-pays-a-high-price-1459327.html Freeman pays a high price] The Independent, 5 August 1993[http://www.league.quins.co.uk/history/index.php Club History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719082347/http://www.league.quins.co.uk/history/index.php |date=19 July 2011}} Harlequins RLFC[https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-league-clubbyclub-guide-to-the-new-season-1377408.html Club-by-club guide to the new season] The Independent, 19 August 1994

Halfway through the 1995 Lion Red Cup Neil Joyce resigned as the coach of the Bay of Plenty Stags. Gordon became a co-coach alongside Lawrence Brydon for the remainder of the season. In 1996 he remained with the Stags as the business Manager while Brydon became the head coach. During the season he was suspended and investigated by the New Zealand Rugby League over accusations of fraud.[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-17279862.html Gordon confident inquiry into Stags' finances will clear him ]{{dead link|date=February 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Sunday Star-Times, 8 September 1996 He was later cleared of all charges.[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-17282762.html Gordon cleared after fraud investigation ]{{dead link|date=February 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Sunday Star-Times, 1 December 1996

Between 1996 and 2001 he coached the Coastline Mariners.{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=210128|title=Rugby League: Orcas give Mariners incentive for Challenge Cup|date=22 August 2001|agency=The Daily Post|work=The New Zealand Herald|access-date=23 November 2011}}

Later years

In 2006 Gordon was the coach of Kahukura in the Baywide rugby union competition.[http://www.rotoruadailypost.co.nz/sport/news/tank-happy-to-coach-rotorua-club-side/3678679/ 'Tank' happy to coach Rotorua club side] The Daily Post, 31 March 2006 He died on 25 March 2012 after a long illness.[http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/sport/rugby-league/6634519/Former-Kiwis-coach-Tank-Gordon-dies Former Kiwis' coach 'Tank' Gordon dies] The Press, 25 March 2012[http://www.rotoruadailypost.co.nz/news/rotoruas-tank-gordon-dies/1317869/ Rotorua's Tank Gordon dies] The Daily Post, 25 March 2012[http://www.3news.co.nz/Tank-Anthony-Ralph-Gordon-dies/tabid/423/articleID/247969/Default.aspx ‘Tank’ Anthony Ralph Gordon dies] 3 News, 25 March 2012